Chemspeed Robotic Polymer Synthesis Platform

An automated robotic synthesis platform for the synthesis of a range of biomaterials.
Institution
UC Santa Barbara
Research Areas
Synthesis and Formulation

The BioPACIFIC MIP Chemspeed Swing XL automated chemistry platform facilitates automated workflows at the benchtop scale for applications such as materials discovery, reaction down-selection, and process optimization. This platform's modular configuration combines robotics with multiple reactor systems, allowing for common laboratory procedures like parallel synthesis, reaction discovery, reaction optimization, and time course studies, all with a focus on precision and reproducibility of reaction conditions, including dispense volumes and temperature control.

Equipped with mountable tool heads for solid and viscous liquid handling, the Chemspeed features a single robotic arm that translocates reagents among various reactor arrays, including photochemical, high-pressure, and double-jacket cooled reactors. These reactors can control temperatures ranging from -40 to 180 °C under inert or pressurized environments up to 100 bar, with reactions performed in disposable vial formats for photochemical, thermal, and high-pressure conditions.

Additional features:

  • Holders to facilitate the preparation of NMR, HPLC, and SEC samples.
  • Robotic modules to support work-up tasks such as solvent evaporation, vacuum filtration, solid-phase extraction, and centrifugation.
  • Highly precise and reproducible low-volume and low-mass reagent dispensing for small-scale reactions (≤ 1 mL).
  • Photochemistry reactors from Analytical Sciences provide three illumination wavelengths (365, 420, and 445 nm) in blocks that fit directly into the platform’s heat/cool/shake rack, designed for standard microtiter plates.
  • An AlphaOmega Series 3000 Trace Oxygen Analyzer, featuring a CO2-resistant sensor with automatic multi-range capabilities (0-100/1,000/10,000 PPM), enables monitoring and maintenance of controlled conditions within the Chemspeed enclosure.

Direct interactions with BioPACIFIC MIP staff ensure that users can seamlessly generate workflows without worrying about programming the tool. Our expert team handles the setup and operation, significantly lowering entry barriers for non-expert users and allowing researchers to focus on innovation and discovery.

Contact

Morgan Bates

Project Scientist
NSF BioPACIFIC MIP
UC Santa Barbara

Javier Read de Alaniz

Director, NSF BioPACIFIC MIP
Professor
Chemistry and Biochemistry
UC Santa Barbara
Chemspeed Robotic Polymer Synthesis Platform