Single-Cell Multiomics Automation: BD & Opentrons Unite

Unlocking Deeper Insights: The Power of Automated Single-Cell Multiomics

The quest to understand the intricate complexities of life at its most fundamental level has reached a new frontier: single-cell multiomics. This cutting-edge field aims to decipher the myriad biological processes occurring within individual cells by simultaneously analyzing multiple types of biological data, such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and epigenomics. However, the sheer complexity and demanding nature of these experiments have historically presented significant bottlenecks. Now, a groundbreaking collaboration between BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) and Opentrons is set to shatter these limitations, ushering in an era of accelerated discoveries through advanced automation.

This partnership strategically integrates Opentrons’ renowned robotic liquid-handling capabilities with BD’s state-of-the-art single-cell multiomics instruments. The primary goal? To automate critical, labor-intensive steps in the multiomics workflow. This synergy promises to not only enhance efficiency and reproducibility but also to democratize access to sophisticated single-cell analysis, paving the way for faster, more profound insights into diseases and biological mechanisms.

The Challenge of Single-Cell Multiomics

Single-cell analysis, by its very nature, involves working with minuscule biological samples and executing highly precise, often repetitive tasks. When expanding this to multiomics, where multiple layers of cellular information are being collected from the same individual cell, the technical demands escalate dramatically. Researchers often face:

• Low Sample Input: Individual cells contain very small amounts of biological material, requiring meticulous handling to avoid loss or contamination.
• High Throughput Demands: To generate statistically significant data, researchers need to analyze thousands, if not millions, of individual cells.
• Complex Protocols: Multiomics workflows involve numerous sequential steps, each requiring precise reagent additions, incubations, and washes.
• Reproducibility Issues: Manual execution of these complex protocols can introduce variability, making it challenging to achieve consistent results across experiments and labs.
• Time and Labor Intensive Processes: The manual execution of these protocols consumes significant researcher time and expertise, diverting resources from data analysis and interpretation.

These challenges have often limited the scale and scope of single-cell multiomics studies, hindering the pace of scientific advancement in areas like cancer research, immunology, and neuroscience.

The BD and Opentrons Collaboration: A Synergistic Solution

BD, a global leader in life sciences, brings decades of expertise in developing innovative instruments and reagents for cell analysis. Opentrons, a pioneer in accessible laboratory automation, is celebrated for its user-friendly and affordable robotic liquid handlers. Their collaboration is a natural fit, leveraging BD’s deep scientific understanding of multiomics with Opentrons’ prowess in automating complex biological workflows.

The core of this partnership lies in the seamless integration of Opentrons’ robotic liquid-handling systems into BD’s single-cell multiomics platforms. This integration will automate key aspects of the experimental process, including:

1. Sample Preparation: Precise dispensing of reagents for cell lysis, nucleic acid extraction, and library preparation.
2. Reagent Addition: Accurate addition of antibodies, enzymes, and other crucial components for various multiomic assays.
3. Washing and Incubation Steps: Automated execution of critical steps that require specific timing and conditions.
4. Plate Transfers: Efficient movement of samples between different assay plates and modules.

By entrusting these tasks to robotic precision, researchers can significantly reduce the potential for human error, enhance the consistency of their results, and free up valuable time for higher-level scientific activities such as experimental design and data interpretation. This automation is not just about speed; it’s about achieving a new level of scientific rigor and enabling more ambitious research questions to be addressed.

Accelerating Discoveries: The Impact on Research

The implications of this collaboration are far-reaching, promising to accelerate discovery across numerous biological disciplines. Imagine the possibilities:

Advancing Cancer Research

Understanding the heterogeneity of tumors at a single-cell level is crucial for developing effective cancer therapies. Automated multiomics can help researchers identify rare cell populations responsible for drug resistance, map the tumor microenvironment in unprecedented detail, and discover novel biomarkers for early detection and personalized treatment. The ability to generate large, reproducible multiomic datasets from tumor samples will be a game-changer.

Deepening Immunological Understanding

The immune system is incredibly complex, with diverse cell types performing specialized functions. Single-cell multiomics, empowered by automation, can unravel the intricate interactions within immune responses, leading to better vaccines, more effective immunotherapies for autoimmune diseases, and a deeper understanding of immune memory.

Unraveling Neurological Disorders

Diseases affecting the brain, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, involve subtle cellular changes that are difficult to detect. Automated multiomics can enable researchers to study the molecular profiles of individual neurons and glial cells, identifying the underlying causes of neurodegeneration and potentially revealing new therapeutic targets.

Democratizing Access to Advanced Technologies

One of the significant contributions of Opentrons has been making laboratory automation more accessible. By integrating their technology with BD’s established single-cell multiomics instruments, this collaboration aims to lower the barrier to entry for advanced multiomic analysis. This means more labs, including those with smaller budgets or less specialized technical staff, can now perform these sophisticated experiments, fostering broader scientific participation and innovation.

The Future of Biological Exploration

The partnership between BD and Opentrons represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of single-cell multiomics. By marrying high-quality instrumentation with intelligent automation, they are not just streamlining existing processes but actively enabling entirely new avenues of scientific exploration. As more researchers gain access to these automated solutions, we can anticipate an exponential increase in the speed and depth of biological discoveries.

This collaboration underscores a growing trend in the life sciences: the indispensable role of automation in tackling complex biological questions. The ability to generate comprehensive, reliable, and large-scale multiomic data from individual cells will be instrumental in our fight against disease and our pursuit of a deeper understanding of life itself. For more insights into the advancements in laboratory automation, consider exploring resources from organizations like Nature, which frequently covers breakthroughs in scientific methodology.

The fusion of BD’s scientific rigor and Opentrons’ automation expertise is poised to unlock a new era of single-cell multiomics, making it faster, more accessible, and ultimately, more impactful than ever before. This is more than just an integration; it’s a catalyst for discovery.

Ready to explore the future of single-cell research? Learn more about how BD and Opentrons are transforming multiomics.