In situ PK&PD Analysis Service

Integrated In Situ PK/PD Analysis

In situ PK & PD analysis integrates spatial drug distribution with local pharmacodynamic responses within intact tissue microenvironments.

By combining mass spectrometry imaging (MSI)–based drug mapping and spatial metabolomics, this service enables direct correlation between local drug exposure and biological effect, overcoming the limitations of conventional bulk PK/PD studies.

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What is
Our service
Workflow
Applications
Why choose
Sample preparation
Collaboration workflow
FAQs

What Is In situ PK & PD?

In situ PK & PD refers to a spatially resolved pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic evaluation, where:

PK is assessed by in situ drug and metabolite distribution across tissue regions
PD is evaluated via local metabolic pathway modulation and biochemical responses
PK–PD relationships are established within the same tissue section or matched serial sections

This approach preserves tissue architecture and microenvironmental heterogeneity, enabling mechanistic interpretation of drug efficacy, resistance, and toxicity.

In situ PK&PD main picture

Core Technologies & Modules

Module I: Spatial Drug Distribution	Module II: Spatial Metabolomics	Module III: PK&PD Integration
Goal: Visualize exactly where your drug goes. Map the spatial and temporal distribution of parent compounds and metabolites without labels.	Goal: Measure the biological impact. Characterize drug-induced metabolic responses and pathway modulations within the specific tissue microenvironment.	Goal: Connect cause and effect. Directly associate local drug concentration with pharmacodynamic response to reveal efficacy mechanics.
Tech: High-resolution MALDI-MSI & DESI-MSI (Label-free detection).	Tech: Untargeted global profiling & Targeted biomarker imaging.	Tech: Pixel-wise correlation analysis & ROI-based dissociation modeling.
Deliverables: Penetration depth analysis Regional concentration gradients Accumulation hotspots.	Deliverables: Differential metabolite maps Pathway perturbation analysis Local PD biomarker identification.	Deliverables: Exposure-response heterogeneity Identification of PK-PD mismatch Microenvironment efficacy maps.

Integrated Workflow

workflow of in situ PK&PD

Application Scenarios

Oncology

Tumor penetration vs metabolic response heterogeneity

CNS Drug Development

Regional drug exposure and neurotransmitter modulation

ADC / Nanomedicine

Payload release localization and downstream PD effects

Toxicology

Off-target accumulation and metabolic toxicity signatures

Lead Optimization

Comparative PK–PD profiling across candidates

Why Partner With Us

Label-free in situ PK & PD assessment
Single-platform spatial integration
High sensitivity for low-abundance compounds
Customizable depth: exploratory to hypothesis-driven
Expert interpretation bridging PK, metabolism, and pharmacology
Analysis results directly suitable for publication, accompanied by comprehensive support for drafting the complete Methods section.

Sample Submission Guidelines

Timepoints: Tissue harvest times must be carefully selected to align with the drug's T_max (peak concentration) and the expected time-to-response for the PD biomarker.
Control Tissue: "Vehicle-only" (untreated) control tissue is mandatory to establish the baseline metabolic profile for the PD normalization.
Serial Sections: We recommend submitting tissue blocks rather than slides, so we can cut adjacent sections for Drug Imaging (MSI), Metabolomics (PD), and H&E (Pathology).

Typical Collaboration Workflow

collaboration workflow of in situ PK&PD

FAQs

Can you perform this analysis on FFPE tissue?

Generally, no. FFPE processing washes out most small molecule drugs and metabolites. Fresh-frozen tissue is required to preserve the native neuro-pharmacological and metabolic profile.

What if the drug and the PD biomarker don't overlap?

This is a valuable finding! It indicates a "PK/PD Mismatch," suggesting that the drug is present but inactive (resistance) or that the biological effect is downstream/distal from the binding site. Our correlation analysis quantifies these dissociation events.

How do you distinguish a drug-induced metabolic change from natural tissue variation?

We use Vehicle-Control Normalization. By comparing the metabolic profile of your treated tissue against a matched "vehicle-only" control sample, we subtract the baseline heterogeneity to isolate strictly drug-induced changes.

What is the typical turnaround time?

Our standard turnaround time is 4-6 weeks from the date we receive your samples.

Learn about other Q&A.

* For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

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From Our Clients

"I recently used their proteomics service for a project analyzing protein interactions in yeast models. The team was very responsive and helped clarify the methodology they employed, which made me feel confident in the results. The data quality was solid, with clear identification of several key proteins involved in our study. Their thorough analysis enabled me to pinpoint specific interactions that I hadn't considered before, which significantly improved the direction of my research. I appreciate their professionalism and support throughout the process."

Sarah Thompson, University of California, Berkeley

"Our lab collaborated with them on a project studying cancer biomarkers. The proteomics analysis provided was detailed and focused, specifically highlighting the differential expression of proteins between healthy and tumor samples. Their clear explanations of the data helped my team understand the biological implications. I also appreciated their willingness to revise the reports based on our feedback, ensuring that we had everything we needed for our publication. This collaborative spirit was invaluable."

Emily Rodriguez, Stanford University

"Our lab worked with them on a project studying the effects of diet on gut microbiota using proteomics. They used a label-free quantification method to analyze proteins in fecal samples before and after dietary intervention. The results showed significant changes in protein expression linked to microbial activity. This was pivotal for our hypothesis about diet-microbiota interactions. The clarity of their data presentation made it easy for our team to integrate these findings into our ongoing research."

Dr. Lisa Wong, University of Toronto

"My experience with Creative Proteomics during the mass spectrometry analysis was excellent. We sent in human saliva and mouse brain tissue samples, which they expertly analyzed using both LC-MS and GC-MS techniques. The results were invaluable, revealing key metabolites in the saliva and identifying biomarkers linked to brain function in the brain tissue."

Dr. Emily Carter, Senior Research Scientist

"The overall service from Creative Proteomics was outstanding. They made the entire process seamless and efficient, allowing us to focus on our research. We worked with leaf and root samples from various Arabidopsis genotypes for targeted metabolomics analysis. Their thorough profiling of primary and secondary metabolites gave us important insights into how the plants respond metabolically to environmental stress."

Dr. Laura Henderson, Plant Physiologist

"We had a pleasant collaboration with Creative Proteomics on mass spectrometry analysis of lipids. They conducted a detailed analysis of lipid species, providing us with important insights into lipid metabolism and its relationship with metabolic syndrome disease states."

Dr. Sarah Mitchell, Research Scientist

Online Inquiry

Please submit a detailed description of your project. We will provide you with a customized project plan to meet your research requests. You can also send emails directly to for inquiries.

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