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Openspritzer: an open hardware pressure ejection system for reliably delivering picolitre volumes
C J Forman1, H Tomes2, B Mbobo2,3
1School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Sussex, United Kingdom. chrisforman@cantab.net.
Scientific Reports
|May 21, 2017
Summary
Researchers developed Openspritzer, a low-cost, open-hardware system for precise picolitre fluid delivery. This high-performance device matches commercial systems and enables accurate reagent dosing for biological research, including neurobiology applications.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Neuroscience
- Open Hardware Development
Background:
- Precise picolitre-volume delivery is crucial for biological research.
- Existing commercial systems can be expensive and inaccessible.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce Openspritzer, a high-performance, low-cost, open-hardware pressure ejection system.
- To characterize Openspritzer's performance and demonstrate its utility in neurobiological applications.
Main Methods:
- Construction of the Openspritzer system from off-the-shelf components.
- Performance characterization using two-photon fluorescence microscopy, comparing Openspritzer to a commercial system.
- Demonstration of applications in neurobiology, including reagent delivery to neurons and infectious agent delivery.
Main Results:
- Openspritzer demonstrated comparable control over reagent dose delivery to a commercial system.
- The system successfully elicited time- and dose-precise neuronal voltage responses.
- Openspritzer facilitated the delivery of viral and bacterial agents, including viral transfection for optogenetics.
Conclusions:
- Openspritzer offers a high-performance, low-cost alternative for precise fluid delivery.
- The system is versatile and suitable for a wide range of applications in life and physical sciences.
- Openspritzer's open-hardware nature promotes accessibility and innovation in research.
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