Yokogawa Introduces CellVoyager High-Content Analysis System CQ3000

For greater efficiency in drug discovery and regenerative medicine R&D, and the swift commercialization of new drugs

Yokogawa Electric Corporation announces the development of the CellVoyager High-Content Analysis System CQ3000 as part of the CellVoyager high-content analysis (HCA) system solution lineup, which includes cell observation devices and image analysis software. This product is scheduled to go on sale in July 2024.

The CQ3000 can capture high-definition 3D microscopic images of live cell cultures at high speeds. When used together with the CellPathfinder image analysis software, it can quantify and analyze intracellular organelles to assess cellular reactions and the effects of drug compounds. It enables the highly efficient assessment of cells in a wide range of settings, from basic research to drug discovery screening.

The CQ3000 will be exhibited at SLAS2024, an international conference and exhibition hosted by the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS) that will be held February 3-7 in Boston.

Development Background
HCA systems are widely used in new drug discovery to identify promising chemical responses by screening entire libraries of candidate compounds. In recent years, there has been a rising demand for advanced, high-speed screening systems that can extract and analyze large volumes of data from high-definition cell images using conventional image processing and deep learning. There is also an increasing need to speed up the new drug discovery process by automating and accelerating screening operations.

Main Features
This CellVoyager product is a mid-range HCA system that enables high-resolution live cell imaging in the same way as the CellVoyager CQ1 benchtop high-content analysis system and the CellVoyager CV8000 high-throughput cytological discovery system. This new model will give users a wider range of choices in applications ranging from basic research to large-scale screening and can be offered in combination with products such as the CellPathfinder high-content analysis software to provide solutions that suit every requirement and budget.

• High-definition observation of living cells over long time periods

The CQ3000 enables the stable and precise observation of live cell cultures over long time periods thanks to Yokogawa's high-precision temperature control and dual spinning-disk with microlens that captures optical slice images (confocal images) with higher speed and better sensitivity, which minimizes damage to cells compared to other confocal systems on the market.

• High speed screening

The CQ3000 can capture images of microplates at high speed due to enhancements in the stage control and auto-focus functions. When used in combination with the optional dual camera and wide-field image capture features, which uniformly captures the entire field of view, image capture time is reduced. This product enables the high-speed selection of promising chemical compounds from vast numbers of new drug candidates.

• High image quality

By using Yokogawa's proprietary water immersion lens mechanism, in addition to detailed observation at high magnification levels, it is also possible to capture bright images at low magnification levels. The use of an optional uniformizer achieves even illumination across the entire field of view, for the capture of vivid images.

Hiroshi Nakao, a Yokogawa vice president and head of the company's Life Business Headquarters, says, “The CQ3000 is an enhancement to the CellVoyager series lineup that will accelerate the development of new drugs and streamline basic research in cutting-edge biology and medicine. Through the provision of products and solutions that contribute to drug discovery research and the advancement of individualized medicine and regenerative medicine, Yokogawa aims to ensure well-being and quality of life for all.”

Major Target Markets

Pharmaceuticals, medical and biological research
Applications

• Drug discovery
• Regenerative medicine research
• Basic research in fields such as medicine, pathology, anatomy, and biology

About CellVoyager
CellVoyager is Yokogawa's HCA system solution. To suit customers' requirements, optimum solutions that combine cell observation devices (CV8000, CQ1, CQ3000) and image analysis software (CellPathfinder) can be provided.

These HCA systems enable high-speed screening and are comprised of a confocal scanner unit for the real-time observation of living cells and a drive mechanism for the high-speed observation of large numbers of samples that was developed based on precision positioning technology originally used on semiconductor and LCD production lines. Their high-speed screening, high resolution, and ability to capture images as chemical compounds are administered (for the observations of changes to cells) are highly regarded, and they have helped to accelerate the development of new drugs and streamline basic research processes in cutting edge biology and medical fields.