Octet BLI-based Systems vs. SPR

Bio-Layer Interferometry (BLI) and Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) are two well-established techniques for detection and monitoring biomolecular interactions in real time. Used orthogonally, they can be powerful and complementary tools in basic research, drug discovery and development, and downstream bioprocessing.

While both SPR and BLI utilize light to make real-time characterizations of biomolecular interactions, BLI enables significantly higher throughput and flexibility by running up to 96 samples in a parallel.

Fluidics-free Advantages

The Octet BLI-based platform brings biosensors to the sample, rather than the other way around. Surface plasmon resonance systems rely on flow — which requires complicated microfluidics — to bring the sample to the sensor. No microfluidics means:

  • Increased capacity way beyond what’s possible with SPR.

Read 8, 16, 48, or even 96 samples at a time. Complete a 32x32 binning experiment in less than 8 hours on the Octet HTX system, compared to 30+ hours on a 4-channel SPR system.

  • Samples can be reused. There’s no waste with an Octet system.

Samples are conserved with >99.9% available for recovery, so they can be re-assayed with different biosensors or transferred to another assay.

Run Crude Samples

SPR measurements rely on the refractive indices of the solution and analyte. If there isn’t an adequate difference in the refractive indices, mass can’t be measured. And SPR is less tolerant of samples containing high levels of glycerol and DMSO. BLI measures only what’s bound to the biosensor which means it’s relatively indifferent to the refractive index of the solution. This lets you work directly in crude, unpurified samples with the Octet system.

Biacore vs. Octet®

Biacore Octet®
Detection technology Surface Plasmon Resonance(SPR) Bio-Layer Interferometry (BLI)
Signal read-out Refractive index Wavelength shift
Throughtput Relatively high throughput Up to 8 assays in parallel per 96-well plate allowing high throughput
Sample compability Less tolerant of samples containing high levels of solvent Insensitive to matrix pH or changes in refractive index and wide solvent tolerance
Sample recovery Relatively high sample recovery Full sample recovery
Sample analysis time 12 hours for 3 samples (SPR“B”) 24 minutes for 96 samples (Octet®RED384)
Cut costs per data point Relatively high Relatively cheap

Source from: http://www.fortebio.com//octet-bli-spr.html

Take an Octet System for a Test Drive

Intrigued by what Octet systems and BLI can do for you? Our biomolecular interaction analysis service based on BLI technology can meet your specific needs and deliver very accurate analysis of your samples. To get a price quotation, just fill out our Quotation Form and email to Sales@BiologicsCorp.com – we will get back to you in 24 hours.