Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 11, 2026
14:48
Generation of Dynamical Environmental Conditions using a High-Throughput Microfluidic Device
Published on: April 17, 2021
4.6K
Automated fluid delivery from multiwell plates to microfluidic devices for high-throughput experiments and microscopy
Ross C Lagoy1, Dirk R Albrecht2,3
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA, 01609, USA.
Scientific Reports
|April 20, 2018
Summary
This study introduces a low-cost, open-source robotic system that seamlessly integrates multiwell plates and microfluidics. This innovation enables automated, high-throughput screening and complex biological experiments, accelerating scientific discovery.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Neuroscience
- Chemical Biology
Background:
- High-throughput experiments commonly use multiwell plates for static screening and microfluidic devices for dynamic fluid control.
- Integrating these platforms is challenging due to cost and complexity, limiting advanced applications like precise compound screening.
- A need exists for a simple, automated solution to bridge multiwell plates and microfluidics for enhanced experimental capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a simple, open-source robotic system for automated liquid handling between multiwell plates and microfluidic devices.
- To demonstrate the system's capability in diverse high-throughput applications, including biological and chemical screening.
- To showcase the system's potential to accelerate experimental workflows and reduce costs in scientific research.
Main Methods:
- Development of a novel open-source robotic system for sequential liquid delivery from multiwell plates to microfluidics via a single inlet.
- Characterization of system reliability and performance using automated dye solution delivery to a microfluidic device.
- Application of the system for in vivo neural activity measurement in C. elegans and automation of a multi-step cell staining protocol.
Main Results:
- Successful automated delivery of 96 dye solutions to a microfluidic device, confirming system reliability.
- Measurement of odor dose-response curves in C. elegans neural activity, demonstrating high-throughput biological screening.
- Identification of neural modulators and automation of an 85-minute cell staining protocol, showcasing versatility.
Conclusions:
- The developed robotic system economically and effectively bridges multiwell plates and microfluidics, enabling new high-throughput experimental capabilities.
- This platform accelerates diverse research protocols, from chemical screening to complex biological assays.
- The open-source nature of the system promotes accessibility and further innovation in automated experimental science.
Related Concept Videos
01:12Fluid Pressure over Curved Plate of Constant Width
2.0K
When a curved plate of constant width is submerged in a liquid, the pressure acting normal to the plate varies continuously both in magnitude and direction. Calculating the magnitude and location of the resultant force at a point is often challenging for such cases. One of the methods to determine the resultant force and its location involves separately calculating the horizontal and vertical components of the resultant force. This complex calculation can be simplified by representing the...
2.0K
01:05Fluid Pressure over Flat Plate of Constant Width
2.5K
When a body is submerged in water, it experiences fluid pressure acting normal on its surface and distributed over its area. For better design structures, it is crucial to determine the magnitude and location of the resultant force acting on the surface. In the case of a rectangular plate of constant width submerged in water, the pressure increases with depth, resulting in a linearly varying trapezoidal pressure distribution from the upper to the lower edge of the plate.
The resultant force...
The resultant force...
2.5K
01:02Fluid Pressure over Flat Plate of Variable Width
2.1K
When a flat plate is submerged in a fluid, the fluid exerts pressure on the plate. This pressure can lead to many different phenomena, including drag and buoyancy. To understand the behavior of the fluid over a flat plate of variable width, it is essential to analyze the distribution of the pressure exerted.
The pressure distribution on the plate can be calculated by determining the force that acts on a differential area strip of the plate. Thus, the magnitude of the force is equal to the...
The pressure distribution on the plate can be calculated by determining the force that acts on a differential area strip of the plate. Thus, the magnitude of the force is equal to the...
2.1K
01:12What is an Experiment?
19.1K
An experiment is a planned activity carried out under controlled conditions. The purpose of an experiment is to investigate the relationship between two variables. When one variable causes change in another, we call the first variable the explanatory or independent variable. The affected variable is called the response or dependent variable. In a randomized experiment, the researcher manipulates values of the explanatory variable and measures the resulting changes in the response variable. The...
19.1K
01:34The Fluid Mosaic Model
179.5K
The fluid mosaic model was first proposed as a visual representation of research observations. The model comprises the composition and dynamics of membranes and serves as a foundation for future membrane-related studies. The model depicts the structure of the plasma membrane with a variety of components, which include phospholipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. These integral molecules are loosely bound, defining the cell’s border and providing fluidity for optimal function.
179.5K
01:19Thomson's e/m Experiment
6.9K
In a beam of charged particles created by a heated cathode, the particles move at different speeds. However, many applications need a beam with uniform particle speeds. An arrangement known as a velocity selector uses electric and magnetic fields to pick particles with a particular speed from the beam.
A particle with charge q, speed v, and mass m enters an area from the top, where the magnetic and electric fields are perpendicular both to the particle's motion and to one another. The magnetic...
A particle with charge q, speed v, and mass m enters an area from the top, where the magnetic and electric fields are perpendicular both to the particle's motion and to one another. The magnetic...
6.9K