dragonfly® crystal
Harnessing innovative positive displacement pipetting to simplify protein crystal optimization
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An ESSENTIAL tool to streamline structure determination: A+
Screen optimization for the crystallization of membrane proteins
The Dragonfly has rapidly become an ESSENTIAL tool that significantly streamlines structure determination! Screens that used to take hours to prepare can now be made in under 10 minutes using the user-friendly software and intuitive design of the instrument. Amazingly, the 10-heads are more than sufficient to create screens ranging in complexity from simple x,y gradients to multi-zone optimization. With virtually no dead volume and the fact that you are aliquoting directly into the crystallization tray, the Dragonfly can conserve on those expensive chemicals and rapidly produces a crystallization tray ready for the crystallization robot. The Dragonfly makes optimization of lead conditions a breeze and alleviates the crystallization bottleneck, allowing you to focus more on the science of the target than on the pursuit of crystals.
Review Date: 16 Aug 2016 | SPT Labtech
The instrument does the job
Production of optimization screens
The device is very easy to use; the software has a simple interface that is straightforward for new users. Liquid dispensing seems to be quite accurate even for very viscous materials.
Review Date: 11 Aug 2016 | SPT Labtech
Great instrument and service, precise pipetting
X-Ray Crystallography and Structural Biology
I am always very cautious using multichannel pipettes to mount precipitation plates for optimization screen and I try to make sure they are well calibrated. However, precise pipetting with viscous reagent like PEG is painful and not very accurate in reality. Indeed, reproducible optimization plate is invaluable especially when you need it close to the synchrotron beam time! I have been using the dragonfly for almost a year now to mount precipitant plates for optimization screens and find it very reproducible, easy to use and reliable. No problem at all even to dispense PEG400. Also, I save time because I do not have to look at my plates during the pipetting process so I can do something else. The service is good as once, as we ran out of reservoirs the TTP representatives put their demo stock together to save us while we were waiting our order to arrive. I will not forget that one. I could not comment about repair service or calibration problem because we never have to ask for it. Dragonfly just work well each you need it. It does the job and I use it as much as I can.
Review Date: 15 Jan 2016 | SPT Labtech
Crystal Screen Optimization
We decided to purchase the Dragonfly in part because of the exemplary service we've received and the quality of workmanship on our two Mosquitoes. The Dragonfly is another instrument that does its job and does it very well. The ten head system allows us to set up complex crystal screens in a fraction of the time that it took on our old instruments or by hand. Furthermore, the ability to set up a single plate over a deep well block saves not only time, but also reagents and costs. The ease of use of the Dragonfly Designer software to customize our screens in a matter of minutes without dealing with complicated spreadsheets makes it simple for new users to become proficient over a short period of time. We highly recommend the Dragonfly as a necessary component to any lab.
Review Date: 6 Oct 2015 | SPT Labtech
Using to make bespoke optimisation screens for protein crystallisation trials
A breath of fresh air in the world of crystallisation hits optimisation! The machine provides a combination of highly intuitive and easy-to-use graphical user interface coupled with a unique dispensing method of crystallisation agents. This allows to easily design optimisation screens of any complexity (one can even setup 4 (!) four-corner grid screens on a single (!) plate) and to quickly dispense them into the crystallisation plates (takes about 5-10 min for the 96-well plates). The machine does not require system liquid and has a small footprint. As a whole package, the machine has good value-for-money aspect. It saved me time and helped to achieve high quality results in a couple of projects, i.e. to obtain bigger and better diffracting crystals. It is also extremely reliable and rugged; “savvy” scientists won’t be able to quickly break it. The after sales are top notch and the company is prepared to go an extra mile to help and satisfy the customers. Without a doubt, I would hi
Review Date: 5 Jan 2015 | SPT Labtech
For setting up crystal screen optimisation plates
The Dragonfly seems well-built, with an easy-to-use GUI and an intuitive workflow. It takes 5-8 minutes to set up a simple 96-well plate with perpendicular gradients. A separate shaking device ensures mixing. Some minor niggles: At present, the Dragonfly does not appear to be able to generate pH gradients based on known buffer pKa(s) and concentrations, though this is a software feature that may be added in future. While the software does provide a progress bar, it doesn't give a 'time remaining' countdown clock - developers should consider this addition, for the benefit of those trying to multitask! Larger volumes must be split across multiple tips, which seems a bit of a waste of plastic but probably saves time. Finally, it is a shame that the device cannot aspirate from standard 50-ml tubes - instead, stock solutions must be placed small, bespoke plastic trays. Again, a bit of an unnecessary waste of plastic, but it does reduce the complication of potentially covering the entire tip in stock solution. All in all, a nice time-saving device for those trying to optimize crystal hits.
Review Date: 26 Nov 2014 | SPT Labtech
Manufacturer's Response
“Thanks for the valuable feedback. </BR> </BR> The pH gradient feature is in development and will be available soon. A re-aspiration feature will also be added in the near future as an alternative to splitting large volumes across tips. 'Timed progress' is a great idea, and has been requested before – it’s definitely something on our radar. </BR></BR> The plastic reservoirs/trays have several advantages. They ensure the tip is minimally submerged and enable a slower rate of level drop when aspirating which means the liquid is drawn from the outside surface of the tip very effectively. They also avoid potential contamination of and evaporation from your master stock tubes.”
First try today aiming to create concentration gradients for better crystallization conditions.
This device is so easy to use. The design of the software enables everyone to understand it in a few minutes. I find this technology particularly helpful when aiming to achieve new experiments on a 96 well plate. And thinking of the engineering behind makes it even more impressive!
Review Date: 21 Nov 2014 | SPT Labtech
Dispensing optimisation screens for protein crystal hits
The Dragonfly Screen Optimisation Liquid Handler makes it much easier and less time-consuming to dispense 96-well crystal optimisation screens. The software package is easy to use, and I was able to operate the instrument after a brief introductory session. The software package supports a wide range of gradient options. I would recommend its use in combination with the plate mixer, to ensure solutions are mixed following dispensing. One thing I would like to see implemented is the ability to aspirate directly from falcon tubes, without the need for special liquid holders (this would reduce consumables costs). While the software package is easy to use, I feel there are elements that could still be streamlined to reduce user intervention. Overall, the Dragonfly is a useful addition to our Structural Biology facility.
Review Date: 21 Nov 2014 | SPT Labtech
Crystallisation optimisation
I found the Dragonfly extremely easy to use. The software was highly intuitive and allowed straight-forward design of complicated optimisation protocols. The Dragonfly itself was very simple to use, leaving very little scope for human error. The plates were prepared in a few minutes and the accuracy in dispensation of very small volumes was evident in the resulting screens. In summary the Dragonfly made the tedious and time consuming process of crystallisation optimisation rapid and simple.
Review Date: 20 Nov 2014 | SPT Labtech
To optimise crystallisation conditions of proteins, which are low yields
Dragonfly is a well designed robot for optimising crystallisation conditions. It has a user friendly interface, which does not need much expertise. Since the proteins that I have been working on do not have high yields, it is always my first option to use 96-well plates to optimise crystallisation conditions. However, the preparation of custom 96 well-plates is time consuming and sometime in accurate. Dragonfly can solve these problems and save time to do other experiments.
Review Date: 20 Nov 2014 | SPT Labtech
dragonfly® crystal enhances protein crystal screen optimization. dragonfly is the ideal system to complement TTP Labtech’s mosquito® in the protein crystallization workflow. Once the initial crystal ‘hits’ are identified, dragonfly produces a set of optimized conditions to grow better diffracting crystals.
dragonfly crystal combines non-contact, positive displacement pipetting with disposable tips (ensuring zero cross-contamination) to automate the screen optimization process. Each pipette can dispense any volume (within range of 0.5 µL – 4 mL) of any liquid into any well of the plate, allowing complex assay gradients or optimised crystal screens to be prepared in under 5 minutes.
Benefits of dragonfly crystal include:
- no liquid classification – making set-up quick and easy
- flexible automation – dispense any volume from 0.5 µL upwards, into any well, from any syringe. Independent control of each channel
- accuracy and precision – accurate and precise dispensing of all types of liquids regardless of viscosity
- negligible evaporation of the dispensed reagents due to minimal set-up time
- fast – rapid completion of plate irrespective of viscosity variation in stocks (5-8 mins)
- pour and go – simply decant the stock volumes you need directly into the reservoirs from any bottle or tube – minimum preparation time
- stock integrity – positive displacement technology preserves stock integrity, even for volatiles
- optimal sample use – low dead volumes < 0.5 mL that are recoverable if required, combined with extremely accurate dispensing mean that precious samples go further and allowing more extensive screening
- zero cross contamination – use of disposable mosquito tips and non-contact dispensing guarantees zero cross-contamination
- ease of use – software is extremely simple to use, design and dispense
- robust – focused and uncomplicated workflow avoids physical user errors, low maintenance (no chance of blocking or clogging)
- screen designer software – interactive, powerful and simple tool to make set-up easier – design remotely at your desk and dispense at the machine.
These features allow the easy creation of even complex gradient plates.
Key application areas include:
- screen optimization set-ups for protein crystallography
- pH gradients for fine slicing
- biological assay development
