Maintaining Microclimates during Nanoliter Chemical Dispensations Using Custom-Designed Source Plate Lids

Area of Science:

• Chemical Engineering
• Laboratory Science
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Microtiter plates are widely used in chemical and biological research.
• Evaporation and contamination pose significant challenges to reagent integrity, especially with decreasing volumes.
• Advances in liquid handling technology necessitate improved methods for preserving chemical building blocks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate custom snap-on lids for microtiter plates.
• To assess the lids' efficacy in preventing solvent evaporation and atmospheric contamination.
• To demonstrate the preservation of air-sensitive reagents during automated liquid handling.

Main Methods:

• Custom snap-on lids with varying aperture sizes (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 mm) were designed.
• Lids were tested with noncontact acoustic and tip-based liquid handlers.
• Evaporation rates of methanol, 1-hexene, and water were measured.
• Contamination by oxygen and water in aqueous solvents and DMSO were quantified.

Main Results:

• All tested lids significantly reduced solvent evaporation rates (33% to 248%).
• Atmospheric contamination of aqueous solvents with oxygen was reduced below detectability.
• Water uptake by DMSO was reduced by 81%.
• Lids preserved the integrity of air-sensitive reagents during liquid handling processes.

Conclusions:

• Custom snap-on lids provide an effective solution for protecting microtiter plate contents.
• The lids are compatible with various liquid handling technologies, including acoustic droplet ejection.
• This method is essential for maintaining the quality of chemical reagents in modern high-throughput screening and research.