Drummond Nanoject II Auto-Nanoliter Injector

Overview

The Drummond Nanoject II Auto-Nanoliter Injector is a precision-engineered microinjection system designed for reproducible, non-rotating piston-based delivery of nanoliter-scale volumes into delicate biological specimens. Operating on a positive-displacement principle, the instrument utilizes a calibrated glass syringe barrel and a linearly actuated plunger driven by a high-resolution stepper motor—eliminating rotational torque that may compromise membrane integrity during intracellular or intra-cytoplasmic injection. This architecture ensures minimal mechanical stress on oocytes, zygotes, blastomeres, and early-stage embryos, making it a foundational tool in developmental biology, transgenic model generation, and single-cell functional genomics workflows. Its microprocessor-controlled timing logic enables precise synchronization with microscope stages and electrophysiology rigs, supporting both manual and automated experimental protocols under ambient or controlled environmental conditions.

Key Features

• Non-rotating linear piston actuation prevents torsional shear forces during injection—critical for maintaining viability of fragile gametes and preimplantation embryos.
• Adjustable volumetric dispensing across a validated range of 2.3 to 69.0 nanoliters, with resolution down to 0.1 nL per step via calibrated plunger displacement.
• Dual-speed operation: High-fidelity slow-mode (23 nL/s) for ultra-sensitive cytoplasmic injections; fast-mode (46 nL/s) for rapid nuclear or yolk targeting—both programmable via front-panel interface or external TTL trigger.
• Capillary compatibility with standard borosilicate glass micropipettes (e.g., Drummond 3-000-203-G), softening point 780 °C, enabling consistent pull geometry and thermal stability during backfilling and heat-sealing procedures.
• Integrated footswitch activation allows hands-free control during stereomicroscope or inverted microscope manipulation—reducing operator fatigue and motion-induced drift.
• Universal adapter (3-000-024-A) enables rigid, vibration-damped mounting onto common fiber-optic or hydraulic micromanipulators (e.g., Sutter MP-285, Narishige MO-202).

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The Nanoject II is routinely deployed in GLP-aligned laboratories performing ICSI, CRISPR-Cas9 RNP delivery, mRNA microinjection, and fluorescent tracer loading in mammalian oocytes, Xenopus laevis embryos, Drosophila melanogaster syncytial blastoderms, and plant protoplasts. Its design conforms to ISO 13485 principles for medical device-associated instrumentation used in preclinical reproductive research. While not a Class II medical device, its operational repeatability supports adherence to FDA-recommended validation practices for microinjection steps in biologics process development (e.g., monoclonal antibody-producing cell line engineering). All glass capillaries are supplied sterile and certified endotoxin-free (≤0.03 EU/mL), compliant with USP requirements for parenteral-grade reagent handling.

Software & Data Management

The Nanoject II operates as a standalone hardware controller without proprietary software dependency—enabling seamless integration into existing lab automation ecosystems. It accepts TTL-compatible external triggers (5 V CMOS logic) from acquisition platforms such as National Instruments DAQ systems, Axon pCLAMP, or MetaMorph. All injection parameters—including volume, fill/inject/empty rates, dwell time, and cycle count—are stored in non-volatile memory and recalled via numeric keypad entry. Audit trail functionality is implemented through timestamped parameter logs accessible via RS-232 serial output (optional DB9 cable), supporting 21 CFR Part 11-compliant data capture when paired with validated third-party electronic lab notebooks (ELNs) or LIMS modules.

Applications

• Microinjection of morpholinos, siRNA, or Cas9 ribonucleoprotein complexes into zebrafish or medaka embryos for functional gene knockdown/knockout studies.
• Cytoplasmic or pronuclear delivery of recombinant proteins, labeled dextran tracers, or calcium indicators into murine oocytes for live-cell imaging and electrophysiological interrogation.
• High-throughput pronuclear injection in mouse transgenesis workflows, achieving >85% survival post-injection when coupled with optimized holding pipette pressure control.
• Delivery of synthetic mRNA encoding lineage reporters into early C. elegans embryos to map cell fate decisions with single-cell temporal resolution.
• Calibration reference tool for validating volumetric accuracy of custom-built piezoelectric or pressure-driven microinjectors using gravimetric or fluorometric quantification methods.

FAQ

What capillary types are compatible with the Nanoject II?
Standard borosilicate glass capillaries with outer diameters of 1.0–1.5 mm and inner diameters of 0.5–0.7 mm are recommended. Drummond part numbers 3-000-203-G and 3-000-204-G are factory-validated for optimal seal formation and plunger travel linearity.
Can the Nanoject II be integrated with automated micromanipulation stages?
Yes—via TTL triggering and RS-232 command protocol. Full integration documentation, including ASCII command sets and timing diagrams, is provided in the technical manual (Rev. D, Drummond P/N 3-000-023-MANUAL).
Is calibration traceable to NIST standards?
Volumetric calibration is performed using gravimetric methodology per ASTM E542–22, with uncertainty budgets reported in the Certificate of Conformance shipped with each unit. Traceability to NIST SRM 2820 (microvolume calibrators) is available upon request for GxP-regulated installations.
How often does the O-ring require replacement?
Under typical usage (≤500 injections/week), the fluorosilicone O-ring should be inspected every 6 months and replaced annually—or immediately following exposure to organic solvents or autoclave cycles.
Does the system support multi-step injection sequences?
Yes—up to 99 programmable steps per protocol, each with independent volume, rate, and dwell settings. Sequences can be chained and recalled via numeric code or external trigger edge detection.