Pin Transfer

Pin Array

ICCB-Longwood utilizes two different robotic platforms to conduct pin transfer of nanoliter volumes from compound storage plates into assay plates using stainless steel pin arrays (made by V&P Scientific).

  • 96- and 384-well pin arrays
  • Transfer compounds into 96-, 384- and 1536-well microplates
  • 384-well assay plate volume 30 uL - calibrated to transfer 33 nL, 100 nL or 300 nL
  • 384-well assay plate volume 10 uL - calibrated to transfer 33 nL or 100 nL
  • The standard transfer volume for chemical screens in 384-well is 100 nL.  
  • 96-well assay plate volume 150 uL - calibrated to transfer 200 nL, 250 nL or 300 nL

Pin Arrays & Calibration provides more information on the pin arrays, the calibration process and selecting the appropriate pin array for your screen.

K2 Compound Transfer Robot (SGM 611)

Epson K2 pin transfer robot Epson K2 pin transfer robot

  • Custom pin transfer station featuring an Epson T6-602s SCARA robot designed and built at ICCB-Longwood
  • Paired with a Peak Robotics KX2 robot arm to deliver library and assay plates to and from the deck for transfer
  • Automated rotating CS6 carousel for microplate hotel racks
  • Custom Arduino-based relay board with 24V power supply to switch I/O devices
  • Automatic pin tool attachment/detachment
Design Richard Siu
Construction Richard Siu & Alasdair Morton 
Integration Software Custom C# .Net Application developed by Richard Siu
Robotic
  • Peak Robotics KX2-750 robot arm
  • Peak Robotics CS6 carousel
  • Epson T6-602s SCARA robot
Table Custom Designed by SteelSentry
Sonicator Sonicor SC-50
Methanol Bath Designed by ICCB-Longwood Team
Dry Station Designed by ICCB-Longwood Team
Pin Arrays

Manufactured by V&P Scientific.  

  • 33nL
  • 100nL
  • 300nL
Cycle Time Approximately 1 minute per transfer, including wash and dry
Plate Types Accepted 384-well
Total Plate Capacity 150

The amount of compound transferred is dependent on several parameters

  • Pin shape and diameter
  • Volume of stock solution
  • Rate of pin withdrawal from the stock solution
  • Viscosity of liquid in the assay plate
  • Dwell time in the assay plate

To prevent compound carryover, each pin array is washed after every library transfer.  

Pin Washing Steps:

  • PBS
  • 100% methanol flow-through wash
  • 20% methanol sonication step
  • (repeat twice)
  • Concludes with a 10-second high-pressure air dry

Epson Compound Transfer Robot (SGM 612)

Epson Robot

 

  • Epson E2C2515-UL Scara robot custom designed and built at ICCB-Longwood
  • Paired with an Epson 6-axis robot arm to deliver library and assay plates to and from the deck for transfer
  • Integrated with a Symbol Miniscan barcode reader for compound transfer tracking. 
  • Can automatically attach and detach the pin tool
Design & Construction Stewart Rudnicki, Sean Johnston, & Doug Flood
Visual Basic Interface  Custom software designed by ICCB-Longwood personnel
Robotic Arms
  • Epson E2C2515-UL Scara robot, controlled by a RC-410 controller.
  • Epson C3-A601S 6-axis robot controlled by an RC-620 controller
  • Programmed with SPEL for Windows
Table Custom Designed by Jim Horn
Sonicator Cole Parmer Ultrasonic Cleaner
Methanol Bath Designed by ICCB-Longwood personnel
Dry Station Designed by ICCB-Longwood personnel
Pin Arrays

Manufactured by V&P Scientific.  

  • 33nL
  • 100nL
  • 300nL
Cycle Time Approximately 1 minute per transfer, including wash and dry
Plate Types Accepted 384-well
Total Plate Capacity ~240 (+/- 5 to 10 depending on plate heights)

The amount of compound transferred is dependent on several parameters

  • Pin shape and diameter
  • Volume of stock solution
  • Rate of pin withdrawal from the stock solution
  • Viscosity of liquid in the assay plate
  • Dwell time in the assay plate

To prevent compound carryover, each pin array is washed after every library transfer.  

Pin Washing Steps:

  • PBS
  • 100% methanol flow-through wash
  • 20% methanol sonication step
  • (repeat twice)
  • Concludes with a 10-second high-pressure air dry