ALS - Model CellCelector -Versatile Automated Single Cell and Colony Picking System

The CellCelector™ combines an automated inverted fluorescence microscope with a high-speed scanning stage, a high-precision microfluidic cell picking robot and a PC workstation running powerful image processing software typing all system components together. As such the ALS CellCelector™ is a unique combination of a high-content imaging system and a fully automated micro-manipulation robot. The unique versatility of the CellCelector™ is achieved by three exchangeable picking modules utilizing either high-precision glass capillaries, reusable (autoclavable) stainless steel scraping tips or disposable plastic tips. Further versatility is added through compatibility with a huge range of source (microtiter plates, petri dishes, slides, CellCelector Nanowell arrays or custom plates) and destination labware formats (microplates, petri dishes, slides, PCR tubes/plates etc.).

The operation principle of the ALS CellCelector™ can be summarized as following:

• Image the source plates
• Detect/Select cells, clusters or colonies of interest
• Pick target cells and transfer them into destination plates

The whole workflow is fully automated and documented by providing a live image during picking, cell tracking data from source plate to destination plate as well as before and after picking images.

Depending on the application and user requirements the cells to be picked can be detected, identified and selected fully automatically either label-free based on the target cell size and morphology or through positive/negative fluorescence markers. As an alternative semi-automated or manual on-screen selection by the operator is possible.

• Open platform allowing the development of your own imaging, detection and picking protocols
• Versatility: single cell picking, isolation of clusters, spheroids, organoids, adherent colonies, single cell clones from a variety of liquid and semi-solid medias
• Up to 100 % picking/transfer efficiency (depending on application)
• Extremely gentle cell transfer resulting in high cell integrity and outgrowth rates after the cell transfer (including up to 95 % viability in single cell cloning applications)
• Isolation of living or fixed cells
• Fully automated or interactive picking modes with live on-screen visualization of the picking process
• High scanning and picking throughput resulting in fast retrieval of cells - the ALS CellCelector™ is therefore compatible with Single Cell RNA analysis applications or for the isolation of living cells
• Optionally deck tray with cooled destination positions available to prevent degradation of RNA of picked cells
• Automated adjustment of picking position and height
• Validated protocols for detection and isolation of single cells in suspension, adherent cells or colonies, 3D clones in liquid or semi-solid media etc. for downstream molecular analysis or cloning (e.g. for cell line development)
• Compatibility with standard and custom cell culture labware
• Complete documentation and traceability from source plate to destination including cell tracking data as well as before and after picking images
• The high-content imaging subsystem can also be used for imaging applications without picking
• Easy to operate, doesn’t require highly skilled operator
• No routine maintenance necessary

• Bright field, phase contrast and fluorescence imaging in up to 7 channels
• Magnifications from 1.25 x to 60 x for optimal imaging resolution and speed
• Automated image analysis, cell/colony segmentation and gating based on cell morphology and/or the presence or absence of fluorescent markers
• Various image gallery modes of detected cells allow for an easy and fast pick list review
• Picking capillaries/tips ranging from 20 µm to 1.2 mm inner diameter covering the whole spectrum of application scenarios
• User adjustable picking protocols allow for fine tuning of different aplications (e.g. aspiration volumes and speeds etc.)
• Various application-specific picking modes: single cell recovery, cell pooling, replica plate generation, cell deposition onto microscope stage, serial picking modes for enrichment/purification scenarios, interactive picking and deposit modes
• Can be installed within a standard biological safety cabinet / cell culture hood or in our ALS Incubator FlowBox™ combining a sterile laminar air flow with temperature, CO2 and humidity control for handling of sensitive cells and running long term experiments (see below).