Label-free technologies for target identification and validation

Phenotypic screening is a powerful strategy for identifying active molecules with particular biological effects in cellular or animal disease models. Functionalized chemical probes have been instrumental in revealing new targets and confirming target engagement. However, substantial effort and resources are required to design and synthesize these bioactive probes. In contrast, label-free technologies have the advantage of bypassing the need for chemical probes. Here we highlight the recent developments in label-free methods and discuss the strengths and limitations of each approach.