Technologies That Enable Accurate and Precise Nano- to Milliliter-Scale Liquid Dispensing of Aqueous Reagents Using Acoustic Droplet Ejection

Journal of Laboratory Automation
Eric K SackmannSammy S Datwani

Abstract

Acoustic liquid handling uses high-frequency acoustic signals that are focused on the surface of a fluid to eject droplets with high accuracy and precision for various life science applications. Here we present a multiwell source plate, the Echo Qualified Reservoir (ER), which can acoustically transfer over 2.5 mL of fluid per well in 25-nL increments using an Echo 525 liquid handler. We demonstrate two Labcyte technologies-Dynamic Fluid Analysis (DFA) methods and a high-voltage (HV) grid-that are required to maintain accurate and precise fluid transfers from the ER at this volume scale. DFA methods were employed to dynamically assess the energy requirements of the fluid and adjust the acoustic ejection parameters to maintain a constant velocity droplet. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the HV grid enhances droplet velocity and coalescence at the destination plate. These technologies enabled 5-µL per destination well transfers to a 384-well plate, with accuracy and precision values better than 4%. Last, we used the ER and Echo 525 liquid handler to perform a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay to demonstrate an application that benefits from the flexibility and larger volume capabilities of the ER.

References

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Citations

Dec 3, 2016·Soft Matter·Massimo MastrangeliPierre Lambert
Oct 6, 2018·SLAS Discovery·Béatrice ColinCyril Couturier
Jan 23, 2016·Journal of Laboratory Automation·Joe OlechnoLynn Rasmussen
Dec 16, 2017·Nature Reviews. Drug Discovery·Gisbert Schneider
Oct 6, 2018·Acta Crystallographica. Section D, Structural Biology·Yasmin N SamaraLudmila Leroy
Nov 6, 2020·Lab on a Chip·Yuxin ZhangShi-Yang Tang
Mar 13, 2021·Soft Matter·Qing GuoDachao Li
Apr 3, 2019·ACS Central Science·Yuanze WangAlexander Dömling
Sep 3, 2021·The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·Li ShanJ Mark Meacham

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
PCR
Assay
Polymerase Chain Reaction

Software Mentioned

Labcyte

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