New Technologies for Cellular Analysis

Cytometric technologies have been indispensable for understanding biological and pathological processes, and are increasingly used to provide critical information on safety and efficacy in drug development. Highly sophisticated multiparametric cytometry methods are now available to measure treatment-induced changes in the phenotypes and functions of individual cells in heterogeneous populations. Numerous phenotypic and functional cytometry assays have been validated for pharmacodynamic studies in clinical drug trials, and that number is likely to expand as new analytical technologies become available. This chapter will discuss three new cytometric technologies that will likely impact clinical drug development in the near future: Imaging cytometry on a chip; Imaging flow cytometry; and Mass cytometry. Each of these platforms is well-suited to specific aspects of cellular analysis, and combines new technologies with tried and true cytometry methods.