The fifth annual Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS) conference and exhibition was held January 23–27 in San Diego, California. The event hosted a total of 6,293 participants. The exhibit consisted of 320 companies and organizations. Trends evident at the show included the automation of NGS, emphasis on sample quality and conservation, and influence of emerging fields, such as cell therapy and synthetic biology.

Biobanking

Biobanking was the subject of a presentation by Clive Green, PhD, associate director and head of Sample Development (UK) at AstraZeneca. The talk discussed the importance of human biological samples (HBS) for exploratory research, and how they can be used to advance science through target identification and biomarker development. Currently, the main issue that HBS is facing is the slow business process, according to Dr. Green. The main areas that need improvement in biobanking include consent, compliance, quality, process efficiency and sample annotation. Possible solutions discussed by Dr. Green included a consolidated hub for HBS suppliers and collaboration to create a single assay-depot framework, such as the AstraZeneca Innovation Marketplace. This way, researchers will have a global support pool and there will be an internal biobank that is the supplier of choice, even when multiple options are available. Regarding sample annotation, Dr. Green suggested a framework akin to the AstraZeneca BioBank Application, which is a single globally configured LIMS to track and interrogate HBS, enabling inventory management through full traceability of samples and the ability to analyze sample data to inform decisions on stock rationalization, procurement and usage. He also listed general changes needed in the biobanking field, including the application of analytical techniques for improved quality; innovative automation with IT for improved selection and speed; more clinical collaborations for sample-access knowledge transfer; and a lean supply chain for a reduced collection-to-knowledge cycle.

Technology Evolution

Two companies whose technology debuted at the previous incarnation of SLAS, LabAutomation, and which present unique solutions that have gained market acceptance are LabCyte and IntelliCyt. The companies’ successes highlight the need for assay miniaturization, and the growing use of patient cells to test drugs and individually tailor treatment.

At the show LabCyte announced the publication of a special issue of the Journal of Laboratory Automation devoted to 22 papers about its acoustic drop ejection technology, which enables handling of any liquid in micro and nano volumes without tips, thus eliminating contamination and ensuring precise volumes. The issue highlights a broad range of applications, including the use of the company’s Echo liquid handler to directly inject nanoliter assays into an MS for label-free analysis, reducing assay development time. As LabCyte told IBO, it continues to work with Finland’s Institute of Molecular Medicine to dose patient cells with therapies or combination therapies to develop treatments. Four groups in Europe are doing similar research, according to LabCyte.

Like LabCyte, IntelliCyt’s technology has expanded its applications beyond drug discovery screening, especially in immuno-oncology. IntelliCyt’s iQue Screener is designed for high-content, high-throughput multiplex analysis of beads and cells in flow. A 96-well plate can be screened in 3–5 minutes. At the show, the company showed the iQue Screener PLUS system, released last year, and announced a 68% increase in 2015 sales to more than 300 systems in operation.

New features of the iQue Screener PLUS include a violet laser and the ability to use up to 13 colors, compared to 6 colors in the previous systems. As IntelliCyt told IBO, these changes increase flexibility in experimental design and content readout. IntelliCyt noted the use of the system for profiling experiments in immuno-oncology, in which patient’s T cells are removed, genetically modified and screened against tumor cells. Other applications include antibody discovery and immune target screening.

Press Conferences

Tecan and Hamilton are synonymous with lab automation, and each held press conferences at SLAS2016. Tecan introduced the Spark 20M microplate reader, designed for the basic and advanced research markets. As with the Spark 20M, launched last year, the system has an integrated brightfield microscope, and the ability to control and maintain internal temperature below ambient. Tecan also introduced new features for its Fluent liquid handler, adding a finger-exchange system for the robotic gripper arm, so that it can be used with any type of labware, as well as a dual flexible channel arm enabling liquid and air displacement pipetting.

At its press conference, Hamilton introduced the [MPE]2 (Monitored, Multi-flow, Positive Pressure, Evaporation Extraction Module) for automated SPE, which can fit into one position on an automation deck. Hamilton Storage highlighted the LabElite DeCapper’s new AutoSwap feature for automatically changing adapters to accommodate different manufacturers’ tubes. It also launched Rackware HD138 and HD60. Rackware HD138 stores 138 microtubes and cryovials in a footprint that previously held 96. The HD60 holds 60 larger cryovials in a format that previously accommodated 48.

New Products

Brooks Automation debuted several new technologies at the show, illustrating its expansion to serve the entire cold chain for chemical compounds and biological samples, including storage, consumables, tracking and, in the near future, informatics. The informatics platform will be based on the ISIDORE platform for data visualization platform from BioStorage Technologies, which Brooks acquired last year (see IBO 11/15/15). The company released two new tube options. It debuted 50–55 µL acoustic storage tubes for small molecule compounds designed for use with LabCyte’s Echo liquid handler. For use with these tubes, Brooks launched the SampleStore III AC Automated Storage System, which, in contrast to plate-based systems, enables prepicking of compounds to deliver a 100% pick rate, reducing workflow time.

The company also debuted a tube technology based on Pharmaseq’s pChip tracking technology. One hundred times smaller than an RFID chip, the pChip is light activated, so that it can be read through a layer of frost to identify the tube and temperature. The pChip is inside the 2D bar code and the accompanying reader can read both the pChip and 2D bar codes. A full commercial release of FluidX tubes with the technology is scheduled for this summer.

The company also announced the TempAuro remote temperature monitoring device for samples at ambient to -190°C. It can be used in various temperature-controlled devices, as well as in sample-transport devices and freezer doors. The $4,000 system with 10 sensors is cloud based and WiFi enabled. Mini-routers can handle up to 100 devices.

PerkinElmer launched several new products at the show. It debuted the Operetta CLS High-Content Analysis System with Columbus Software. Using the same technology as the high-end Phenix system, the Operetta is a mid-range platform, utilizing eight LEDs and water immersion lenses, which are unique to PerkinElmer. New software features include Intelligent Scan for rapid data acquisition. Applications include assay development.

PerkinElmer also introduced the JANUS G3 Automated Liquid Handling Workstation, featuring a new industrial design with accessibility from multiple sides, a modular footprint and programmable light indicators. It also includes an integrated enclosure, UV light and thermocycler. In addition, all PerkinElmer’s liquid handling systems now feature the same application interface. PerkinElmer also released more than 60 new LANCE Ultra TR-FRET assay kits.

Also introducing new consumables at SLAS2016 was Corning Life Sciences, including the Axygen PCR microplate that prevents warping, allowing for easier automation, and the Corning HepatoCells, an alternative to primary human heptocytes. In addition, the company highlighted its Corning spheroid microplates, telling IBO that 3-D cell culture can be expected to move into high-throughput screening. Currently available in 96- and 384-well microplate formats, a 3-D spheroid 1,536-well plate will also be commercialized.

Thermo Fisher Scientific introduced a new version of the Cytomat 10 incubator that extends the temperature range down to 4°C. This makes the Cytomat 10C450 model suitable for cold storage applications. The system has a mean plate access time of 10 seconds and includes a standard decontamination routine. Like other products in its family, it provides temperature and humidity control. Pricing starts at $40,000.

Rheosense unveiled the VROC initium system, based on its existing miniature viscometry technology. The new system provides for automated high-throughput viscometry measurements in a 96-well format. The small sample size requirement makes the system suitable for biopharmaceutical applications. The first beta system was placed at the end of last year, and it should soon be in wider distribution at a price of about $100,000.

Etaluma has developed an automated version of its existing Lumascope 620 digital fluorescent microscope. The system offers three-color fluorescence, and the new automation capabilities allow walk away usage. Applications focus on live-cell imaging, and the system can accommodate many different sample formats, such as microplates, flasks and slides. The system should begin shipping near the end of first quarter at a price of less than $50,000.

Andrew Alliance launched a positive displacement version of its automated liquid handling solution, the Andrew 1000P, which is designed for use with heavier and more viscous solutions, such as plasma. It utilizes Gilson Microman E pipette technology for volume ranges of 0.1–1000 µL. It is priced at around $25,000.

Biodesy launched the Delta System, based on second harmonic generation, for automated measurement of protein conformational changes at sub-angstrom levels. The system runs 384-well customized plates with a throughput of over one thousand assays per day. Conformational signatures are based on the magnitude, direction and kinetics of conformational changes. Applications include structure-activity relationships, and protein-protein and protein-DNA studies. The company previously provided services using the technology.