Semi-automated 5-alpha reductase inhibitor screening platform via DHT detection

Overview

This solution offers a semi-automated screening platform designed to evaluate potential 5-alpha reductase (5AR) inhibitors. 5AR is the enzyme responsible for converting testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a potent androgen linked to conditions such as androgenetic alopecia, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and acne. By measuring DHT levels as an indirect indicator of enzyme activity, the platform can rapidly identify compounds that successfully block 5AR function. The system is built on a 96-well format and uses magnetic bead processing with anti-DHT antibodies to capture and detect the enzymatic byproduct, allowing multiple inhibitors to be screened in parallel with minimal hands-on time.

Technical specifications

• Assay format: 96-well plate pre-incubation of 5AR enzyme, testosterone substrate, and test compound to allow enzymatic conversion or inhibition to occur
• Detection principle: Magnetic bead processor couples anti-DHT antibodies for physical capture and removal of DHT from reaction wells
• Workflow: Beads are washed, transferred to a collection plate, and bound DHT is released via acid elution or detected directly by ELISA
• Throughput: Capable of screening multiple inhibitor candidates simultaneously
• Output type: Qualitative determination of inhibitor efficacy based on DHT presence or absence
• Existing infrastructure: The team has already optimised immunoassay protocols for 96-sample automation and demonstrated multiple target pulldown capabilities using the same platform

Technology readiness level

The platform is at an early-to-mid development stage. The underlying semi-automated immunoassay and magnetic bead processing infrastructure is already established and validated for related applications such as phage bio-panning and target pulldown. However, the direct application of this setup to 5AR inhibitor screening has not yet been attempted. The next phase involves validating the assay using commercially available anti-DHT antibodies and known reference inhibitors to establish proof of concept, with an estimated timeline of approximately one year. Future development includes producing anti-DHT antibodies in-house to reduce assay costs. The team is actively seeking industry partners for technical feedback, inhibitor compound supply, reagent procurement, and funding support for key personnel. No additional equipment investment is required, as instrumentation is already available.