Automation of biochemical assays using an open-sourced, inexpensive robotic liquid handler

High Throughput Screening is crucial in pharmaceutical companies for efficient testing in drug discovery and development. Our Vaccines Analytical Research and Development (V-AR&D) department extensively uses robotic liquid handlers in their High Throughput Analytics (HTA) group for assay develop...

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Main Authors: George Moukarzel, Yi Wang, Weiyue Xin, Carl Hofmann, Anjali Joshi, John W. Loughney, Amy Bowman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:SLAS Technology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2472630324000876
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author George Moukarzel
Yi Wang
Weiyue Xin
Carl Hofmann
Anjali Joshi
John W. Loughney
Amy Bowman
author_facet George Moukarzel
Yi Wang
Weiyue Xin
Carl Hofmann
Anjali Joshi
John W. Loughney
Amy Bowman
author_sort George Moukarzel
collection DOAJ
description High Throughput Screening is crucial in pharmaceutical companies for efficient testing in drug discovery and development. Our Vaccines Analytical Research and Development (V-AR&D) department extensively uses robotic liquid handlers in their High Throughput Analytics (HTA) group for assay development and sample screening. However, these instruments are expensive and require extensive training. Opentrons' OT-2 liquid handler offers a more affordable option (<∼ $10,000) with Python programming language and open-source flexibility, reducing training requirements. OT-2 allows broadening of testing capabilities and method transfer without significant capital investments. Two biochemical assays were conducted to assess OT-2′s performance, and it demonstrated accurate pipetting with low covariance compared to Tecan EVO liquid handlers. Though OT-2 has some limitations such as lack of a crash detection system and limited deck space, it is a cost-effective, medium-throughput, and accurate liquid handling tool suitable for early-stage development and method transfer.
format Article
id doaj-art-7735c1ddd07b4c53a55b4aba7c31adef
institution DOAJ
issn 2472-6303
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series SLAS Technology
spelling doaj-art-7735c1ddd07b4c53a55b4aba7c31adef2025-08-20T02:48:57ZengElsevierSLAS Technology2472-63032024-12-0129610020510.1016/j.slast.2024.100205Automation of biochemical assays using an open-sourced, inexpensive robotic liquid handlerGeorge Moukarzel0Yi Wang1Weiyue Xin2Carl Hofmann3Anjali Joshi4John W. Loughney5Amy Bowman6High Throughput Analytics, Analytical Research &amp; Development, Merck &amp; Co. Inc., Rahway, NJ, United StatesHigh Throughput Analytics, Analytical Research &amp; Development, Merck &amp; Co. Inc., Rahway, NJ, United StatesHigh Throughput Analytics, Analytical Research &amp; Development, Merck &amp; Co. Inc., Rahway, NJ, United StatesHigh Throughput Analytics, Analytical Research &amp; Development, Merck &amp; Co. Inc., Rahway, NJ, United StatesHigh Throughput Analytics, Analytical Research &amp; Development, Merck &amp; Co. Inc., Rahway, NJ, United StatesHigh Throughput Analytics, Analytical Research &amp; Development, Merck &amp; Co. Inc., Rahway, NJ, United StatesCorresponding author.; High Throughput Analytics, Analytical Research &amp; Development, Merck &amp; Co. Inc., Rahway, NJ, United StatesHigh Throughput Screening is crucial in pharmaceutical companies for efficient testing in drug discovery and development. Our Vaccines Analytical Research and Development (V-AR&D) department extensively uses robotic liquid handlers in their High Throughput Analytics (HTA) group for assay development and sample screening. However, these instruments are expensive and require extensive training. Opentrons' OT-2 liquid handler offers a more affordable option (<∼ $10,000) with Python programming language and open-source flexibility, reducing training requirements. OT-2 allows broadening of testing capabilities and method transfer without significant capital investments. Two biochemical assays were conducted to assess OT-2′s performance, and it demonstrated accurate pipetting with low covariance compared to Tecan EVO liquid handlers. Though OT-2 has some limitations such as lack of a crash detection system and limited deck space, it is a cost-effective, medium-throughput, and accurate liquid handling tool suitable for early-stage development and method transfer.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2472630324000876OpentronsOT-2Liquid handlerBiochemical assayPicoGreenBradford
spellingShingle George Moukarzel
Yi Wang
Weiyue Xin
Carl Hofmann
Anjali Joshi
John W. Loughney
Amy Bowman
Automation of biochemical assays using an open-sourced, inexpensive robotic liquid handler
SLAS Technology
Opentrons
OT-2
Liquid handler
Biochemical assay
PicoGreen
Bradford
title Automation of biochemical assays using an open-sourced, inexpensive robotic liquid handler
title_full Automation of biochemical assays using an open-sourced, inexpensive robotic liquid handler
title_fullStr Automation of biochemical assays using an open-sourced, inexpensive robotic liquid handler
title_full_unstemmed Automation of biochemical assays using an open-sourced, inexpensive robotic liquid handler
title_short Automation of biochemical assays using an open-sourced, inexpensive robotic liquid handler
title_sort automation of biochemical assays using an open sourced inexpensive robotic liquid handler
topic Opentrons
OT-2
Liquid handler
Biochemical assay
PicoGreen
Bradford
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2472630324000876
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AT carlhofmann automationofbiochemicalassaysusinganopensourcedinexpensiveroboticliquidhandler
AT anjalijoshi automationofbiochemicalassaysusinganopensourcedinexpensiveroboticliquidhandler
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