BioLector XT Microbioreactor & Biomek i5 Liquid Handler Integration

Description

This configuration links a BioLector XT Microbioreactor with a Biomek i5 Liquid Handler to establish an automated experimental platform for microbial cultures. The integration enables closed-loop workflows where actions performed by the liquid handler are initiated by real-time data streams from the bioreactor. Parameters such as biomass, pH, dissolved oxygen, or predefined timepoints can trigger automated tasks. These include inoculating cultivation wells, administering inducers or feed solutions, and harvesting samples. These liquid handling operations are conducted without interrupting the continuous orbital shaking within the BioLector XT, thereby preserving stable cultivation conditions. The Biomek i5 component utilizes fixed tips that undergo washing between steps to reduce contamination risk, with a pipetting volume range of 5 µL to 500 µL per single transfer. The system supports up to 12 deck positions for labware. Potential applications encompass automated media formulation, bolus or fed-batch feeding, induction profiling, growth synchronization, and automated upstream processing. By combining real-time analytics with robotic intervention, the platform is designed to extend unattended operation time, enhance protocol reproducibility, and generate data suitable for scaling fermentation processes. The integrated system dimensions are 206 cm in width, 112 cm in depth, and 81 cm in height (with the door closed).