Synthace’s multi-mode execution mode makes it easy to apply Design of Experiments to complex scientific workflows that require multiple devices. You can create experimental designs and build workflows that uses multiple execution modes, including different dispensers or manual steps.
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Synthace applies the experimental design across all devices and automatically aligns data at the end of the workflow allowing for easy statistical analysis.

To learn more about multi-mode execution with Synthace, click here.

Complex experiments often require multiple different instruments and modes of execution. For example, a cell-based screening assay typically requires the addition of drug compounds at very low volumes (~nL) to considerably larger volumes (~uL) of cell populations. Due to the dispense range of different device, finding hardware that can handle this diversity of transfers can be challenging. With the new multi-mode execution functionality in Synthace, you can always ensure that you are using the right tool for the job.

In this article we walk through how to apply DoE to a cell-based screening assay that requires both an Echo and Dragonfly dispenser. This experiment creates different combinations of assay buffers and studies the effect of two different drug compounds on three different cell populations. Firstly, media components and compounds are dispensed (e.g. using Beckman Echo), followed by addition of cells with a Dragonfly.

Synthace’s multi-mode execution feature allows you to accomplish this by creating two distinct stages. All media creation and compound dispensing is done in the first stage of the workflow, in this case, by the Echo.

In the second stage, the Dragonfly adds the cells.

To view the DoE design, toggle on the DoE mode and click Design.

In this workflow, the Make Mixtures and Mix Onto elements are where we define the different factors of our design. To learn more on how to toggle DoE mode on and define factors, click here.

In the calculate design tab, we can select the type of DoE design, set our replicates, and view the number of runs that Synthace has generated. To learn more about calculating your DoE design, click here.

In the Final Run Matrix, you will notice that factors used in both the Echo and Dragonfly stage are included. Simulate the workflow with your design and preview the simulation. To learn more about how to build a multi-mode execution workflow, click here.

Click on the Preview tab to view. Labware used in both stages will be passed through from one stage to the next. In this workflow, the Cell Media Plate is used in both the Echo and Dragonfly stages.

To learn more about how to preview your multi-mode execution workflow, click here.
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When you are ready, execute your DoE workflow. Download the device instructions for each stage and mark the execution as complete when finished.

In the results tab, add the response data for the Cell Media Plate. In this instance, we will add plate reading data from our experiment and use this to analyze our experiment in Synthace’s Response Analysis feature. To learn more about manually uploading data files to Synthace, click here. If your plate reader is connected via SynthaceHub, Synthace will automatically upload, align and structure data from your execution. To learn more, click here.

To learn more about Synthace’s Response Analysis feature, click here.