LabAutomation 2006 - SLAS

MP51
Michelle Li
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, Missouri
mwli0208@gmail.com
R. Scott Martin, Saint Louis University
LabAutomation2006
The Use of Microchip-based Pneumatic Valves to Couple a Continuous Flow Stream to
Microchip Electrophoresis
In order to gain more insight into the mechanisms leading to dopaminergic degeneration in Parkinson’s disease, new analytical tools
entailing cell cultures are needed. The development of an in vitro cell culture system mimicking an in vivo system allowing cells to
differentiate in a three-dimensional format will provide a means to monitor cellular activity. In effort towards developing such model, we
will present work showing that PC12 cells immobilized onto poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) channels through a trough method release
catecholamines that can be detected electrochemically within a microfluidic network. We have also recently explored using nerve growth
factor to help with the immobilization of PC12 cells into PDMS channels. To continuously monitor all of the catecholamines released
from PC12 cells, pressure-based PDMS microvalves have been developed to couple the microchip cell reactor to electrophoresis. These
pneumatic valves can actuate on the order of milliseconds, allowing discrete injections from a continuous flow stream into a separation
channel for electrophoresis. A pushback channel included in the final design helped eliminate stagnant sample associated with the injector
dead volume. The effect of actuation time, pushback voltage, and sample flow rate on the performance of the device will be discussed.
The optimized design demonstrated good reproducibility (RSD=1.77%, n=15) with concentration experiments demonstrating a lag time of
13 seconds. We will discuss the use of this microchip interface to study the effects of nitric oxide on the release of catecholamines from
PC12 cells.
MP52
Sophia Liang
Aurora Biomed
Vancouver, Canada
sophia@aurorabiomed.com
Co-Author(s)
Sikander Gill
Aurora Biomed Inc.
Rajwant Gill
David Wicks
Joy Goswami
Dong Liang
Development & Validation of Automated Workstation for HTS Flux Assays
Advances in genomics, proteomics, and combinatorial chemistries have dramatically increased the needs for automation of processes in
biological assays, and microarrays. Automated liquid handling systems for carrying high throughput screening assays have been felt as
an invaluable tool for the drug discovery and development industry. Therefore, the lack of such systems has been a major bottleneck in
the drug development process. In recent years, the increasing demand for high throughput in the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors has
initiated the development of versatile workstations from simple semi-automated bench-top liquid handlers to fully automated integratable
workstations.
With the objective of improving efficiency and increasing the level of automation and miniaturization, an automation system called VERSA
was developed by Aurora Biomed Inc. This system can automate a range of throughputs and applications in genomics, proteomics,
drug discovery, and analytical applications. We describe the development and validation of this fully automated workstation to carry “walk
away” cell based assay using cells expressing an ion channel. A panel of positive inhibitors of the ion flux was applied to determine the
IC50 values for automated assay system and was compared to the values obtained from the manually performed assay. The standard
error mean was used to measure the variability among the replicates. The Z’ factor values for both the automated system and manual
performance were also compared. The studies conclude that in addition to the efficiency, VERSA generated comparable results and quality
performance to the assay.
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