Lab-made open-source controlled robotic workstation for sorbent-based dispersive microextraction of low-volume...

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Robotics
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Microextraction techniques offer advantages over traditional methods but often require tedious manual operations.
• Commercial automation systems for sample preparation are prohibitively expensive for many labs.
• There is a need for cost-effective automation solutions in sample preparation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a low-cost, open-source robotic workstation for semi-automated sorbent-based dispersive microextraction.
• To address the limitations of manual sample preparation and expensive commercial automation systems.
• To provide an accessible automation solution for microextraction techniques.

Main Methods:

• Construction of a lab-made robotic workstation using affordable hardware and 3D-printed components.
• Control of the robotic system via open-source Arduino software.
• Application of the workstation for semi-automated dispersive microextraction of analytes in biological samples.

Main Results:

• The developed robotic workstation successfully performed semi-automated sorbent-based dispersive microextraction.
• The system was utilized for the determination of long-chain acylcarnitines in newborn serum using flow injection analysis-tandem mass spectrometry (FIA-MS/MS).
• The method demonstrated good sensitivity, precision, and accuracy, and was applied to real patient samples.

Conclusions:

• The presented robotic workstation is the first non-commercial system specifically designed for sorbent-based dispersive microextraction.
• The open-source and low-cost nature of the system makes automated sample preparation more accessible to a wider range of laboratories.
• This development aligns with the trend towards automation in sample preparation, offering significant advantages over manual procedures.