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Compound repository integrates with BioCel System to accelerate drug discovery in Australia
By Debra Toburen
Senior Product Manager, Integrated Systems Velocity11, an Agilent Technologies Company
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Customer Case Study:
Eskitis Institute of
Cell and Molecular Therapies |
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In academic drug discovery, key collaborations across institutions can lead to major scientific advances. Synergies between chemists who create compound libraries and biologists who perform compound screening are particularly important. For this reason, the Queensland Government and the Eskitis Institute of Cell and Molecular Therapies at Griffith University recently established the Queensland Compound Library (QCL) to stimulate drug discovery in Australia. Australasian chemists can contribute compounds to a central, environmentally controlled repository for long-term storage, and biologists can request retrieval of the desired compounds for further study. The users of the facility retain their rights to intellectual property, and are free to set up any collaborations that are mutually beneficial.
To ensure success, the QCL must maintain fast and reliable delivery of requested compounds to biologists for screening. The system must be easy to use and must maintain the integrity of compounds that are submitted, thereby facilitating high-quality screening results. A key component of this process and of the QCL is the automated high-throughput sample processing provided by the BioCel Automation System from Velocity11, an Agilent Technologies company. The BioCel is seamlessly integrated with third-party systems for compound storage in microtubes and microplates. This integrated compound management system allows the staff at the QCL to use a completely automated process to prepare exactly the compounds that researchers want, in exactly the microplate formats they need for drug discovery screening.
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“We chose the Velocity11 BioCel Automation System because it has a proven track record in the field of compound management.” |
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Exacting requirements for national compound repository
Dr. David Camp, Director of the Queensland Compound Library, explains that his team wanted to establish an open access, environmentally controlled automated compound management facility for the Australasian region. For this central repository, they envisioned a platform that would meet the needs of a large and diverse customer base. They needed a way to ensure the integrity and accessibility of the small-molecule and natural-product libraries. The system needed to provide the appropriate capacity and throughput, with future upgrade paths.
After extensive evaluation of the available alternatives, the team chose an automated system configuration (Figure 1) that was composed of three main building blocks:
- Microtube storage and retrieval – TTP LabTech comPOUND sample store
- Microplate storge and retrieval – HAMILTON (TekCel) Active Sample Manager
- Sample processing unit, which links the two storage formats and performs plate reformatting and replication – BioCel Automation System from Velocity11, an Agilent Technologies company
BioCel links with third-party equipment, both on-and off-deck
Dr. Camp explains, “We chose the Velocity11 BioCel Automation System because it has a proven track record in the field of compound management. The use of high-quality devices placed around a very high-speed three-axis radial robot allows for rapid and secure processing of the tube racks and plates supplied from the storage units. Two Velocity11 VPrep Liquid Handling Platforms allow for simultaneous processing of both septum-sealed tubes and microtitre plates. A Labcyte Echo550 acoustic dispenser provides non-contact, very low volume dispensing capability. To complement the environmental control in the sample storage units, the BioCel is equipped with an inert gas box to store plates that are not actively being used and a PlateLoc Thermal Plate Sealer with integrated inert gas purging to allow plates to be sealed with a protective inert gas layer. Other Velocity11 equipment on the BioCel includes a VSpin Automated Microplate Centrifuge, VCode Bar Code Label Print and Apply Station, and VStack Plate Stackers.”
A model of best practices for collaborative drug discovery
The Queensland Compound Library is a valuable tool to stimulate drug discovery in Australia. The fully integrated compound handling system that includes the BioCel makes it easier for various groups of scientists to work together and to share compound libraries.
Dr. Camp states, “The integration of environmentally controlled plate and tube storage with sample processing ensures that compound integrity is maintained without compromising flexibility. The modular approach allows future capacity and throughput increases to be realized with minimal disruption to ongoing operations. In fact, an additional microtube store and plate store will be integrated to the existing BioCel in early 2009. We are also planning to add another BioCel in the near future, to allow for the expected increase in sample throughput from both stores.”
High-speed automation moves drug discovery forward
The BioCel Automation System is ideal for applications like the QCL that require precise, high-speed sample processing and seamless integration with third-party devices. If you need a robust, flexible system to automate sample preparation for drug discovery or other applications, learn more about automation solutions from Velocity11, an Agilent Technologies company.
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