How It Works
Monitors bioenergetics of live cells, in real time, in a microplate
The two major pathways to produce energy, mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis, involve cellular consumption of oxygen and efflux of protons, respectively. Seahorse XF technology uses label-free sensors to detect extracellular changes in these analytes and report rates of cellular respiration, glycolysis, and ATP production. It can be used to interrogate metabolic changes in cultured cells, suspension cells, as well as three-dimensional materials such as tissue, organoids and/or multiple cell clusters.
Forms a microchamber and calculates rates of extracellular flux in minutes
The instrument lowers the cartridge probes into the assay wells. The sensors are positioned at a defined distance above the well bottoms, forming very small transient microchambers that are critical to the high sensitivity uniquely offered by Seahorse XF technology. As the oxygen and pH levels change, the instrument records the changes in the sensors. Measurements are typically made for three minutes and rates are calculated automatically. Upon completion of each measurement the probes are raised, allowing the extracellular medium to come back to baseline conditions.
Injects up to 4 compounds to test responses or interrogate biology in real time
The sensor cartridge also contains ports (4 per well) to enable injection of modulators into the cell wells during the assay. When specified by the instrument protocol, the system injects compound "A" into the assay wells and performs a gentle mixing step to ensure distribution of the compound throughout the assay medium. All wells are processed in this manner simultaneously. Subsequent measurement cycles, any additional injections specified by the protocol, and rate calculations are performed automatically.