With a vast range of applications, the liquid handling renaissance is optimizing everything from drug discovery campaigns to probe development. The diverse array of liquid handling options has given researchers a robust selection of pipets, handlers, washers, stackers, and robotic systems to stock their laboratories. However, navigating these selections can even pose a challenge to the most seasoned laboratory professionals. This is why Labcompare has decided to do all the heavy lifting and breakdown the ins and outs of liquid handling equipment in this month’s Buyer's Guide.
Pipets
Utilized in a large range of scientific applications to transport a measured volume of liquid. Common configurations include manual, automated, multi-channel, and digital pipettes. Key considerations include volume, calibration protocol, digital tracking capabilities, tip number on multi-models.
Products to consider:
- Biohit Picus Electronic Pipette
- AccuPet Pro Single Channel Pipette
- Evolution Advanced Pipettes
- Rainin LTS
Micro-Transfer Devices
The contact-based dispensing device is designed for a nanoliter scale. The liquid is transferred via capillary action and surface tension. Key considerations include hydrophobic applications to pins and bottom ends of pins can be solid, slotted or grooved.
Products to consider:
- FLIPR Tetra system
- TC-1536
Peristaltic-Based devices
Tubing is wrapped around a set of rollers on a motor. As the motor rotates the rollers compress the tubing generating positive displacement of the fluid, resulting in continuous fluid motion. Dispensing volumes can go as low as 5 ul with fast dispensing option available. A great option for bulk reagent dispensing.
Products to consider:
- Metrohm Peristaltic Pumps for Liquid Handling
- Omega 316SS
Piezoelectric Devices
Non-contact dispenser where liquid is transferred via tiny drops. Several thousand drops can be dispensed per second with drop sizes in the picoliter to nanoliter scale. The volume of the droplet is influenced by bore diameter, solution viscosity, and voltage pulse amplitude and frequency. Applications include biochemical solutions, bacterial suspensions, and genetic material.
Products to consider:
- Dolomite Piezoelectric Pumps
- PI: Piezo Technology Piezo Ceramics
Solenoid-Based Devices
Non-contact dispensers whose flow is generated by a solenoid valve actuated by an electric current, allowing fluid to pass through the valve. The duration of the valve in the open position, size of the orifice opening, and fluid pressure are key components to regulating the dispensing volume.
Products to consider:
- ATEX solenoid valve
- Microdrop Technologies GmbH solenoid valve
- Metrohm solenoid valve module
Acoustic Devices
This touch-less technology utilizes acoustic energy to generate high precision droplet dispensing. Tip-less dispensing removes contamination risk while enabling significantly faster workflows. Top tier manufacturers have incorporated automated systems serving nanoliter to microliter volumes. Significant developments in acoustic liquid handling have been demonstrated in applications like synthetic biology.
- Beckman Coulter Life Sciences Echo Liquid Handler
Automated Liquid Handlers
Automated microplate handlers are capable of transferring multiple plates at once from a microplate stacker so that plate centrifugation, plate sealing, barcode and other plate labeling functionalities can be completed efficiently. Cell viability and high throughput PCR clean up applications are examples of the efficacy of automated microplate handlers.
- PerkinElmer Janus
- Agilent Bravo Automated Liquid Handling Platform
Plate Sealers
Automated thermal microplate sealers sync with an automated microplate handler to accommodate PCR, deep-well, assay and compound storage microplates. Utilizing a variety of seals, a fully automated lab plate sealer is engineered for robotic integration.
- Hamilton Plate Sealer
- ThermoFisher Scientific ALPS 3000™ Automated Microplate Heat Sealer
Plate Stackers
Plate stacker peripherals provide an ideal footprint to transfer microplates into and out of an automated laboratory workstation. You can find a number of different plate stacking systems and associated accessories. Common models include the Agilent BenchCel, Tecan Te-Stack, Biotek BioStack, and others.
Products to consider:
Microplate Washers
Microplate washers are laboratory instruments designed to automate assay applications where a washing step is needed. Their application is supportive in applications such as ELISA and high-content screening. Automated systems have led to significant decreases in time and labor by streamlining the many washing steps needed in traditional processes. Key components of a microplate washer are the plate carrier, vacuum/pump assembly and manifold housing stainless steel needle probes for dispensing.
Products to consider:
- Biotek Multi-Mode Washer Dispensers
- Hudson Robotics RapidWash™ High-Speed Microplate Washer
Labeling and Software
Automated barcode labelers and printers integrate hands-free plate labeling so that all microplates are labeled, enabling a cloning capability of existing labels, and allowing microplate tracking. Lab workflow management software connects components in your laboratory ecosystem so that all samples, experiments and results are managed. By combining elements of LIMS and ELN, laboratories can perform comprehensive monitoring of assets and error identification.
Products to consider:
- Agilent The BenchCel WorkStation
Robotic Systems
A robotic liquid handling system makes sure automated and flexible sample preparations are utilized for a variety of applications including cell-based assays, biochemical assays, and compound management. Automated liquid handling robots dispense and sample liquids in tubes or wells and are often integrated as automated injection modules as the front end of liquid chromatographic systems. These systems are paramount for optimized sample preparation in high throughput screening/sequencing (HTC), weighing, sample preparation, and bio-assays. The automated pipetting systems handle volumes ranging from .5 ul to 5 L. These units may have built-in components in order to feed samples into heating and cooling systems for thermal cycling or shaking systems depending on the target application, or are physically constructed for easy integration with peripheral labware. Liquid handlers with robotic arms enable researchers to program the devices to manipulate external labware to extend the system's uses.
Products to consider:
- Agilent’s Bravo Automated Liquid Handling Platform
Automated Systems
About the Author:
Chris Cicinelli is the Associate Editor of Labcompare and American Laboratory