Anachem has added the Innovadyne Nanodrop dispenser to the Flexus Liquid Handler, increasing its dynamic volume range from 50nl to 2ml.
The Nanodrop instrument provides low-volume non-contact liquid handling, which is ideal for reducing assay volumes.
Its valve-free fluid pathway provides a robust and low-maintenance method of delivering reagents with a high degree of precision and accuracy.
Assay miniaturisation is of importance for uHTS in 1536 and 3456 well plates, PCR setup, MALDI target preparation, bead and cell-based assays as a means of preserving precious reagents and reducing costs.
Protein crystallography is an application suited to the Flexus/Nanodrop instrument combination, dispensing proteins with minimal waste and without denaturation.
The Flexus is suited for large-volume well-solution distribution and the Nanodrop is ideal for setting the protein drops on the stage while conserving precious protein samples.
To operate in unison, both instruments are controlled via a single software interface.
The Nanodrop pipetting stage is positioned underneath an X-rail overhang from the Flexus, which has a plate gripper for moving plates on and off the Nanodrop stage as required by the user's protocol.
The Nanodrop syringe fluidics unit is positioned to the side of the stage or can be placed underneath the units for more efficient use of the workspace.