LightBox: A multiwell plate illumination system for photoactive molecule characterization

Area of Science:

• Biophotonics
• Photochemistry
• High-throughput screening

Background:

• Multiwell plates (MWPs) are essential in life sciences but lack suitable equipment for high-throughput photo-irradiation in biophotonics.
• Existing systems are limited for photoactive molecule screening and photocatalytic chemical characterization.
• A need exists for a calibrated, controllable, and uniform illumination system for MWPs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce "LightBox", a novel, calibrated, and controllable multiwell plate illumination system.
• To enable high-throughput screening of photoactive molecules and characterization of photocatalytic chemicals.
• To provide a uniform and accurately controllable light source for biophotonics applications.

Main Methods:

• Development of "LightBox", a high-intensity, uniform illumination system designed for MWPs.
• Integration of electronics and a control unit for a simple and intuitive user interface.
• Characterization of illumination uniformity (<5% variance) and intensity (0.23 mW/mm² at 405 nm).

Main Results:

• Demonstrated the system's capability to reach high light intensities with excellent uniformity across wells.
• Successfully used LightBox to assess the IC50 of a photosensitizing compound via a live/dead assay.
• Showcased simultaneous irradiation of samples at various concentrations, reducing experimental variability and increasing assessment speed.

Conclusions:

• LightBox is a versatile and effective system for photo-irradiation in multiwell plates.
• The system significantly enhances the speed and accuracy of assays involving photoactive compounds.
• LightBox has broad applications in biophotonics, drug discovery, and chemical research.