Do-it-yourself instrument integration into an existing mammalian cell line development automation platform

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Laboratory Automation
• Software Engineering

Background:

• Biopharmaceutical laboratory automation often relies on expensive, proprietary solutions from specialized providers.
• Customizing existing laboratory instruments offers a potentially lower-cost, more flexible alternative.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the feasibility of using open-source software for laboratory instrument integration.
• To automate imaging procedures within a cell line development workflow using a do-it-yourself (DIY) approach.
• To optimize automated imaging processes through software customization.

Main Methods:

• Integration of a microplate imager with an existing automation platform (robotic arm, automated incubator) using the AutoIt scripting language.
• Development of automated scan profile selection.
• Implementation of automated and remote system error handling protocols.

Main Results:

• Successful automation of the imaging procedure in a cell line development workflow.
• Enhanced efficiency and flexibility of the laboratory automation workflow.
• Significant cost savings compared to traditional contracted automation solutions.

Conclusions:

• Open-source scripting languages like AutoIt provide a versatile and cost-effective solution for DIY laboratory automation.
• This approach can significantly improve the efficiency and adaptability of laboratory workflows in the biopharmaceutical industry.
• DIY instrument integration empowers researchers to customize and optimize their automation setups.