Automated research
Contents
Automated labs
Somewhat modified existing devices for synthesis and analysis plugged together in such a way that
processes can be largely automated and even operated from remotely.
Some steps may still be manual. Handled by specialized operations staff.
Examples:
- External link: https://www.emeraldcloudlab.com/
- ...
Big labs have no alternate options for problem cased where one hits the limits of miniaturizability.
This especially occurs on the analytics side of the spectrum after the synthesis.
Automating via pipetting machines
Bigger slower and costlier than microfluidics.
But higher throughput (to a degree) and less hard-coded (to a degree).
Automation via electrostatic droplet manipulation
Water (or other polar solvent) droplets on hydrophobic electrodes can be moved around by applying electric fields.
Automation via monolithic microfluidics
See: Microfluidics
Creation of and enclosure in a stream of disjunct droplets allows for digital like processing of molecules.
Includable elements include:
Pumps, valves, mixers, heating, windows for optical inspection, ...
(Following tome heating profile for annealing self assembly)
Simple tasks such as synthesis of short oglionucleotides might be perfomable within a single monolithic microfluidic system.
Semi-manual configurability is a possibility by integrating microfluidic sub-systems into big enough such that they can be easily handeled by human hands.
Examples:
- Video: "New Tools, New Possibilities - 3D Printing for Lab-on-a-Chip | Greg Nordin | TEDxBYU" by Greg Nordin (uploaded 2018-05-01)
Integrated systems - "Transflooder"
(wiki-TODO: Integrate details.)
