Component processes within system that completely automates the production of adherent cell lines for high throughput screening have undergone validation
The component processes within RTS Life Science International's Accellerator automated cell culturing system have recently undergone validation.
RTS Life Science launched the design of the Accellerator last year in conjunction with its collaborators; AstraZeneca, Essen Instruments and Corning. Essentially, Accellerator is a system that completely automates the production of adherent cell lines for high throughput screening (HTS).
It comprises a combination of tried and tested laboratory instruments, three industrial robots and new generation dispensing equipment, all housed in a Bigneat custom-designed Class II type protective cabinet.
The system process validation, which was carried out by a team at AstraZeneca, found that the cell preparation and plating method used by acCellerator produced cells with equal cell viability and number to cells produced using the traditional manual approach. As part of a rigorous assessment programme the robots and the software elements of Accellerator have undergone extensive testing round the clock at RTS.
The fully automated system will be installed during October this year.
There are a number of features of the Accellerator system that are anticipated to lead to increased cell consistency at high throughput levels: Parallel processing of harvesting and plating increases throughput, efficiency and cell quality by standardizing conditions from batch to batch.
Dry block heaters maintain dissociation reagents at a temperature closer to the optimum during cell harvesting whilst increasing throughput.
Precise timing of protocol steps by Sprint software ensures that all flasks in the system are treated consistently.
Automated tapping unit provides a standard level of mechanical force.
Multiple incubator design and automated access provide a high level of environmental protection, whilst optimizing cell growth conditions.
Smooth action robotic handling minimises the sheer forces to which cells are exposed during processing.
Disposable plasticware minimises the risk of cross and bacterial or fungal contamination.
Perhaps the most noteworthy feature of the acCellerator is that it will be able to run seven days a week, and as the cells are being produced for both screening and cell line maintenance, then the increase in productivity is over 40%, whilst utilising significantly fewer resources than manual cell culturing.
