Automated nucleic acid purification with the ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot

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Automated nucleic acid purification with the ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot

MACHEREY-NAGEL (MN) is a leading provider of nucleic acid extraction and purification solutions, offering a large range of ultra-fast and simple-to-use kits for RNA, DNA, and protein extraction and purification based on its innovative, silica membrane-based NucleoSpin technology. This spin column extraction method uses a silica membrane to bind nucleic acids, then unwanted unbound materials are washed away, before the target nucleic acids are released and collected from the solid phase. This process can be performed by centrifugation or by placing the plates on a vacuum manifold.

Generalized spin column extraction process
Generalized spin column extraction process

Streamlining nucleic acid extraction for efficient workflows

The MN DNA and RNA extraction and purification kits come in a 96 well format, and can be easily automated on the ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot using a 12 channel VIAFLO 1250 μl electronic pipette with 1250 μl Sterile, Filter GripTips. This set-up allows  96 samples to be extracted in one run in under an hour. An external plate shaker and the MN NucleoVac 96 Vacuum Manifold are placed directly on the deck of the ASSIST PLUS, avoiding the need to transport plates to and from a liquid handler. The MN kits also include a specially designed wash plate that is inserted into the vacuum manifold beneath the binding plate, which prevents cross contamination of samples during the vacuum steps.

ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot from INTEGRA Biosciences
The ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot

An automated system

All liquid handling tasks are automated on the instrument, eliminating ergonomic hazards – such as strain from repetitive tasks – and providing more hands-free time for the user. Automating all the pipetting steps reduces errors and variability between users, and the workflow consistency guarantees maximum reproducibility. Manual interventions are limited to operating the on/off button of the shaker and vacuum, changing the reagent reservoir, and placing the elution plate in the vacuum manifold. Instructions for these interventions are provided on the pipette’s user-friendly screen, ensuring that the operator does not lose track of the process.

The ASSIST PLUS is an open platform, so it can be equipped with other INTEGRA single or multichannel pipetting tools and used for a wide range of downstream applications, for instance, normalization, hit picking, PCR set-up, and NGS library preparation. It is also extremely compact, meaning that it is easy to place it inside laminar flow cabinets to protect samples from contamination.

Predefined, biologically validated protocols for four MN kits can be quickly downloaded onto the ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot through the VIALAB software. These protocols can then be customized according to your pipetting parameters and protocols, including adjustment of pipetting heights and mixing speeds to suit specific buffers and specimen types. It is also possible to process fewer than 96 samples per run, making the technology accessible and affordable for labs with lower throughput applications and sample quantities.

Winning combinations

Four MN kits have been adapted for automation on the ASSIST PLUS, providing high quality, purity and yield of DNA and RNA extracts from varied specimen types, which are suitable for use in a range of applications:

MACHEREY-NAGEL NucleoSpin® 96 RNA extraction kit

Convenient for extracting and purifying RNA fragments (>200 nt) from cell cultures, tissues and saliva in high throughput, and able to handle up to 2*106 cells or 30 mg tissue at a time. The typical yield is up to 20 µg (depending on sample material) and RIN >9 (cells), >7 (tissue). The benefits of this kit include the addition of a DNA digestion step to ensure that the eluted RNA is free from DNA contamination.

Learn how the MACHEREY-NAGEL NucleoSpin® 96 RNA extraction kit can be automated on the ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot.

MACHEREY-NAGEL NucleoSpin 96 Tissue kit

Designed for high throughput DNA extraction and purification of high molecular weight genomic DNA with a fragment length of approximately 300 bp to 50 kbp. DNA can be extracted from animal tissue samples or animal/bacterial cells, with a typical yield of up to 25 µg (depending on sample material) and an elution volume of 100-200 µl. The purified DNA can then be used directly for a variety of downstream applications, including PCR, Southern blotting, genotyping, NGS or any kind of enzymatic reaction.

Learn how the MACHEREY-NAGEL NucleoSpin 96 Tissue kit can be automated on the ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot.

NucleoSpin 96 Tissue, 96‑well kit for DNA from cells and tissue
An exemplary NucleoSpin 96 binding plate used on the ASSIST PLUS

MACHEREY-NAGEL NucleoSpin 96 Plasmid Kit

Offers parallel extraction and purification of high-copy plasmid DNA with a vector size of less than 25 kbp. The typical yield is 4-6 µg per ml of E.coli culture, with an endotoxin level > 50 EU/µg DNA, and extracts are suitable for numerous subsequent applications, such as cloning or sequencing.

Learn how the MACHEREY-NAGEL NucleoSpin 96 Plasmid Kit can be automated on the ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot.

MACHEREY-NAGEL NucleoSpin 96 Plasmid Transfection-grade kit

For high throughput extraction and purification of high-copy, transfection-grade E.coli plasmid DNA with a vector size < 25 kbp and very low endotoxin levels (< 50 EU/µg DNA). The purified plasmid DNA is suitable for cloning, sequencing, restriction analysis, and transfection of standard cell lines. The miniprep protocol for this kit is based on alkaline lysis, and is optimized for the purification of plasmid DNA from just 1-5 ml of bacterial culture, typically yielding 5-20 µg.

Learn how the MACHEREY-NAGEL NucleoSpin 96 Plasmid Transfection-grade kit can be automated on the ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot.

Futureproof technology

Clinical research and diagnostics laboratories are under increasing pressure to process growing numbers of biological samples ever more quickly, making time a very valuable resource. DNA and RNA extraction and purification throughput needs to be significantly increased in the future to handle the greater workload, and labor-intensive and time-consuming manual processes are no longer adequate to meet this demand.

The ASSIST PLUS is well suited to nucleic acid extraction workflows, such as for SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing, and is compatible with a wide range of kits and methods. It does not require complex installation, and staff do not need to spend their precious time undertaking specialist training or developing new protocols. The flexibility of this system ensures that it will always have a purpose in the lab, and can be used to simplify a wide range of general life sciences and diagnostics tasks for far-reaching applications.

Do you have questions about MACHEREY-NAGEL's NucleoSpin 96 sample extraction kits, sales contacts or delivery options? Please get in touch with the MACHEREY-NAGEL Technical Support Team directly using the details below, or submit a contact form to request assistance.

E-Mail: [email protected]

Phone:  +49 24 21 969 270