Streamlining Scientific Processes: Laboratory Automation Solutions

Laboratory automation solutions play an important role in helping scientists streamline processes, save time, and reduce both costs and errors. Implementing automation effectively begins with assessing your laboratory’s workflow needs, especially as innovative technologies like liquid handling platforms continue to evolve and offer even further benefits and solutions for laboratory workflows. As these innovations advance, they enhance precision and quality while strengthening data management capabilities with powerful software. Robotic solutions now complement these technologies, enabling laboratories to reach new and exciting levels of productivity and research. 

This article explores the value of laboratory automation, the impact of liquid handling systems, and key considerations when implementing automation.

Why is laboratory automation important?

Consider a scenario in which a research group evaluates a new drug compound’s effectiveness. This procedure normally requires a lot of human labor, including serial dilutions and careful pipetting. By using an automated robotic system, the research group streamlines the entire process, gaining efficient results while saving time and money. 

Instead of conducting repetitive and time-consuming technical repeats, robotics allow researchers the time to focus on more complex work rather than carrying out manual tasks. Liquid handling platforms play a key role in helping your laboratory carry out these tasks.

What are liquid handling systems?

A liquid handling system is equipment that automates the process of transferring liquids. Laboratories generally use these systems for tasks like mixing solutions, diluting samples, or preparing reagents. They can range from simple manual pipettes to complex robotic systems. 

Liquid handling robots, like the Andrew+ Robot, are advanced versions of these systems. They can have robotic arms with various adapters and easy-to-use software to precisely handle liquids, helping to reduce human error and increase efficiency. These liquid handling robots can vary in complexity and size and can include features like automated pipetting, plate handling, and barcode scanning. By automating repetitive tasks, robotic liquid handlers free up scientists to focus on more critical aspects of their research. Overall, liquid handling systems, especially robotic ones, play a vital role in modern laboratories by improving the accuracy and efficiency of scientific experiments.

Advanced liquid handling laboratory automation systems integrate seamlessly with intelligent software that coordinates entire workflows, ensuring an error-free process from start to finish. 

Implementing a new automated liquid handling system

The process of implementing a new solution begins with a thorough assessment of your laboratory needs. This step is crucial in deciding what automation platform is best for your research needs. This includes identifying pain points in existing workflows, evaluating available technologies, and devising a comprehensive strategy for integration.

Streamlined integration is integral when laboratories move to automated systems. Moving to an automated solution can be beneficial in simplifying complex procedures, from data collection and analysis to equipment control and inventory management. Choosing to move to an automated system within your laboratory can improve efficiency, support compliance with regulatory standards, and even accelerate your discovery research. 

Waters specializes in working with laboratories throughout this transformative process. Our team works closely with researchers and scientists from the conceptualization stage to system deployment and beyond. By applying our expertise in liquid handling automation, we help laboratories achieve unprecedented levels of efficiency and reliability.

Challenges to consider when implementing automated sample preparation

When deciding on an automated sample preparation platform for your laboratory, consider these factors:

• Cost – Automated platforms can vary in price depending on their size and the functionality . You must also consider additional cost factors such as how much training will be needed to get users up and running on the system, whether there will be significant maintenance required, or whether you will need add-ons to your system for future projects.
• Expertise – Consider whether the interface is user-friendly or whether users will need an understanding of programming to develop methods on the system.
• Maintenance – It’s important to assess how much maintenance the liquid handling system will require. Consider how often the system will need service and how that will fit around your testing schedule.

 What are the key benefits of automating sample preparation? 

There are several benefits to automating your sample preparation workflows in the laboratory:

• Improved efficiency – Through automation, you can assign your repetitive laboratory tasks to your new streamlined system, enabling researchers to focus their efforts on more complex work.
• Regulations and compliance – Modern software solutions facilitate compliance with strict regulatory requirements. This works to minimize compliance-related expenditure.
• Enhanced accuracy – By using automation, the level of accuracy within your laboratory work will show a significant increase, allowing for precise and repeatable results.
• Time savings – Replacing hands-on manual sample preparation with automation can save time not only for the user but also the preparation time. Skilled personnel can shift their focus from repetitive manual preparation tasks to other projects in the lab.
• Cost savings – Laboratory automation can lead to cost savings as a result of improved efficiency. 
• Scalability – Given the reproducible nature of automated platforms, sample preparation methods can be easily transferred between sites allowing for high scalability.
• Improved ergonomics – Manual pipetting large numbers of samples can be a tedious task. Automating these processes can help reduce the fatigue and strain associated with repetitive manual pipetting.

Case study: Waters automated liquid handling systems in use

In a case study carried out by researchers at Bayer, the team demonstrated the benefits of switching from manual liquid handling to the Waters Andrew+ Robot. The team developed an automated high-throughput method of oligonucleotide-loaded lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for high throughput in-vitro screening. 

While LNP formulation technology can be a time-consuming process, the use of automated sample preparation allowed the team to prepare up to 96 formulations in two hours. In addition, the results were comparable to manual pipetting with adequate well-to-well repeatability (n=8).

A new era in laboratory research

As laboratory robotics continues to evolve, we can anticipate that the future of automation within laboratories holds immense promise. The integration of artificial intelligence systems and machine learning algorithms within the research world offers new opportunities for advancement in the scientific field. 

Innovations in cloud-based data management will facilitate seamless collaboration among geographically separated research teams, fostering a network of scientific growth. 

The Andrew+ Robot offers fully automated liquid handling using electronic pipettes and labware holders called Dominos. 

To find out more about Andrew+ Robot, visit Waters Laboratory Equipment and Automation.