Implementing the Mantis microfluidics liquid handler as a tool for optimizing droplet digital PCR and other core lab functions

摘要

The Mantis microfluidics liquid handler was acquired as a tool for our core facility to improve our workflows and facilitate research projects for others. The robot dispensing system can be employed to set up complex dilution patterns which can be advantageous to development projects. The Mantis has been utilized in a proof of concept project with our Bio-Rad Droplet DigitalTM PCR (ddPCRTM) to determine its effectiveness in optimizing reaction primer and template concentrations. Protocols were run testing the effectiveness of chip cleaning protocols in removing residual DNA from chips before reusing them in a ddPCR assay. Mantis dispensing and dilution series were compared to manual pipetting. In addition, a variable primer setup for ddPCR was run to determine the best conditions for a ddPCR assay. The Mantis has a much speedier delivery than manual setup or our automated pipetting robot. A normalization test of dispensing one reagent with one tip to a plate in variable amounts to each well was completed in less than 2 minutes by the Mantis, while our pipetting robot took over 12 minutes. The cleaning protocols removed DNA below the sensitivity of our ddPCR. The variability of replicate counts of droplets on plate set up with the Mantis has similar spread and deviation compared to a careful manual pipetting setup of a plate. The number of reagents or samples that can be included in a protocol are limited by the number of chips loaded on the Mantis or timeliness between cleanings. Within some limitations the Mantis can be a useful instrument in a core environment.