Beckman Coulter Adds Submicroliter Pipetting Capabilities to Liquid Handling Line

25 Jun 2007

Product news

Beckman Coulter, Inc. has added two nanofluidic workstations to its liquid handling portfolio. The BioRAPTR FRD™ and PicoRAPTR™ systems, developed by Aurora Discovery, feature advanced, accurate fluidic technology, ideal for assay miniaturization.

The BioRAPTR workstation is an automated, non-contact dispenser for 384-, 1536- and 3456-well plate formats. It delivers precise and accurate dispensing across a low-volume range of 100 nL to 60 µL, without cross contamination. The PicoRAPTR features an eight-tip piezo head and dual-plate carrier stage for high-speed aspiration and pipetting of ultra-low volumes – 1 nL to 100 µL. With various configurations, the PicoRAPTR workstation provides the ability to complete spotting; compound formatting; dose response for cell-based assays; and SNP assays in high-density microplates, slides and chips.

“The addition of these systems to our product line addresses the high-growth assay miniaturization market in drug discovery and genomics,” commented Chris Neary, vice president of biomarker discovery and automation for Beckman Coulter. “The advanced fluidic technology behind theses systems delivers the high pipetting accuracy that is necessary for submicroliter volume applications.”

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Genome AnalysisGenomics, the study of genomes, includes functional genomics, evolutionary genomics and comparative genomics. There are many genomic technologies such as DNA sequencing of whole genomes, computational biology and bioinformatics. DNA and nucleic acids must be isolated and concentrated from cells for analysis with kits, automated analyzers and software. Other useful technologies for studying genomics include PCR, microarrays and electrophoresis.Lab-on-a-ChipLab-on-a-chip (LOC) technology uses microfluidic chips, such as microarrays, to perform biochemical assays on a small scale. Benefits of lab-on-a-chip include the small volume of sample required as well as the speed of analysis. In selecting lab-on-a-chip devices consider the assay, cost, reliability, sensitivity and signal to noise ratio.Microplate Readers / DetectorsMicroplate readers are used to automate the detection and analysis of labeled or label-free components in microplates during assays or live-cell monitoring. Microplate readers are generally distinguished by their mode of detection. Types include absorbance, luminescence, fluorescence intensity, fluorescence polarization, TRF / FRET and multimode microplate readers. Microplate readers deliver a high throughput of samples by reading multiple wells simultaneously, with the 96-well format the most commonly used. As a result, microplate readers are often used in the drug discovery, bioassays, research and pharmaceutical industries for screening applications. Microplate loading can also be automated, with robotic microplate stackers to increase throughput. Find the best microplate readers in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.SNPs TechnologySingle nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are individual base variations in a DNA sequence. SNPs are used in research to study predispositions to disease and drug discovery. Products for studying single nucleotide polymorphisms include SNP arrays and detection systems to detect polymorphisms, SNP typing systems for genotyping DNA, and PCR to amplify specific SNPs.Cell-Based AssaysCell-based assays are used to monitor the presence, quantity and activities of a desired cellular analyte including drug molecules or biomarkers. This can reveal information on cell health (apoptosis, cytotoxicity, viability and proliferation assays), cell metabolism, cell migration and cell signaling mechanisms. Find the best cell-based assay products, kits and equipment with our peer reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receiving pricing direct from manufacturers.BiomarkersBiomarkers are biological markers which can be measured and evaluated to indicate a biological state. The use of biomarkers in research and diagnosis can indicate a normal or disease state or drug response of cells / tissues. Biomarkers include genetic markers, cell surface markers such as antigens, antibodies or receptors and secreted molecules such as cytokines. An assay system is required for identification of biomarkers. :
Beckman Coulter Adds Submicroliter Pipetting Capabilities to Liquid Handling Line