Abstract
Advion
CMS for Agilent Liquid Chromatography Systems
The Advion expression compact mass spectrometer (CMS) is now fully integrated with Agilent Technologies’ full range of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultra-HPLC systems. Full integration (control, data acquisition, and analysis) of the single quadropole CMS allows users a streamlined approach for liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry methods. Users now have full control of more than 70 Agilent ultra-HPLC modules, using a single software platform and a single PC through Advion’s Mass Express software.
More: www.advion.com
Beckman Coulter Life Sciences
Avanti J-26S High Performance Centrifuge
According to Beckman Coulter, its newly redesigned Avanti J-26S high-performance centrifuge combines environmental benefits with increased BioSafety features. Coupling the J-26S with new 1-L polypropylene bottles furthers sample security and extends the range of biopharmaceutical and research applications.
The J-26S provides high-speed, low-heat output; imbalance tolerance and low noise; and a range of separations capabilities. Dual-system rotor recognition automatically detects which rotor is installed and prevents it from being run above its maximum rated speed and does so without shutting down the run. Rotor library includes fixed-angle, swinging bucket, elutriation, continuous-flow, and zonal rotors that offer speeds as high as 26,000 rpm and rcf up to 81,800 g. The J-26S can process up to 6 L of fermenter output, deliver a subcellular fraction, run 24 microplates at a time, and separate live-cell populations with centrifugal elutriation.
Thick resin walls enable the new 1-L polypropylene bottles to be used in runs at speeds up to 16,800 g and temperatures up to 40 °C, providing higher g forces and more efficient runtimes while protecting samples from bottle failure.
More: www.beckmancoulter.com
Cellectricon
Cellaxess ACE Adherent Cell Electroporation System
Developed for in situ transfection of hard-to-transfect adherent cell types, this new platform enables transfection and delivery of nongenetic material in any adherent cell type at any developmental stage. The platform enables in situ primary and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)–derived cell types directly in 96- and 384-well microplates and cell culture dishes at any cellular developmental stage with excellent viability and completely retained cellular morphology. Cellaxess ACE is available as a complete system but can also be integrated with third-party pulse generators.
Applications for the Cellaxess ACE include transfection of various types of neuronal cells such as hippocampal and cortical neurons, dorsal root and superior cervical ganglia from rat as well as mouse, and human iPSC-derived dopaminergic neurons, to mention a few. Protocols are available for a wide range of neuronal cells as well as other adherent cell types.
More: www.cellectricon.com
FEI Company
Tecnai Arctica TEM
This new transmission electron microscope (TEM) incorporates automation and is pioneered on FEI’s flagship Titan Krios TEM to elucidate the 3D structure of biological macromolecules and molecular complexes.
According to FEI, the Tecnai Arctica is specifically designed for structural biologists. The system’s high-throughput and easy-to-use, highly automated workflow, combined with its lower acquisition cost, minimizes the overall cost of analysis per structure. Cryo TEMs, like the Titan Krios and now the Tecnai Arctica, can look at virtually any molecule or complex of molecules in a native, fully hydrated state. The Tecnai Arctica is part of a tightly integrated, start-to-finish workflow, comprising cryo-sample preparation, data acquisition and analysis, and final visualization, which greatly enhances the speed and efficiency of analysis. Its cryo-sample autoloader, combined with automated target identification and low-dose imaging, enables unattended acquisition of large SPA data sets that are practically impossible to acquire with manual methods. Its streamlined user interface and extensive automation of routine operations and setup procedures lower the threshold for operator expertise.
GE Healthcare
ÄKTA Pure Chromatography System for Protein Purification
According to GE, the ÄKTA pure chromatography system for purification of proteins is an easy-to-use modular system that offers the flexibility to support both routine and challenging purification requirements, as well as being adaptable to changing research needs. ÄKTA pure is specifically designed to enable researchers—from beginners to experts—to easily isolate target proteins, whether under simple or complex conditions. ÄKTA pure eliminates the need for programming skills to control the chromatography run, with the addition of simple drag-and-drop method templates in the UNICORN 6 control software. Through the software, it is also possible to electronically track the use of, and data obtained from, individual columns, which are considered useful as chromatography systems placed in shared facilities.
Hamilton Robotics
PCR Setup STARlet
According to Hamilton, this is the first automated liquid-handling system flexible enough to accommodate any DNA amplification reagent kit. The PCR setup STARlet is considered suitable for a wide range of applications, such as gene expression, genotyping, sequencing, or mutagenesis. It has been developed for different PCR types such as end-point, q, multiplex, or linear PCR. It is also the first workstation to offer an increased deck capacity of 25 plates and a smaller footprint than other systems in its class. Although developed for 96/384 PCR plates, the PCR setup STARlet can also be used with different labware types, such as strips or even rotor gene disks.
The system’s software traces all input components, completes setup information throughout the process, and stores all data for future use: protocols can be reused easily, and all process information is tracked consistently. The software also has an easy-to-use graphical user interface with included validation steps for more process safety and a flexible PCR plate-designing tool.
More: www.hamiltonrobotics.com
Hudson Robotics
Rapid_pH Workcell
The new Rapid_pH workcell can measure the pH of every well in a 96-well microplate in less than 6 min, with 0.1 accuracy. According to Hudson Robotics, this compares with several hours that a traditional pH probe would require to perform 96 separate readings.
More: www.hudsonrobotics.com/products/biological-esearch/automated-ph
TAP Biosystems
ambr 250 Automated Bioreactor System
The ambr 250 is a new automated bioreactor system for parallel fermentation or cell culture, using single-use 250-mL bioreactors controlled by an automated workstation. The system builds on TAP’s micro-bioreactor technology, adding increased fermentation volumes, as well as individual bioreactor temperature and impeller control. This allows rapid testing of a range of conditions and microbial strains to select the optimum ones for efficient scale-up to large-scale bench-top, stirred tank bioreactors.
The ambr 250 workstation uses novel single-use bioreactors (100–250 mL working volume), including versions suitable for fermentation or cell culture. The microbial bioreactors, which are independently controlled, have a cap for automated sampling and include baffles, a dual Rushton impeller, and all gas (O2, air, N2), liquid, and sensor connections. They are considered ideal for use in assessing different fermentation parameters with production microbes such as Escherichia coli, Pichia pastoris, and Aspergillus.
More: www.tapbiosystems.com
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Cytomat 10
According to Thermo, this fully automated incubator and storage module for high-capacity cell growth and assay incubation offers superior environmental control and can be seamlessly integrated with existing automated assay hardware. The Cytomat 10 provides a plate access time of less than 10 s. Multiple transfer positions and an under-bench version allow flexible incubator placement within the laboratory. As the first generation of an automated incubator with a fully validated thermal decontamination system, the Cytomat 10 is designed to significantly decrease the risk of contamination and reduce assay variability.
A thermal disinfection method practically eliminates germs and spore suspensions, even in areas that are difficult to reach via manual cleaning. Based on the ContraCon Routine of the Thermo Scientific HERAcell incubators, the Cytomat 10’s decontamination is carried out in wet conditions at 90 °C, leaving incubators virtually residue free. The Cytomat 10 incorporates humidity control via an external water reservoir, reducing the risk of contamination from an internal source and the need for repetitive incubator access. In addition, recovery times are virtually eliminated with a heated automatic access door, with a small opening.
The Thermo Scientific Cytomat 10 also incorporates an LCD monitor for incubation parameters and full-text readout messaging to inform the user of temperature, humidity, and gaseous atmosphere level changes. As a flexible incubation unit, the Cytomat 10 incorporates the Thermo Scientific internally automated PSS (Plate Shuttle System) to serve multiple access and loading positions.
TTP Labtech
acumen hci for Rapid Multiplexed Imaging
According to TTP Labtech, its new acumen hci (high-content imaging) system replaces the acumen eX3 as the fastest imager on the market for multiplex assays in up to 1536-well plates, and its new open-source image format offers flexibility to analyze images on existing analysis software if required. Together with whole-well imaging, these features make the acumen hci ideal for identifying “hit” wells in cell-based screens. Achieving unparalleled speeds during high-throughput screening, acumen hci can image and analyze the whole wells of 96- to 1536-well plates in just 8 min, at a resolution of 0.5 µm/pixel. Up to three lasers allow for easy multiplexing using a wide range of fluorescent dyes. The new 561-nm laser option offers compatibility with even more dyes, such as mCherry. Furthermore, with intuitive operation, multiple staff members can be easily trained. The acumen hci incorporates TTP Labtech’s cellista software, which enables high-throughput whole-well imaging of a range of hard-to-automate assays. The open-source, OME-compliant TIFF images can be exported without reducing scan times and are easily imported into a range of open-source and commercial image analysis packages. The acumen hci is also compatible with microscope slides using the widefield objective, for imaging of whole tissue sections in minutes.
More: http://discover.ttplabtech.com/acumen.html
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