SynBioBot
A Robotic Arm System for Cell Culture and Viral Transduction with Remote Control
In a cell culture lab, skilled researchers perform delicate routines in an environment designed for human work. Due to limited lab access during the pandemic, it has been challenging to maintain live cells that require operations around the clock. Sogang_Korea aims to build SynBioBot, a robotic system capable of remote and automated cell culture processes as well as synthetic biology experiments. A 6-axis robotic arm was used to perform autonomous cell culture work, which included cell seeding, media transfer, incubator storage, and cell passage. Along with system programming for precise equipment positioning and control, we designed the mechanical interfaces, allowing the robot arm to use various lab tools (e.g., pipettes) designed for human hands without modification. SynBioBot has further carried out genetic modification protocols like lentiviral transduction in mammalian cells. This system can be used as a remote education platform, allowing students from underprivileged areas to practice biological experiments.
In the near future, a global lockdown was initiated again due to a new pandemic. Dr.Kang from Indonesia tried to develop a vaccine, but couldn't go to his laboratory in Korea due to the lockdown. While he was in trouble with this problem, he received an email from a stranger.
"SynBioBot: 6-axis Robotic Arm for Automated Cell Culture and Biological Experiments".