The preparation of compound libraries involves several key steps:
Sourcing Compounds: Compounds can be sourced from natural products, synthetic chemicals, or a combination. Natural products are often derived from plants, fungi, and marine organisms, whereas synthetic compounds are created in laboratories. High-Throughput Screening (HTS): High-throughput screening allows researchers to test thousands of compounds rapidly for their biological activity against cancer cells. Automated systems and robotic platforms are commonly used. Quality Control: Each compound must be validated for purity, identity, and stability. Techniques such as Mass Spectrometry and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) are routinely used for these purposes. Storage and Management: Compounds are stored in well-organized libraries, often in microtiter plates. Effective data management systems are crucial for tracking compound information and experimental results.
