Assay Development -- Innovadyne Technologies

Innovadyne Technologies offers flexible liquid handling configurations for assay development ranging from benchtop semi-automated systems to systems that can be integrated for higher throughput. Our fluidics design, with non-contact dispensing and a valve-free sample/reagent fluid path, combines the benefits of high precision dispensing with ease of maintenance.

Low dead volumes and fast, effective washing make Innovadyne liquid handlers cost effective and versatile for the user who requires an instrument that can handle a wide range of media (cells, beads, membranes), readily adapts to changing conditions and offers best-in-class performance. Our instruments are ideal for method development or short run assays that require frequent changes in reagents. All assay development platforms feature the Nanobuilder software system that enables a wide range of applications and data manipulation.

In the application note "Developing a Sterile, Reliable Laboratory Setup for Low-Volume Tuberculosis Antibiotic Discovery Assays", developed in collaboration with the Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases (Singapore), Novartis used a Nanodrop II with its stage in a Biosafety Level II containment cabinet to test potential antibiotics against proliferating tuberculosis bacteria. Novartis was able to demonstrate the precise and reproducible transfer of low volumes (down to 250 nL) of stock compounds into the assay plates without cross-contamination and operating for relatively long periods of time in isolation without maintenance and without loss of precision.

Initial Evaluation Runs, Low Volume

	1000 nL	500 nL	250 nL
Average Cv	3.2%	2.8%	6.2%

Production Runs, 50 µL (100 96-well plates)


Average Assay Z-Factor	.885
Average Signal-to-Background Ratio	10.1

Features (all platforms)

High precision liquid handling
Fast delivery minimizes well to well assay variability
Low-dead volumes
Valve-free fluid path -- supports dispensing of difficult media
Flexible configurations
Large dynamic volume range: 100 nL-40 uL
96, 384, 1536, 3456 plates
96/384/1536 low profile, Xtal, and deep well
User-friendly software
Ability to clean nozzles between runs
Simple to integrate with drivers available from most integrators
Reliable and easy to maintain
Simple to change between reagents

Platforms

Item	Description	Plate Positions	8-Tip Head	16-Tip Head	96-Tip Head	Syringe Channels	1,4, or 8-Tip Additions to all Wells
11638	Nanodrop II stage and fluidics	2	Yes	-	-	8	Yes
12056	Nanodrop Express stage/fluidics	1 or 2	-	Yes	-	16	Yes
11164	Screenmaker 96+8	5	Yes	-	Yes	16	Yes
12027	Platemaker HTS	5	Yes	-	Yes	104	Yes

Software

Item	Description
11727	Nanobuilder
10591	Nanodrop GUI (for Nanodrop only)

Accessories

Item	Description
11193	Reagent refill system (Nanodrop only)
11675	Paddle-wheel stirrer (Nanodrop only)
11731	Orbital shaker (all platforms)
	Wide-bore tip set (200 µm) (all platforms)

Specifications

Return-To-Spot Accuracy	0.1 mm
Aspiration Range, 8-Tip Head	0.1-500µL
Dispensing Range (8-Tip Non-Contact)	0.1-40µL
Dispensing Range (96-Tip)	Screenmaker: 0.1-125µL Platemaker: 0.1-80µL
Dispensing Precision, 8-Tip Head	CV<10% at 100nL, CV<7% at 200nL, CV<5% at 1µL
Dispensing Precision, 96-Tip Head	CV<15% at 100nL, CV<10% at 200nL, CV<5% at 1µL
Dispensing Accuracy, 8-Tip Head	±10% at 100nL, ±7% at 200nL, ±5% at >1 µL
Dispensing Accuracy, 96-Tip Head	Screenmaker: ±10% at 100-500nL, ±5% at >1 500nL Platemaker: ±10% at 100nL, ±7% at 200nL, ±5% at >1 µL
Dead Volume, 8-Tip head	1.5µL/channel at 1µL across 384-well plate
Dead Volume, 96-Tip head	<1µL/channel
Syringe Capacity	500, 1000µL