Robotic systems screening

A regularly formed crystal of reasonable size (typically >500 pm in each dimension) is required for X-ray diffraction. Samples of pure protein are screened against a matrix of buffers, additives, or precipitants for conditions under which they form crystals. This can require many thousands of trials and has benefited from increased automation over the past five years. Most large crystallographic laboratories now have robotics systems, and the most sophisticated also automate the visualization of the crystallization experiments, to monitor the appearance of crystalline material. Such developments [e.g., Ref. 1] are adding computer visualization and pattern recognition to the informatics requirements. 

Directed evolution relies on the analysis of large numbers of clones to enable the discovery of rare variants with unproved function. In order to analyze these large libraries, methods of screening or selection have been developed, many of which use specialized equipment or automation. These range from the use of multichannel pipettes, all the way up to robotics, depending on the level of investment [59]. Specialized robotic systems are available to perform tasks such as colony picking, cell culture, protein purification, and cell-based assays. 

Figure 3 (A) Robot system for lipofection screening (A) Worktable with racks for microplates, buffer reservoirs, plastic, and glass vials. (B) Four tip liquid handling arm. (C) Gripper for transport of microplates and glass test tubes. (D) High power water bath sonicator. ( ) Nitrogen evaporator. (F) Microplate washer. (G) Absorbance reader. (H) Luminescence reader. (/) Transparent hood. (/) CO2 incubator with pneumatic door (from the rear, front view in B). (B) Self-constructed robotic conveyor for the transport of cell culture plates from the incubator to the worktable.

Drug discovery scientists have already adopted tools such as combinatorial chemistry synthesizers robotic systems for high-throughput screening (HTS) and software... 

Robotic systems with abilities to localize single colonies on a plate, to grow colonies on a plate, and to inoculate in liquid culture allow screening of up to 1000 strains per week. Given the necessity to screen about 10-100 000 strains in order to find a useful biocatalyst, this means one could expect the process to take 10-100... 

Compound Screen Platforms Workstations and Fully Automated Robotic Systems.189... 

COMPOUND SCREEN PLATFORMS WORKSTATIONS AND FULLY AUTOMATED ROBOTIC SYSTEMS... 

The operator s attention is still necessary during continuous screening modes, and he or she can be alerted via email or telephone of problems arising during off hours. Cooperation between assay development scientists and robotic engineers is required for reagent preparation and trouble shooting. Some of the operational issues of fully automated robotic systems include ... 

Fig. 8.4. Examples of robotic enzyme screening workstations. A) Linear system (Zymark) B) Circular system (CyBio).

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