Journal of Laboratory Automation

Historically, access to large numbers of quality compounds in a parallel solution phase library synthesis environment has been hindered by the inability to rapidly purify, quantitate, and characterize solution phase libraries in an efficient and cost effective manner. At Neurogen Corporation, we overcome these barriers by employing a collection of novel workstations in the High Speed Synthesis (HSS) group that are tightly integrated into our informatics architecture. This approach supports rapid and reliable instrument operation, rapid interpretation of results, and decision analysis for further downstream tasks and processing. Our movement of library samples and data from workstation to workstation facilitates synthesis throughput and the utilization of equipment, creating a cost-effective library production environment.

Historically, access to large numbers of quality compounds in a parallel solution phase library synthesis environment has been hindered by the inability to rapidly purify, quantitate, and characterize solution phase libraries in an efficient and cost effective manner. At Neurogen Corporation, we overcome these barriers by employing a collection of novel workstations in the High Speed Synthesis (HSS) group that are tightly integrated into our informatics architecture. This approach supports rapid and reliable instrument operation, rapid interpretation of results, and decision analysis for further downstream tasks and processing. Our movement of library samples and data from workstation to workstation facilitates synthesis throughput and the utilization of equipment, creating a cost-effective library production environment.

Automated cell culture incubators generally are considered primary components of fully automated cell culture systems, which are able to monitor cell growth without human interaction. This tutorial is focused on automated cell culture incubators. It emphasizes the impact of automation on throughput and environmental controls (temperature, humidity, and CO₂) and proposes some basic protocols to check these functions. In addition, it details practical aspects for switching from manual to automated cell culture incubators.

Automated cell culture incubators generally are considered primary components of fully automated cell culture systems, which are able to monitor cell growth without human interaction. This tutorial is focused on automated cell culture incubators. It emphasizes the impact of automation on throughput and environmental controls (temperature, humidity, and CO₂) and proposes some basic protocols to check these functions. In addition, it details practical aspects for switching from manual to automated cell culture incubators.

We evaluated the benefits of automation on the technical performance of a new automated cell culture incubator, the Autocell 200®, developed by Jouan SA. In addition, we assessed the potential interference of the embedded mechanical parts on cell culture growth. We measured a throughput of 150 plates loaded per hour, and 120 plates unloaded per hour, which is compatible with an external robotic handler. The mean time of robotic gate opening was 7 s. The gate pathway minimized climate disturbances inside the incubator. For CO₂, we used a delay between opening events of 1 min. Biological assay results did not demonstrate a significant difference between the automated incubator and a traditional manual incubator, but we concluded that automation using the Autocell 200® could provide meaningful benefits for cell culture.

We evaluated the benefits of automation on the technical performance of a new automated cell culture incubator, the Autocell 200®, developed by Jouan SA. In addition, we assessed the potential interference of the embedded mechanical parts on cell culture growth. We measured a throughput of 150 plates loaded per hour, and 120 plates unloaded per hour, which is compatible with an external robotic handler. The mean time of robotic gate opening was 7 s. The gate pathway minimized climate disturbances inside the incubator. For CO2, we used a delay between opening events of 1 min. Biological assay results did not demonstrate a significant difference between the automated incubator and a traditional manual incubator, but we concluded that automation using the Autocell 200® could provide meaningful benefits for cell culture.

Microarray technology is a multiplex analytical technique for the detection of many different analytes in a mixture of biomolecules. The detection limits for each of the analytes for which the array is designed depend on a multiplicity of reaction parameters, the array itself, and profoundly on the label and detection technology employed. Significant improvements in assay sensitivity have been achieved by optimizing all steps that affect the generation of signal and noise. Nanoparticle technology brings a new dimension to this technology by providing not only higher sensitivity but also improved specificity for hybridization-based microarray assay systems.

Microarray technology is a multiplex analytical technique for the detection of many different analytes in a mixture of biomolecules. The detection limits for each of the analytes for which the array is designed depend on a multiplicity of reaction parameters, the array itself, and profoundly on the label and detection technology employed. Significant improvements in assay sensitivity have been achieved by optimizing all steps that affect the generation of signal and noise. Nanoparticle technology brings a new dimension to this technology by providing not only higher sensitivity but also improved specificity for hybridization-based microarray assay systems.

One of the major challenges facing the emerging field of proteomics research is related to the technical difficulties in analyzing protein structure and function on a genomic scale. The routine purification of protein complexes as a means to investigate protein–protein interaction networks is of particularly high interest because of its significant potential to improve overall understanding of protein function and to improve ongoing drug discovery efforts. Automation of currently practiced laboratory procedures has the potential to markedly improve protein purification throughput, but important technical issues remain to be addressed. This paper investigates key bottlenecks in the automation of standard affinity-based procedures for protein complex purification and introduces a promising conceptual design for an automated workcell that would allow for rapid and efficient magnetic bead-based purification of protein complexes from model organisms suitable for a medium-sized research laboratory setting. The design specifications are based on a modular and flexible design that will permit routine, unattended batch isolation and processing of protein complexes from microbes. (JALA 2003;8:101–6)

One of the major challenges facing the emerging field of proteomics research is related to the technical difficulties in analyzing protein structure and function on a genomic scale. The routine purification of protein complexes as a means to investigate protein–protein interaction networks is of particularly high interest because of its significant potential to improve overall understanding of protein function and to improve ongoing drug discovery efforts. Automation of currently practiced laboratory procedures has the potential to markedly improve protein purification throughput, but important technical issues remain to be addressed. This paper investigates key bottlenecks in the automation of standard affinity-based procedures for protein complex purification and introduces a promising conceptual design for an automated workcell that would allow for rapid and efficient magnetic bead-based purification of protein complexes from model organisms suitable for a medium-sized research laboratory setting. The design specifications are based on a modular and flexible design that will permit routine, unattended batch isolation and processing of protein complexes from microbes.

This report describes an integrated, software-based quality control system designed to significantly improve the sample analysis throughput and quality of beryllium analysis laboratories throughout the U.S. Department of Energy complex. Originally, this system was developed to minimize the downtimes of expensive instrumentation (here: Perkin Elmer® 4300™ DV Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometers) and to automate the sample analysis quality control process. This automated software system was also expected to eliminate time-consuming and error-prone result data interpretation, which previously was done manually. To achieve these goals, Los Alamos National Laboratory recently implemented a rule-based decision support system in the C#.NET™ that continuously extracts and analyzes data from the instrument's result database as the data is being generated. Using a customer-specific expert rule base, the system is capable of detecting abnormal operating situations fully autonomously in real time. This also enables the system to perform on-the-fly quality control and automatic, electronic event notification of lab personnel via e-mail and pager. (JALA 2003;8:107–12)

This report describes an integrated, software-based quality control system designed to significantly improve the sample analysis throughput and quality of beryllium analysis laboratories throughout the U.S. Department of Energy complex. Originally, this system was developed to minimize the downtimes of expensive instrumentation (here: Perkin Elmer® 4300™ DV Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometers) and to automate the sample analysis quality control process. This automated software system was also expected to eliminate time-consuming and error-prone result data interpretation, which previously was done manually. To achieve these goals, Los Alamos National Laboratory recently implemented a rule-based decision support system in the C#.NET™ that continuously extracts and analyzes data from the instrument's result database as the data is being generated. Using a customer-specific expert rule base, the system is capable of detecting abnormal operating situations fully autonomously in real time. This also enables the system to perform on-the-fly quality control and automatic, electronic event notification of lab personnel via e-mail and pager.

The events that occurred following the mailing of Bacillus anthracis-laced envelopes through the postal system has highlighted the need to perform biological screening on large numbers of environmental samples. High-throughput screening that relies on integrated robotic systems to speed analysis has been undertaken to handle the surge in samples requiring testing in events involving weapons of mass destruction. These automated screening systems require DNA extraction methods capable of handling environmental samples that contain inhibitors and have target organisms at low concentrations. This study describes the development of a method for the detection of the biological warfare agent simulants Erwinia herbicola and Bacillus subtilis var. niger spores using paramagnetic bead-based resin with an automated liquid handler and environmental samples.

The events that occurred following the mailing of Bacillus anthracis-laced envelopes through the postal system has highlighted the need to perform biological screening on large numbers of environmental samples. High-throughput screening that relies on integrated robotic systems to speed analysis has been undertaken to handle the surge in samples requiring testing in events involving weapons of mass destruction. These automated screening systems require DNA extraction methods capable of handling environmental samples that contain inhibitors and have target organisms at low concentrations. This study describes the development of a method for the detection of the biological warfare agent simulants Erwinia herbicola and Bacillus subtilis var. niger spores using paramagnetic bead-based resin with an automated liquid handler and environmental samples.