Thermo Fisher Multidrop™ Pico 8 Digital Dispenser

Overview

The Thermo Fisher Multidrop™ Pico 8 Digital Dispenser is an ultra-low-volume, positive-displacement liquid handler engineered for precision microdispensing in high-content screening, assay miniaturization, and resource-sensitive workflows. Unlike air-displacement pipettors or bulk reagent dispensers, the Pico 8 employs digitally controlled piezoelectric actuation combined with proprietary capillary-based pico-dispense cartridges to achieve deterministic, non-contact droplet ejection at sub-nanoliter resolution. Its core architecture eliminates carryover, cross-contamination, and evaporation-related variability—critical constraints in qPCR master mix preparation, dose-response profiling, and cell-based assay development. Designed specifically for laboratories transitioning from 96- to 384- and 1536-well formats, the system enables robust assay scaling while maintaining statistical confidence through reproducible volume delivery across all supported plate geometries.

Key Features

• Ultra-low-volume dispensing down to 11 pL per well using the 8-channel pico-dispense cartridge—validated per ISO 8655-7 for volumetric accuracy in low-volume regimes.
• Dual-cartridge compatibility: seamlessly switch between the 8-channel pico cartridge (11 pL–20 µL) and the 4-channel standard cartridge (1 nL–200 µL) without hardware recalibration.
• Automated plate-height adaptation: integrated optical sensing dynamically adjusts nozzle-to-plate distance across 6–47 mm plate heights—including deep-well, skirted, and low-profile plates—ensuring consistent drop formation and placement fidelity.
• Modular footprint (47 × 38 × 23 cm): designed for integration into automated workcells or standalone benchtop use; compatible with third-party robotic arms via RS-232 and Ethernet/IP protocols.
• Nozzle-free fluid path: disposable, pre-sterilized cartridges eliminate cleaning validation, reduce downtime, and support GLP-compliant traceability via lot-numbered consumables.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The Multidrop™ Pico 8 accommodates aqueous buffers, glycerol-containing solutions (up to 40% v/v), DMSO-based compound libraries (≤10% DMSO), and serum-supplemented media—subject to viscosity limits (<20 cP) and surface tension ranges (25–72 mN/m). All dispensing protocols are configurable to meet assay-specific requirements for coefficient of variation (CV), with routine performance verification aligned to ASTM E2758-18 for low-volume liquid handling systems. The instrument supports 21 CFR Part 11-compliant audit trails when operated with Thermo Fisher’s CombiControl™ Software v3.2+, including electronic signatures, user-level access control, and immutable run logs for GxP environments.

Software & Data Management

CombiControl™ Software provides a validated, Windows-based interface for method creation, plate mapping, and real-time dispensing monitoring. Users define multi-step protocols—including serial dilutions, staggered dispense patterns, and conditional logic based on plate barcodes—with full parameter logging (e.g., voltage pulse duration, dwell time, temperature-compensated calibration offsets). Raw dispensing data exports in CSV and XML formats; metadata is embedded per ANSI/SLAS standards for LIMS interoperability. Optional API integration enables bidirectional communication with ELN platforms (e.g., Benchling, LabArchives) and scheduling systems (e.g., Agilent OpenLAB, Thermo Fisher SampleManager).

Applications

• High-throughput qPCR setup: precise distribution of master mix and template DNA into 384-well plates, minimizing well-to-well variation and improving Cq reproducibility.
• Dose–response and IC₅₀/EC₅₀ profiling: accurate serial dispensing of compound dilutions across 1536-well assay plates for early-stage drug discovery.
• Cell-based functional assays: low-volume deposition of cytokines, growth factors, or inhibitors onto adherent or suspension cultures without shear-induced perturbation.
• ELISA and immunoassay development: uniform coating of capture antibodies at sub-microliter volumes to reduce reagent cost and enhance signal-to-noise ratios.
• SAR (Structure–Activity Relationship) studies: parallel dispensing of synthetic compound arrays into multiwell plates for rapid hit confirmation and analog testing.
• Diagnostic assay miniaturization: compliant with CLSI EP10-A3 guidelines for verification of low-volume measurement systems in clinical laboratory settings.

FAQ

What is the minimum dispensing volume achievable with the 8-channel cartridge?

The validated lower limit is 11 pL per dispense event, measured using gravimetric analysis per ISO 8655-7 Annex B.
Can the Pico 8 dispense viscous or protein-rich solutions?

Yes—solutions up to 20 cP viscosity and containing ≤10 mg/mL monoclonal antibody are compatible; pre-wetting and optimized pulse profiles are recommended.
Is calibration required between cartridge changes?

No. Each cartridge contains embedded calibration coefficients; the system auto-loads them upon insertion, eliminating manual recalibration steps.
How does the Pico 8 ensure compliance with FDA 21 CFR Part 11?

When used with CombiControl™ Software v3.2+ and configured audit trail settings, it meets electronic record and signature requirements—including role-based permissions, operation logging, and data integrity safeguards.
Does the system support unattended overnight runs?

Yes—integrated plate stacker (optional) and error-recovery logic enable continuous multi-plate processing with automatic pause/resume on lid detection or sensor fault.