Leveraging flexible pipette-based tool changes to transform liquid handling systems into dual-function sample preparation and imaging platforms
In soft materials synthesis, rapid self-assembly and poor mechanical strength often limit the applicability of experimental characterization techniques. This limitation arises because transferring these materials to a suitable imaging platform is either too slow to capture the process of interest or...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | HardwareX |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468067225000318 |
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| author | Mohammad Nazeri Jeffrey Watchorn Sheldon Mei Alex Zhang Christine Allen Frank Gu |
| author_facet | Mohammad Nazeri Jeffrey Watchorn Sheldon Mei Alex Zhang Christine Allen Frank Gu |
| author_sort | Mohammad Nazeri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In soft materials synthesis, rapid self-assembly and poor mechanical strength often limit the applicability of experimental characterization techniques. This limitation arises because transferring these materials to a suitable imaging platform is either too slow to capture the process of interest or impossible to safely transfer from the synthesis vessel to the characterization. In addition, the variable nature of these materials requires many experiments to understand the underlying structure–property relationships that govern these materials. In this work we present a new hardware platform that integrates simultaneous pipetting and in-situ imaging using the Opentron OT-2 liquid handling robot. A 3D printed adapter features two cylindrical openings, one containing the pipette tip to gantry adapter, and the other a USB camera. When the gantry picks up the pipette tip, the entire apparatus is lifted, allowing the camera to be used. This system enables real-time monitoring and characterization of dynamic processes, such as hydrogel crosslinking, without manual intervention. We used this system to characterize ionically crosslinked hydrogels, and monitored their properties over time, in a high-throughput and combinatorial manner. Although hydrogels were used as a proof-of-concept, this platform has broader applications in materials research, including crystallization dynamics, polymerization kinetics, and drug delivery system development. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e54fd83068d04be69539a85546d0f344 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2468-0672 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | HardwareX |
| spelling | doaj-art-e54fd83068d04be69539a85546d0f3442025-08-20T02:35:36ZengElsevierHardwareX2468-06722025-06-0122e0065310.1016/j.ohx.2025.e00653Leveraging flexible pipette-based tool changes to transform liquid handling systems into dual-function sample preparation and imaging platformsMohammad Nazeri0Jeffrey Watchorn1Sheldon Mei2Alex Zhang3Christine Allen4Frank Gu5Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College St, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, CanadaAcceleration Consortium, 700 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M7A 2S4, CanadaDepartment of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College St, Toronto, ON M5S 3E5, CanadaDepartment of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, 5 King’s College Rd, Toronto, ON M5S 3G8, CanadaAcceleration Consortium, 700 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M7A 2S4, Canada; Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College St, Toronto, ON M5S 3E5, Canada; Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 144 College St, Toronto, ON M5S 3M2, CanadaInstitute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College St, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada; Acceleration Consortium, 700 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M7A 2S4, Canada; Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College St, Toronto, ON M5S 3E5, Canada; Corresponding author at: Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College St, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada.In soft materials synthesis, rapid self-assembly and poor mechanical strength often limit the applicability of experimental characterization techniques. This limitation arises because transferring these materials to a suitable imaging platform is either too slow to capture the process of interest or impossible to safely transfer from the synthesis vessel to the characterization. In addition, the variable nature of these materials requires many experiments to understand the underlying structure–property relationships that govern these materials. In this work we present a new hardware platform that integrates simultaneous pipetting and in-situ imaging using the Opentron OT-2 liquid handling robot. A 3D printed adapter features two cylindrical openings, one containing the pipette tip to gantry adapter, and the other a USB camera. When the gantry picks up the pipette tip, the entire apparatus is lifted, allowing the camera to be used. This system enables real-time monitoring and characterization of dynamic processes, such as hydrogel crosslinking, without manual intervention. We used this system to characterize ionically crosslinked hydrogels, and monitored their properties over time, in a high-throughput and combinatorial manner. Although hydrogels were used as a proof-of-concept, this platform has broader applications in materials research, including crystallization dynamics, polymerization kinetics, and drug delivery system development.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468067225000318Real-Time Imaging IntegrationLiquid Handling RobotAutomated Hydrogel FormulationHigh-Throughput Material CharacterizationHardware Platform |
| spellingShingle | Mohammad Nazeri Jeffrey Watchorn Sheldon Mei Alex Zhang Christine Allen Frank Gu Leveraging flexible pipette-based tool changes to transform liquid handling systems into dual-function sample preparation and imaging platforms HardwareX Real-Time Imaging Integration Liquid Handling Robot Automated Hydrogel Formulation High-Throughput Material Characterization Hardware Platform |
| title | Leveraging flexible pipette-based tool changes to transform liquid handling systems into dual-function sample preparation and imaging platforms |
| title_full | Leveraging flexible pipette-based tool changes to transform liquid handling systems into dual-function sample preparation and imaging platforms |
| title_fullStr | Leveraging flexible pipette-based tool changes to transform liquid handling systems into dual-function sample preparation and imaging platforms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Leveraging flexible pipette-based tool changes to transform liquid handling systems into dual-function sample preparation and imaging platforms |
| title_short | Leveraging flexible pipette-based tool changes to transform liquid handling systems into dual-function sample preparation and imaging platforms |
| title_sort | leveraging flexible pipette based tool changes to transform liquid handling systems into dual function sample preparation and imaging platforms |
| topic | Real-Time Imaging Integration Liquid Handling Robot Automated Hydrogel Formulation High-Throughput Material Characterization Hardware Platform |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468067225000318 |
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