Adapting a Low-Cost and Open-Source Commercial Pipetting Robot for Nanoliter Liquid Handling.

SLAS Technology
E Enoch A W CouncillRyan T Kelly

Abstract

Low-volume liquid handling capabilities in bioanalytical workflows can dramatically improve sample processing efficiency and reduce reagent costs, yet many commercial nanoliter liquid handlers cost tens of thousands of dollars or more. We have successfully adapted a low-cost and open-source commercial pipetting robot, the Opentrons OT-1, to accurately aspirate and dispense nanoliter volumes. Based on fluorescence measurements, the modified OT-1 was able to reproducibly transfer 50 nL of water with less than 3% measurement error and 5% coefficient of variation (CV). For 15 nL transfers, the volume measurements indicated less than 4% error and 4% CV. We applied this platform to the preparation of low-nanogram proteomic samples for liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, demonstrating that the modified OT-1 is an effective platform for nanoliter liquid handling. At a total materials cost of less than $6000, including the commercial liquid handler and all modifications, this system is also far less expensive than other platforms with similar capabilities, placing automated nanoliter handling within reach of a far broader scientific community.

References

Feb 8, 2011·Advances in Colloid and Interface Science·Michael RabeStefan Seeger
Feb 15, 2011·Analytical Biochemistry·Miriam Goebel-StengelJoseph R Reeve
Feb 24, 2012·Journal of Laboratory Automation·Fanwei KongWeidong Chen
Nov 22, 2018·Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry·Kerui XuRyan T Kelly
May 22, 2019·Nature·Mike May
Jun 15, 2019·Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry·Ryan T Kelly, Ying Zhu
Jan 9, 2020·Nature Communications·Paul D PiehowskiKristin E Burnum-Johnson

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Software Mentioned

Opentrons
LabView
MaxQuant
Autodesk Fusion 360
R

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