Implementing surface plasmon resonance biosensors in drug discovery

Recent improvements in instrument hardware, experimental design and data processing have made it possible to use surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor technology in the discovery and development of small-molecule drugs. The key features of SPR biosensors (i.e. real-time binding analysis and lack of labeling requirements) make this technology suitable for a wide range of applications. Current instruments have a throughput of ∼100–400 assays per day, providing a complement to secondary screening. The ability to collect kinetic data on compounds binding to therapeutic targets yields new information for lead optimization. Small-molecule analysis and emerging applications in the areas of ADME (adsorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion) and proteomics have SPR biosensors poised to play a significant role in the pharmaceutical industry.