Multidrop Microplate Dispensers

General instructions for cell dispensing

The capability to dispense viable cells requires gentle handling of the cells. This requirement is fullfilled with the Multidrop dispensers either using a standard or small tube dispensing cassette.

The most important thing when cell dispensing is to ensure the cells stay in a homogenous solution, achieved by constant mixing. This ensures that cells flow evenly in the tubing and can be dispensed with high precision. The main requirements for a successful dispensing of different cell lines are mainly similar, and the practical issues are described in the following document: Maintenance guide for cell dispensing with Thermo Scientific Multidrop Combi (170 KB).

Cell Lines

Adherent cells require a surface for growth and differentiation. These cells need first to be detached either with trypsin-EDTA or an enzyme mix. After the detachment and washing steps it is essential to take care that the cells are evenly distributed in the liquid, and no clumps are formed to guarantee the best dispensing result.

Non-adherent cell lines grow in suspension and require no surface for survival. Typical examples of these are blood cells, insect cells and some plant cells. The same rules apply to dispensing of these cells, and securing the effective and gentle mixing is still the main issue for successful dispensing.

Examples of cell lines successfully dispensed:

Microbes

Examples of cells successfully dispensed:

Other

Examples of cells successfully dispensed:

If you would like to share information of your cell dispensing experiment with others, please contact us using contact details provided in the Ask & Share section.

Related Publications

Cell Lines

• Choy et al. (2008). Genetic Analysis of Human Traits in Vitro: Drug Response and Gene Expression in Lymphoblastoid Cell Lines. PLoS Genetics 4 (11).
• Eggert et al. (2004). Parallel Chemical Genetic and Genome-Wide RNAi Screens Identify Cytokinesis Inhibitors and Targets. PloS Biology 2 (12): e379.
• Gopalakrisshnan el al. (2005). An Offline-Addition Format for Identifying GPCR Modulators by Screening 384-Well Mixed Compounds in the FLIPRJournal of Biomolecular Screening 10 ;46.
• Hardcastle et al. (2007). A Duplexed Phenotypic Screen for the Simultaneous Detection of Inhibitors of the Molecular Chaperone Heat Shock Protein 90 and Modulators of Cellular Acetylation. Mol Cancer Ther 6 (3): 1112–22.
• Iourgenko et al. (2003). Identification of a Family of cAMP Response Element-Binding Protein Coactivators by Genome-Scale Functional Analysis in Mammalian Cells. PNAS vol. 100 no. 21: 12147–12152.
• Kiger et al. (2003). A Functional Genomic Analysis of Cell Morphology Using RNA Interference. Journal of Biology 2 (27).
• Lundholt et al. (2003). A Simple Technique for Reducing Edge Effect in Cell-Based Assays. Journal of Biomolecular Screening 8 (566).
• Muller et al. (2005). Identification of JAK/STAT signalling components by genome-wide RNA interference. Nature 436 (11).
• Pedemonte et al. (2005). Phenylglycine and Sulfonamide Correctors of Defective _F508 and G551D Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Chloride-Channel Gating. Molecular Pharmacology 67 (5).
• Richards et al. (2006). Methods in Molecular Biology, vol. 356: High Content Screening: A Powerful Approach to Systems Cell Biology and Drug Discovery. Humana Press, Inc., Totowa, NJ.
• Sun et al. (2006). Chronic Inhibition of Cardiac Kir2.1 and hERG Potassium Channels by Celastrol with Dual Effects on Both Ion Conductivity and Protein Trafficking. J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 281, Issue 9, 5877-5884.
• Tanaka et al. (2005). An Unbiased Cell Morphology–Based Screen for New, Biologically Active Small Molecules. PloS Biology 3(5): e128.
• Titus et al. (2008). Quantitative High-Throughput Screening Using a Live-Cell cAMP Assay Identifies Small-Molecule Agonists of the TSH Receptor. Journal of Biomolecular Screening 13 (120).
• Weber et al. (2004). A 1,536-Well cAMP Assay for Gs- and Gi-Coupled Receptors Using Enzyme Fragmentation Complementation. ASSAY and Drug Development Technologies Volume 2, Number 1.
• Weimin Tang and Mary Jo Wildey (2004). Development of a Colorimetric Method for Functional Chloride Channel Assay. Journal of Biomolecular Screening 9 (607).
• Zitzler et al. (2004). High-Throughput Functional GenomicsIdentifies Genes That Ameliorate Toxicity Due to Oxidative Stress in Neuronal HT-22 Cells. Molecular & Cellular Proteomics 3:834–840.

Microbes

• Sandberg et al. (2008). Automating a 96-well Microtiter Plate Model for Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms: An Approach to Screening of Natural Antimicrobial Compounds. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents 32: 233–240.

Other

• Bai et al. (2008). RNA Interference Screening in Drosophila Primary Cells for Genes Involved in Muscle Assembly and Maintenance. Development 135, 1439-1449.
• Bills et al.(2007). Enhancement of Antibiotic and Secondary Metabolite Detection from Filamentous Fungi by Growth on Nutritional Arrays. Journal of Applied Microbiology ISSN 1364 – 5072.
• Sepp et al. (2008). Identification of Neural Outgrowth Genes Using Genome-Wide RNAi. PloS Genetics 4 (7).