This application note describes how an Automated Fluorescence
Imaging Plate Reader (FLIPR) Workstation can increase FLIPR utilization
and screening efficiency. Design emphasis for this workstation was on
improving workflow around the FLIPR 384 and on
system modularity. The system was designed to automate agonist and
antagonist assay protocols.
|
Introduction Functional cell-based
assays using the FLIPR workstation (Molecular Devices Corporation,
Sunnyvale, CA, USA) have become a common procedure in drug discovery
laboratories. In these assays, fluorescent dyes are used to measure
intracellular changes that occur following treatment with small
molecules, with the goal of identifying modulators of specific
therapeutic and biological targets. FLIPR assays tend to be both time-
and manually intensive, often requiring drug discovery labs to purchase
additional instruments to meet throughput goals. An automated FLIPR
workstation can increase utilization of the instrument, as well as
improve assay data quality.
Figure 1. Example system layout
for an Automated FLIPR384 Workstation.
|
System Design Automation of agonist
and antagonist FLIPR assays requires several peripheral instruments, as
well as a robotic arm and integration software. Figure 1 shows an
example layout for an automated FLIPR384 workstation.
The layout was designed to address the following key requirements:
- to fit within a tightly confined lab space
- to be modular, to ensure it can be easily redesigned or relocated
in the future
- to allow for easy user access to the FLIPR384 for assay
development and instrument maintenance
- use of the Thermo CRS F3 robotic arm to allow for automated
pipette tip changes on the FLIPR384.
Table I. Comparison of assay
throughput for manual and automated FLIPR assays
|
Results The system was designed to
allow the FLIPR384 instrument to be used in a manual mode for
assay development as well as in an automated mode. This means the FLIPR384
instrument can be used 24 hours a day (i.e., in manual mode during the
day and automated mode overnight or automated mode both day and night).
Table I summarizes the increase in throughput that can be achieved using
the automated FLIPR384 workstation.
Full automation allows for user-free operation, giving scientists
time to perform other tasks; this may even decrease the number of FTEs
required to run a screen, saving both time and money.
Performing assay development on the instrument to be used for the
screen eliminates the need for revalidation that can occur when assays
are transferred to a different instrument following validation.
Automation can improve the quality of assay data by ensuring that all
plates are processed uniformly. For example, liquid-handling parameters
and incubation times are defined during method development and are
identical for all plates.
Conclusions
- More plates can be run on the FLIPR384, thereby saving
the cost of purchasing an additional instrument.
- FLIPR384 can be used in both stand-alone and automated
modes.
- The system fits within a small footprint.
- The system is modular and can be reconfigured easily.
- Automation can improve the quality of assay data.
- Scientists have additional time to perform other tasks.
