Automation of biochemical assays using an open-sourced, inexpensive robotic liquid handler

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Science
• Biotechnology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• High Throughput Screening (HTS) is vital for pharmaceutical drug discovery and development.
• Robotic liquid handlers are essential in Vaccines Analytical Research and Development (V-AR&D) for assay development and sample screening.
• Existing HTS instruments are costly and require extensive user training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the Opentrons OT-2 liquid handler as a cost-effective alternative for HTS.
• To assess the OT-2's performance in biochemical assays for drug discovery applications.
• To determine the suitability of the OT-2 for method transfer and early-stage development.

Main Methods:

• The Opentrons OT-2 liquid handler was utilized for assay development and sample screening.
• Two biochemical assays were performed to evaluate the OT-2's pipetting accuracy and precision.
• Performance was benchmarked against established Tecan EVO liquid handlers.

Main Results:

• The OT-2 demonstrated accurate pipetting performance with low covariance.
• It offers a significantly lower cost point (under $10,000) compared to traditional HTS instruments.
• The open-source nature and Python programming reduce training requirements and enhance flexibility.

Conclusions:

• The Opentrons OT-2 is a viable, cost-effective liquid handling solution for medium-throughput applications.
• Its affordability and flexibility make it suitable for early-stage pharmaceutical research and development.
• The OT-2 facilitates method transfer and broadens testing capabilities without substantial capital investment.