Integrating an INTEGRA VIAFLO 96 multichannel pipette into their high throughput expression facility has enabled Molecular Partners (Zurich, Switzerland) to streamline the discovery and development of a novel class of targeted protein therapeutics termed DARPins.

DARPins are a next generation of protein therapeutics combining the advantages of antibodies and small molecule drugs. High target specificity and potency, small size, cost-effective production and a whole range of possible multi-specific format choices gives them the potential to surpass existing antibody drugs and revolutionize protein therapeutics.

Andreas Lehmann, an Expert Technical Assistant working in Molecular Partners 96-well high throughput expression facility commented “Our lab is extremely satisfied with our decision to purchase and incorporate INTEGRA’s VIAFLO 96 into our development protocols.  The main application we are using the system for currently is protein purification using IMAC (Immobilized Metal Affinity Chromatography). The VIAFLO 96 is used for various steps in the process starting from the preparation of bacterial cultures right through to the actual purification. Overall our protocol involves 63 full plate liquid transfers; such a workload would not be feasible with a traditional handheld multichannel pipette. We have found that the VIAFLO 96 is easy to integrate into our standard operating protocols because parameters can be defined: pipetting mode, volume, pipetting speed and pipetting height.  We particularly like the repeat dispense function on the VIAFLO 96 as it saves the lab a lot of time and improves the overall reproducibility of tests as all samples processed at the same time in the same way".

Mr. Lehmann added "Being responsible for training of new staff, I also appreciate that the VIAFLO 96 is user friendly and intuitive to use because very little training is required". 

The INTEGRA VIAFLO 96 is a handheld 96-channel electronic pipette that has struck a chord with scientists looking for fast, precise and easy simultaneous transfer of 96 samples from microplates without the cost of a fully automated system. The VIAFLO 96 was designed to handle just like a standard handheld pipette - a fact borne out by consistent end user feedback that no special skills or training are required to operate it. Users immediately benefit from the increased productivity delivered by their VIAFLO 96. Fast replication or reformatting of 96 and 384 well plates and high precision transferring of reagents, compounds and solutions to or from microplates with the VIAFLO 96 is as easy as pipetting with a standard electronic pipette into a single tube. Four pipetting heads with pipetting volumes up to 12.5 µl, 125 µl, 300 µl or 1250 µl are available for the VIAFLO 96. These pipetting heads are interchangeable within seconds enabling optimal matching of the available volume range to the application performed. For 384-well pipetting an enhanced version is available with VIAFLO 384. It features 384-channel pipetting heads in the volume range of 12.5 µl and 125 µl and is compatible with 96-channel pipetting heads.

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