Formulator^®

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The Formulator's microfluidic chip requires pressure and vacuum to actuate the micro-diaphragm pumps. There are three options to supply pressure and vacuum to the system, each with its own requirements:

Option 1: Formulatrix Pump Box:

• Connect the system to a pump box specifically designed to provide the required amount of pressure and vacuum.
• Pressure: Self Contained
• Vacuum: Self Contained
• Connectors: Provided
• Electrical Requirements: 110V, 60Hz, 290 W (Part PB110) or 230 V, 50 Hz, 290 W (Part PB230)

Option 2: Direct-to-Lab Air and Vacuum:

• Connect the system directly to your source of pressure and vacuum.
• Pressure: 30 PSI @ 0.15 CFM = 2.0 Bar @ 4.3 LPM
• Vacuum: 22 in Hg @ 0.2 CFM = -750 mBar @ 5.7 LPM
• Connectors: 5/32 in. or 4 mm OD tubing. Other connectors available upon request.

Option 3: Venturi Vacuum:

• Use your pressure source to generate the required vacuum with a Venturi vacuum pump
• Pressure: 80 PSI @ 1 CFM = 5.5 Bar @ 28 LPM
• Vacuum: Self-contained
• Connectors: Quick-disconnect hose coupling, industrial-shape, 1/4 in. NPTF male, ¼ in. coupling and 5/32 in. or 4 mm OD tubing. Other connectors available upon request.

Which plate types are compatible with the Formulator?
The Formulator can dispense into 384-well, 96-well, 48-well, 24-well plates (and other formats) as long as they are SBS footprint. Those plates that do not fit well in the Formulator can be used with the help of an adapter.

What is the lower dispensing limit of the Formulator?
The lower liquid dispensing limit for the Formulator is 200 nL.

What is the dead volume of the system?
The total dead volume is 7 mL, which includes 2 mL from the bottle to the ingredient selector and an additional 5 mL from the ingredient selector to the chip.

What is the coefficient of variation (CV) for the Formulator?
The Formulator achieves a CV of 5% or better for volumes of 10 µL and above, and also maintains 5% or better CV for 200 nL dispenses. It has been tested successfully with viscous solutions, including up to 30% PEG 20K.

What are the vacuum and pressure settings?
The vacuum is 22 inHg, and the pressure is 30 psi.

Is there pressure in the ingredient bottles?
No, liquid is moved into the Formulator by diaphragm pumps in the instrument.

Does it plug or clog easily?
The Formulator is designed with progressively narrowing channels that lead to the dispensing nozzles. During the wash cycle, which runs after dispensing each ingredient, fluid flows in reverse through these channels. This reverse-wash mechanism helps flush out any potential blockages, ensuring consistent performance and minimizing clogging.

Which material has been used to make chip valves?
Chip valves are made up of silicone.

How quickly can I switch reagent bottles on the Formulator?
It takes about 13 seconds for the Formulator to finish the bottle input wash, which is recommended before any bottle change.

What are the manufacturer's part numbers for the Falcon tubes and Nalgene bottles that match the septa caps?
The Falcon tubes included in the accessories kit with the part number 202300 only work with the septa caps for Falcon #201947. The Nalgene bottles included in the accessories kit, part number 202176, only work with the septa caps for Nalgene #201946.

Does the reagent to be dispensed come into contact with the inner workings of the solenoids?
No, the solenoids are in the main part of the instrument and control air pressure lines that lead to our silicone diaphragm valves in the chip (dispense head). Liquid only touches the Topas chip and the silicone valves.

What reagents can and cannot be dispensed with the microfluidic chip of the Formulator?
Since we use silicone valves, we can dispense anything compatible with silicone. However, the microfluidic chip is made of Topas, which is compatible with almost all polar liquids but not with non-polar liquids, like oils and xylene. For a list of reagents you should not use, see the chemical compatibility list.

Can I use an older bottle of PEG with stuff floating around, to be dispensed by the Formulator?
The Formulator will be fine. However, dispensing a solution with debris in it may temporarily clog the Formulator or otherwise mess up the plate dispense.

What's the risk of cross-contamination?
Currently, with a 10-second wash, cross-contamination is less than 1 part per 10,000. Longer washes or secondary washes with cleaning solutions can be used to reduce cross-contamination further.

What is the maximum aliquot size per well? I want to dispense into a deep well block (96-well).
There is no maximum well volume. The Formulator can dispense into 2 mL deep well blocks. Simply repeat the dispense to achieve the desired well volume.

Can the software compensate for the liquids moving more slowly in a 4 °C room?
It does not compensate automatically for lower temperature operation. One needs to set up different liquid classes for 4 °C according to the liquid viscosity.

What are the most viscous solutions that Formulator can handle in a 4 °C environment?
Anything more than 5000 cP would be too slow for convenient use.

Can the Formulator work in integration with Rock Maker software?
Yes, you can effectively design screen, grid, or any other experiment types in Rock Maker and then dispense those with the Formulator.

Are there any chances of cross-contamination while dispensing ingredients with the Formulator?
The Formulator allows dispensing directly from closed containers equipped with specialized lids, helping to prevent cross-contamination and maintain reagent integrity throughout the experiment.

Do the Formulator tips clean themselves automatically, or do you have to instruct it to clean afterwards?
Cleaning is fully automatic. The tips, nozzles, and microfluidic channels are thoroughly cleaned after every ingredient dispense; no manual input is needed for daily use. However, you can adjust the cleaning settings to make the wash cycle more aggressive if desired.

Will there be an error message if you attempt to dispense a volume below the Formulator’s minimum dispensing limit?
Yes. If you design an experiment in Rock Maker with volumes that the Formulator can't dispense, the software will prompt you with helpful error messages. It may suggest using a different variation of the stock solution (e.g., a higher or lower concentration) to stay within the dispensing limits. These prompts are designed to guide you in creating experiments that the Formulator can execute reliably.

If a drip or spill occurs on the top of the system, can it be cleaned easily?
Yes, the system is designed to handle such situations. It includes a drip tray at the top with a drainage port, allowing any spilled reagent to exit safely and making cleanup straightforward.

Can the Formulator operate without barcodes on ingredient bottles?
Yes, the Formulator can function without barcoded bottles. If barcodes aren’t used, simply place the ingredient bottles on the Formulator. When the ingredients appear as red boxes in the Inputs window, manually drag the correct chemical from the Dispense List to the corresponding position in the Inputs window, and you’re all set.

What solutions are used to clean the system?
The system follows a complete cleaning regimen (refer to the chemical compatibility list for details). However, for routine day-to-day cleaning, water is primarily used.

Can I pause a dispense run and resume it later?
Yes, the Formulator supports pausing and resuming a dispense in the middle of a run.

Can I recalibrate a single nozzle or ingredient line?
Yes, the Formulator software allows calibration of individual ingredients if you notice dispense discrepancies. This ensures accuracy without needing to recalibrate the entire system.

Can I save and reuse dispense protocols for different plates?
Yes, dispense protocols or dispense lists can be saved and reused. This is especially useful for standard screens or frequent formulations.

Does the Formulator require internet access to operate?
No, internet access is not required for regular operation. However, network access may be needed for integration with other software (e.g., Rock Maker) or for remote support and updates.

How can I verify that the correct ingredient was dispensed into each well?
The software logs every step of the dispense run. You can cross-reference the dispense report to verify that the correct ingredients and volumes were used.

What’s the best way to remove stubborn residues from the chip or nozzles?
You can use compatible solvents like 10% ethanol or isopropanol, followed by water rinses. Avoid using aggressive acids or non-polar solvents.

Can I modify the dispense sequence during a run?
No, the dispense sequence is locked once the run starts. To change the sequence, cancel the run and create a new protocol.