Articles

Screening innovation: the role of automated liquid handling in high throughput screening

Automated High Throughput Screening (HTS) is a powerful technique used in drug discovery, genomics, and other fields to rapidly screen large numbers of samples or compounds.

The success of HTS largely depends on the ability to process samples with speed, precision and accuracy.

This is where Automated Liquid Handling Systems (ALHS) play a vital role, speeding up the process and enabling researchers to extract valuable insights from large datasets efficiently.

robotic platforms

Traditionally, manual pipetting was the primary method used for HTS, but it was labor intensive and error-prone, making it unsuitable for handling hundreds or thousands of samples. As the demand for faster and more reliable screening methods increases, ALHS has emerged as the ideal solution. These automated robotic platforms can handle multiple samples simultaneously and perform precise liquid transfers with microliter or nanoliter precision.

Productivity

Automating liquid handling tasks in HTS dramatically increases productivity. ALHS can efficiently prepare microplates with test compounds, controls and reagents, reducing the time required to set up experiments. Additionally, they can perform serial dilutions, allowing researchers to evaluate a wide range of concentrations simultaneously. As a result, scientists can screen thousands of samples or compounds in a fraction of the time it takes with manual methods.
The speed and efficiency of ALHS in HTS have revolutionized pharmaceutical research. Pharmaceutical companies and research institutions can now rapidly screen vast chemical libraries against specific biological targets, identifying potential drug candidates faster. This acceleration in the early stages of drug development has a cascading effect, accelerating the entire pipeline and getting potential treatments to patients faster.
In genomics research, automated liquid handling plays a crucial role in the processing of DNA and RNA samples. HTS allows researchers to analyze gene expression, identify genetic variations and perform large-scale functional genomics studies. ALHS precision ensures sample volumes are consistent, minimizing variation and generating high-quality data for comprehensive genomic analyzes
The role of ALHS in HTS extends beyond drug discovery and genomics. In fields such as proteomics, researchers can perform large-scale protein screens, facilitating the identification of potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Additionally, automated liquid handling enables high throughput cell-based assays, contributing to advances in cell biology and personalized medicine.
As the demand for efficient and cost-effective screening methods grows, the future of ALHS in HTS looks promising. Technological advances will likely lead to even more sophisticated and integrated systems that interface seamlessly with other laboratory equipment. Furthermore, the integration of algorithms of artificial intelligence e machine learning can further optimize screening protocols, making data analysis faster and more accurate.
In conclusion, automated liquid handling systems have become indispensable tools for accelerating discovery through high-throughput screening. By simplifying the management of samples and compounds with precision and efficiency, ALHS enables researchers to analyze large data sets and explore new avenues of research. As technology continues to advance, these automated systems will continue to drive scientific progress, fostering innovation and pushing the boundaries of knowledge in various scientific disciplines.