Technology

INSTRUMENTS

The HTS facility houses state-of-the-art liquid handlers and multi-mode plate readers that can be integrated into screening systems for automated HTS applications. The suite of plate readers contains instruments with varying sensitivities for all common modalities, including absorbance, fluorescence, time-resolved fluorescence, fluorescence polarization, and luminescence. Additionally, we offer label-free, alpha screen, scintillation proximity, and high-content screening technologies. Liquid handling capabilities allow for volume transfers ranging from 2.5 nanoliters to liters in various combinations of fixed and random plate arrays. Readers and liquid handlers are available for walk-up use, as well as automated screening. Furthermore, the facility staffs a full-time engineer to ensure the instrumentation meets or exceeds industry specifications for operation.

DATA ANALYSIS AND STORAGE

The informatics and statistical capabilities of the HTS facility include data storage, archival, and analysis of data, as well as custom databases and applications tailored for HTS applications. The integrity of the large volumes of data generated in the HTS facility is maintained by an infrastructure centered on redundant data storage, both at the laboratory and at a central Vanderbilt data repository, with virus scans and backup performed daily. Secured facility access and video monitoring provide for the physical security of the facility, whereas the data network itself is protected by a dual-layer firewall. Transfer rates are preserved by the compartmentalization of robots and controllers into a sub-network. To exceed the required capacity of the system, upgrades are liberal with the entire network retrofitted on a two-year cycle. Data processing, storage, and custom informatics solutions are all offered on a fee-for-service basis and can be requested by submitting the Intake Form.

MICROPLATE READERS AND IMAGER

Instrument	Panoptic	Synergy NEO	ImageXpress Micro XL	Seahorse xF Pro
Manufacturer	WaveFront Biosciences	Biotek Instruments	Molecular Devices	Seahorse Bioscience
Type	Whole plate kinetic imaging	Multimode iterative well scanning	Automated microscope imager	Extracellular flux analyzer
Options	Fluorescence Luminescence	Fluorescence intensity, fluorescence polarization, time-resolved fluorescence, UV-Vis absorbance, luminescence	Fluorescence and transmitted light, time-lapse imaging	OCR/ECAR, oxidative phosphorylation, glycolysis, fatty acid oxidation
Other Info	384-well plates 96-well plates supports multiple wavelengths in a single experiment; flexible liquid handling using the Agilent Bravo platform	96, 384, 1536-well plates	6,12,24,48,96, 384-well plates, microscope slides	Requires manufacturer’s cell culture plate and assay kit

Thermo CRS robotics, Cytomat incubators, and barcode printers with automation are available. Plate sealers, centrifuges, and shakers are available as peripheral equipment.

LIQUID HANDLING

Instrument	Echo 555 & 555 Omics	Bravo	VPrep	Multidrop Combi	ELx405
Manufacturer	Labcyte	Velocity 11/Agilent	Velocity 11/Agilent	Thermo	BioTek
Type	Automated Acoustic Liquid Transfer	Automated Pipette Liquid Transfer	Automated Pipette Liquid Transfer	Liquid Dispenser	Liquid Aspirator/Dispenser
Options	DMSO or aqueous solvents Plate stamping, cherry-picking, dose-response titrations Volumes: 2.5 – 1000 nL	Any liquid viscosity Plate stamping and serial dilutions (row or column), tip washing Volumes: 0.1 – 300 uL	Any liquid viscosity Plate stamping Volumes: 1 – 300 uL	Variable liquid viscosities High-speed 8-channel liquid dispenser using a peristaltic pump Volumes: 0.5 – 2500 uL	Variable liquid viscosities Plate washer- 96 well manifold Volumes: 50 – 3000 uL
Other Info	96, 384, 1536-well plates	96, 384, 1536-well plates	96, 384, 1536-well plates	96, 384, 1536-well plates	96 or 384-well plates