Automating Mononuclear Cell Isolation: A Boon for Cancer Research at BioBank Dresden (BBD)

Introduction

BioBank Dresden (BBD), established in 2017, plays a pivotal role in facilitating innovative cancer research by providing high-quality biospecimens to the scientific community. Among the numerous biospecimens collected and stored at BBD, Mononuclear Cells (MNCs) isolated from blood and bone marrow samples hold particular significance. MNCs serve as a critical resource for understanding, preventing, diagnosing, and treating various cancers. However, the traditional manual method for isolating MNCs suffers from limitations such as inconsistency and time constraints.

Challenges of Manual MNC Isolation

The conventional manual method for isolating MNCs, while effective, presents several challenges. The process is labor-intensive and susceptible to human error, leading to inconsistencies in sample quality and yield. Additionally, certain steps in the workflow are time-sensitive, requiring strict adherence to protocols to ensure optimal results. Furthermore, the manual method lacks scalability, hindering the processing of large sample batches efficiently.

Addressing the Challenges: A Collaborative Effort towards Automation

Recognizing these limitations, BBD embarked on a collaborative effort with Hamilton Robotics to develop a novel automated method for isolating MNCs from blood and bone marrow samples. This innovative system offers a multitude of advantages over the traditional manual approach.

The Automated MNC Isolation System: A Closer Look

The automated system is meticulously designed to ensure sterility, efficiency, and reliable sample handling. Here’s a breakdown of its key features:

• Enclosed Workstation: The entire system operates within a HEPA-filtered enclosure equipped with UV light for sterilization, minimizing the risk of contamination.
• Integrated Components: The system incorporates a Hamilton Microlab® STAR^TM Autoload pipetting robot, a Tube Twister with Barcode Scanner, a Hettich Rotanta 460 Robotic Centrifuge, a Hamilton LabElite Integrated I.D. Capper for automatic labeling, and a Hamilton HMotion Plate Handler for loading and unloading samples.
• Sample Tracking: The system utilizes barcode readers to meticulously track samples throughout the entire processing workflow, ensuring data integrity and traceability.
• Flexible Pipetting: The asymmetrically distributed pipetting channels on the Microlab® STAR^TM offer exceptional flexibility for handling diverse sample volumes simultaneously.
• Clot Detection: The system is equipped with pressure sensors that can reliably detect clots in whole blood samples, enabling safe and efficient processing.
• Dynamic Taring: The Tube Twister facilitates automated loading and unloading of tubes within the centrifuge, ensuring balanced centrifugation even with samples of varying volumes.
• LIMS Integration: Bidirectional communication is established between the system’s software (VENUS) and the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), allowing for seamless exchange of critical data such as sample type, volume, cell count, and aliquoting requirements.

The Automated Workflow: Streamlining MNC Isolation

The automated workflow commences with loading samples, reagents, and consumables onto the platform. The system then scans barcodes and generates a sample list, which is subsequently communicated to the LIMS for further processing. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the automated workflow:

Authors: Heidi Altmann1,2,3, Martin Bornhäuser1,2,3, Malte von Bonin1, Boris Winter4, Gabriela Boza-Moran5*

• (1) Medical Department I, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
• (2) National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Partner Site Dresden, Germany
• (3) German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
• (4) Hamilton Germany GmbH, Gräfelfing, Germany
• (5) Hamilton Bonaduz AG (Robotics), Bonaduz, Switzerland
• * for correspondance: mboza-moran@hamilton.ch