Automated liquid handling solutions help to accelerate the development of biotherapeutics
Conventional treatment options for patients diagnosed with solid cancers or autoimmune diseases are often limited or ineffective. Developing alternative treatments for these challenging conditions requires research to establish an in-depth understanding of how the immune system recognizes, targets, and destroys cancer cells. Typical immunology workflows involve numerous assays and thousands of pipetting steps, which can be laborious and error-prone when performed manually. The implementation of automated liquid handling solutions – such as INTEGRA Biosciences’ ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot – helps to optimize protocols and reduce errors, increasing efficiency, throughput and screening capacity.
INTEGRA’s automated liquid handling solutions and pipetting software are supporting the search for novel cancer treatments at California-based 3T Biosciences, a spin-out from Stanford University that specializes in developing T-cell engaging bispecific antibodies to target novel peptide-HLA targets. Its proprietary 3T-TRACE™ platform technology takes advantage of diverse target libraries and machine-learning algorithms to identify and validate novel T-cell receptors and targets from patient immune responses. This enables detection of the most prevalent immunogenic targets in solid tumors, which can then be targeted therapeutically. The company uses benchtop automation solutions from INTEGRA to enhance the reproducibility and productivity of its pipetting workflows, helping to accelerate the development of more effective therapeutics.
3T Biosciences has been using various handheld INTEGRA products – including EVOLVE lightweight manual pipettes, VOYAGER adjustable tip spacing pipettes and a VIAFLO 96 handheld electronic pipette – for several years. However, as the company grew, so did the need for automation solutions to increase efficiency in target discovery and therapeutic development. The team wanted to reduce its reliance on manual pipetting – which is prone to errors – and standardize protocols for greater accuracy and reproducibility. Thanks to previous positive experiences with INTEGRA devices, the laboratory once again turned to the company as it sought a user-friendly solution that would allow its entire team to benefit from laboratory automation, creating and modifying protocols according to experimental requirements without the need for automation expertise.
Automation for increased reliability
Equipping INTEGRA’s ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot with a D-ONE single channel pipetting module proved the perfect solution for automation of protein distribution, normalization and aliquoting. The compact size of the ASSIST PLUS fitted easily within the laboratory’s biosafety hood – making it ideal for cell culture work – and the platform could also be used to automate the team’s existing VOYAGER handheld pipettes.
The implementation of the ASSIST PLUS set-up has led to significant workflow improvements, reducing human errors and providing more consistency in liquid handling. Protocol execution has been standardized, helping to ensure uniform results across different users and experiments, such as during lentiviral production and transfections. Automation of repetitive tasks has also reduced the laboratory’s manual workloads, freeing up staff to carry out more complicated and technical processes.
More accessible and efficient workflows
The laboratory uses INTEGRA’s VIALAB pipette automation software to program a diverse array of protocols on the ASSIST PLUS without the need for in-house automation expertise. This easy-to-use software package features a user-friendly graphical interface, enabling staff with limited programming experience to quickly and easily set up and run complex workflows. This helps the team to achieve advanced lab automation, improving efficiency and scientific outcomes, while still having the flexibility to meet its growing needs and allow other potential applications in the future.
Advanced solutions backed by expert support and service
Choosing an automation solution is just the start. INTEGRA’s expert service team provided all the advice and support necessary to ensure seamless and stress-free integration of its automation capabilities into the laboratory’s workflows. From implementation advice to application support, INTEGRA’s efficient and responsive team was on hand to quickly direct the laboratory to the right experts. Looking to the future, 3T Biosciences aims to integrate automation into more liquid handling processes to increase its high throughput screening capacity, optimize workflows for more complex biological assays, and develop additional standardized protocols for therapeutic discovery.
To learn more about how INTEGRA’s automation solutions can enhance reproducibility and accelerate discovery, visit https://www.integra-biosciences.com
