Acoustic Droplet Ejection (ADE) is a unique liquid transfer process that delivers unparalleled volumetric and positional control. As a leader in low- and ultra-low volume “touchless” liquid handling, Labcyte enables liquid handling solutions that have never been possible, resulting in a wide array of potential uses. Labcyte is actively seeking to acquire, in-license, jointly develop, invest in or collaborate in complementary technologies and products.
We have demonstrated transfer of as low as one picoliter of liquid, creating a spot size as small as ten microns with positional accuracy within nine microns of the intended target. Liquids can be deposited one droplet at a time or multiple droplets per second. Since there are no nozzles, the ejection process can be controlled instantaneously, with no sticking, clogging or accumulation of liquid affecting the transfer of the next drop. These factors ensure a highly accurate and precise transfer process.
ADE Is Highly Accurate
Figure 1. ADE can transfer extremely small volumes, down to picoliters (10-12 cubic meters). In this figure, both the red and green spots are 170 pL sample volume, 800 µm column spacing, 400 µm row spacing with an average diameter of 168 microns. The yellow dots (combined samples) have an average diameter of 235 microns.
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ADE Delivers Exceptional Positional Precision
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Figure 2 . ADE can transfer droplets onto predefined targets with great accuracy and precision. The histograms above show deviations from expected positioning on x- and y-axes, calculated from the spotted image on the right. Standard deviation in x-direction = 8.8 µm; y-direction = 8.7 µm | |
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Manufacture Beads, Particles or Spheres
 | ADE can be used to manufacture particles with unequaled coefficient of variation of less than 2% in diameter for a truly monodisperse population. The sizes of the particles can be specified over a large range from 10 to 1000 microns |
Figure 4. A 600-micron bead suspended in oil created using the Labcyte ADE process. | |
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Coat Drugs, Polymers and Other Materials onto Medical Devices
 | ADE can be used to apply materials onto medical devices and other structures. Unlike other coating technologies, ADE generates no overspray, so a precisely known amount of drug can applied. For polymer coatings, there is no webbing as only desired areas are coated. Polymer and drug reach only the intended areas. |
Figure 5. Targeted deposition of 45-micron spots on a stainless steel surface. | |
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Encapsulate Materials
 | ADE can encapsulate (Figure 6) and deposit materials with precise positioning, including nanoparticles and live cells. |
Figure 6. Volatile and non-volatile immiscible fluids are placed in a source vessel. The acoustic focal position is set at the immiscible interface to produce encapsulated droplets. | |
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Transfer Live Cells Without Damage
 | ADE is a gentle process that can transfer live cells, nucleic acids, proteins, biomolecules or nanoparticles with pinpoint accuracy to predetermined locations. This technology holds great potential for tissue scaffolding, tissue creation or bioprinting. |
Figure 7.
Top of Section A: 60 empty wells. Bottom of Section A: 60 wells with 200 pL of dye placed in well.
Section B: Microscopic image of six wells filled with 10 nL (50 droplets of 200 pL each) of cells in solution. | |
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Handle Dangerous Materials Safely
Labcyte holds U.S. Patent 7,405,072, which uses the unique advantages of moving liquids with sound to transfer fluids within a sealed container, free from any physical contact. This process can be applied to the testing of pathogens and other dangerous fluids. A pathogen-containing liquid can be introduced into a vessel and permanently sealed. Acoustic energy transfers that liquid with high precision and accuracy within the vessel without physically touching the liquid. Sound waves enter the container, but the pathogens cannot leave. Since acoustic transfer is completely ‘touchless’ and eliminates pipetting, there is no contamination of pipette tips, labware, or other samples. Wash solutions are not necessary.
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Prepare Tissue for MALDI Imaging Mass Spectrometry
Imaging mass spectrometry is a new technology to identify the spatial location of biomolecules of interest within tissues. ADE (Portrait 630 spotter) delivers small droplets to precise locations, yielding better signal and imaging resolution.
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Figure 8. Smaller droplets of matrix applied with ADE give stronger and more reproducible signal than droplets placed with a capillary. | |
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ADE Can Transfer Different Volumes of Many Different Materials
ADE is compatible with a wide range of fluids including, but not limited to, water and biological buffers; organic solvents including dimethyl sulfoxide, acetonitrile and ethanol; solutions of proteins and nucleic acids; solutions containing cells and particles; and viscous solutions such as glycerol. While the Echo® systems transfer droplets of precisely 2.5 nL and the Portrait™ system transfers 170 pL droplets, ADE has been used to transfer volumes as low as 1 pL (12 microns in diameter) and as large as 525 nL (1000 microns in diameter). Larger volumes are dispensed by transferring multiple droplets at up to 800 ejections per second.
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Magnetic Feedback Control for Reagent Dispensing
The unique magnetic feedback-control (MFC) technology that drives our Deerac product line is also available in OEM configurations, delivering the same liquid handling capabilities as the Deerac GX and Deerac LX liquid handling platforms for integration with third-party robotics systems.
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Next generation sequencing - ADE to precisiely and accurately transfer both samples and reagents at ultra low volumes
Diagnostics
Genomics/Proteomics
Cell-based discovery
Nanoparticles
Electronics assembly and packaging
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Please submit your inquiry or proposal using the “Contact Us Form” or contact Business Development at 408.747.2000 ext. 104
Note: Any idea, proposal, business plan or other information disclosed online or otherwise to Labcyte or its personnel or agents is not submitted in confidence, nor does it imply any agreement for compensation or agreement to enter into a business relationship. Please contact us to enter into a Confidentiality Agreement if you would like to submit information in confidence.
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Other Applications of Interest:
Figure 3. 2.5 nL droplets of DMSO are ejected from a well of a microwell plate, through the eye of a needle and into a glass capillary with a 100-micron internal diameter. (See Patent 7,405,395.)