cellenONE F1.4 Automated Single-Cell Dispensing System

Overview

The cellenONE F1.4 is an automated, vision-guided single-cell dispensing system engineered for high-fidelity isolation of individual viable cells with traceable, auditable precision. Unlike conventional fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) or microfluidic droplet-based platforms—both constrained by Poisson distribution limitations—the cellenONE F1.4 employs piezoelectric acoustic dispensing coupled with real-time brightfield imaging to verify cell presence and count *within each dispensed droplet* prior to deposition. This closed-loop optical feedback architecture ensures deterministic single-cell placement into standard or custom microplates (96-, 384-, 1536-, and 5184-well formats), eliminating multi-cell events at the source. The system operates without hydrodynamic shear stress or electrical fields, preserving native cell physiology and viability—critical for clonal expansion, functional assays, and downstream single-cell sequencing library preparation.

Key Features

• Piezoelectric acoustic dispensing technology enabling gentle, non-contact cell transfer with minimal mechanical perturbation
• Integrated high-resolution imaging module capturing in-droplet cell morphology and position for every dispensing event
• Deterministic single-cell verification: only droplets containing exactly one cell are deposited; multi-cell or empty droplets are rejected and returned to the source reservoir
• Ultra-low input requirement: validated performance with as few as 50 cells in 1 µL suspension—no minimum cell number threshold
• Nanoliter-scale reagent dispensing capability (down to 10 nL) supporting open-format library construction workflows
• Plate-flexible architecture compatible with commercial microplates (including ANSI/SLAS-compliant formats) and user-defined substrates
• Full experimental audit trail: timestamped images, positional metadata, and dispensing logs stored per run

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The cellenONE F1.4 supports a broad spectrum of biological specimens without modification or labeling. Validated sample types include immortalized cell lines (CHO, HEK293T, HeLa, A549, PC3, H1975, HepaRG, Jurkat), primary human cells (PBMCs, T/B lymphocytes, fibroblasts, keratinocytes, melanocytes, cardiomyocytes, HUVECs, neural stem cells), isolated nuclei from fresh-frozen (FF) and FFPE tissue sections, and calibrated polymeric microspheres (2–30 µm diameter). The platform adheres to ISO 13485-aligned manufacturing controls and supports GLP/GMP-aligned documentation practices. Audit trails comply with data integrity principles outlined in FDA 21 CFR Part 11 when integrated with compliant LIMS or ELN environments.

Software & Data Management

The proprietary cellenONE Control Software provides intuitive workflow configuration, real-time image review, and granular dispensing parameter tuning (e.g., droplet volume, deposition speed, Z-height calibration). All acquired images and metadata—including cell coordinates, frame timestamps, plate maps, and rejection logs—are stored in vendor-neutral TIFF and CSV formats. Export options support integration with common bioinformatics pipelines (e.g., CellRanger, Seurat) via standardized plate map annotations. Software versioning, user access controls, and electronic signature functionality align with laboratory quality management systems requiring traceability and change control.

Applications

• Single-cell cloning for monoclonal antibody development and stable cell line generation
• Pre-sequencing sample preparation: direct deposition of live single cells into lysis-compatible plates for scRNA-seq, scATAC-seq, or multi-omics workflows
• Microarray-based functional screening using nanoliter reagent co-dispensing
• Primary cell banking with documented viability and positional fidelity
• Reference standard generation for assay validation (e.g., defined mixtures of cell types or genotypes)
• Nuclei isolation and sorting from archived clinical specimens for epigenomic profiling

FAQ

What is the minimum viable cell concentration required for reliable operation?
The system has been validated with inputs as low as 50 total cells in 1 µL suspension. No dilution series or pre-enrichment is necessary.
Does cellenONE require fluorescent labeling or antibody staining?
No. It relies exclusively on label-free brightfield imaging for cell detection and counting—preserving native cell state and avoiding artifacts introduced by dyes or antibodies.
How is data integrity ensured during long-duration runs?
Each dispensing event triggers synchronized image capture and metadata logging. Files are checksummed and stored with immutable timestamps; software enforces write-once archival protocols.
Can the system dispense both cells and reagents into the same well?
Yes. The dual-channel dispensing head allows sequential or co-deposition of cells and nanoliter volumes of lysis buffer, RT master mix, or barcoded primers—enabling fully automated library prep initiation.
Is remote monitoring or unattended operation supported?
The system supports secure network connectivity for real-time status viewing and email alerts. Unattended overnight runs are routinely performed with full image and log retention.