BioAspect

BioAspect Inc. provides high quality preclinical contract research Services and Products.
BioAspect SERVICES division conducts efficacy and proof-of-principle studies in cellular, transgenic Drosophila, and rodent models of human diseases to identify health benefits of pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and nutraceutical products. We offer drosophila and mouse models of neurodegenerative diseases, ageing, longevity, stress, addiction, obesity/ diabetes, and nanoparticle toxicity. Our studies include behavioural testing and, may be complemented by pharmacokinetics, evaluation of biochemical markers by ELISA, IHC, and Real-Time PCR gene expression analysis. We perform statistical analysis of the results, and prepare study protocols and reports ready for submission to regulatory authorities. Our service packages are flexible and will be customized to your budget.

IN VITRO ASSAYS
We offer cell-based in vitro models to use as the first step in biological evaluation of the effects of treatment. These tests are fast, cost-effective and designed for screening of large number of agents. They provide information about efficacy, toxicity, as well as an insight into the mechanism of action. Our cell-based models use relevant cell types, expressing targeted pathways. Possible readouts include markers of cell metabolic activity and viability, apoptosis, oxidative stress, or other disease-specific endpoints. To gain insight into the mechanism of action, we offer gene and protein expression analysis. We employ qPCR and gene pathway finder arrays. For protein quantification by ELISA we can use any kit from our extensive catalogue of more than 700,000 products.

PHARMACOKINETICS IN RODENTS
Assessment of the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile and oral bio-availability (for oral drugs) of lead compounds in the early stages of a drug discovery greatly reduces attrition in drug development. For CNS drugs, minimal acceptable brain exposure has to be achieved to make a lead a viable development candidate. Concurrent optimisation of PK, oral bioavailability, and pharmacological activity is the best strategy to shorten the lead optimisation process and reduce the risk of failure.
We carry out PK studies in rats and mice. We offer any combination of the following:
• Help with dosing vehicle selection
• Solubility testing in selected dosing vehicles
• Compound stability study in dosing vehicle
• Compound stability study in animal blood or tissue homogenate
• Development and validation of analytical methods for determination of compound concentration in plasma/serum, or tissue homogenate
• Compound dosing by oral, intravenous, or subcutaneous routes
• Collection of plasma/serum samples or organs
• Determination of compound concentration in plasma/serum or tissue homogenate
• Calculation of PK parameters
• Detailed study protocol and report
• Expert advice on ways to improve absorption and metabolism, including in silico modelling

DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER MODELS OF HUMAN DISEASES

• Fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) is a useful organism for studying mechanisms of human disease. They are valuable for drug screening and testing as well as for identifying genes and cellular processes relevant to human disease, many of which are evolutionary conserved.

We offer Drosophila models of

• Alzheimer's disease
• Parkinson's disease
• Obesity/Diabetes (the model can be used for appetite modifying compounds screening)
• Huntington's disease
• Spinal muscular dystrophy
• Nanoparticle toxicity
• Other - please inquire

The endpoints assessed are survival, motor function, neuronal count, gene and protein expression, retinal degeneration and others, depending on customer requirements.
RODENT MODELS OF DISEASE
Higher, more complex levels of testing can be performed in rodent models of disease. We offer the following disease models:
Neurodegeneration
Alzheimer disease
• Tg 2576 mice
• APPswe/PS1 mice
• 3xTG AD mice
• Down Syndrome mouse model
Aging and longevity
• Senescence accelerated SAMP-8 mice
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
• SOD1 (G93A) mice
Parkinson's disease
• MPTP-induced Parkinson's disease in mice
Addiction
Alcohol addiction
• Alcohol Preferring Rats (P-rats)
• High Alcohol Drinking (HAD- rats)
We offer a large selection of behavioural and neurological tests, icluding:
• Radial Arm Water Maze
• Morris Water Maze
• Spontaneous Alternation T-Maze
• Elevated Plus Maze
• Barnes Maze

BioAspect PRODUCTS division is proud to bring a great and versatile collection of reliable research tools (ELISA kits, recombinant and native proteins, antibodies, competent cells and PCR products) to help new ideas grow and discoveries happen.