AutoMACS Pro Separator from Miltenyi Biotec

January 28, 2013

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V.A.Almazov Federal Center for Heart, Blood & Endocrinology, Saint-Petersburg
Research Unit of Cell and Gene Engineering
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MACS-sorted human bone marrow CD34+ cells utilized in cell migration experiment. Migration of CD34+ cells (control sample) from top to the bottom chamber of Transwell system, toward mesenchymal stem cells of healthy and diseased donors.

Company:

Miltenyi Biotec

Product Name:

AutoMACS Pro Separator

Catalog Number:

130-092-545

Info

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This review is for the autoMACS Pro, which has been discontinued and replaced by the autoMACS Neo.

ImageOur team is involved in a number of projects related to adult stem cell biology. Namely, we evaluate key features of stem cells and progenitor cells isolated from bone marrow, adipose tissue, peripheral blood of human and rat, and also from human umbilical cord blood. Key studies include characterization of cell antigen profile (via FACS and ICH), proliferation, induced differentiation, migration, etc. We compare cells isolated from healthy people and those from patients with cardiological (chronic heart failure), endocrinological (diabetes type 2; obesity) and oncohematological (AML, CML, ALL, CLL, MM, MDS, etc.) disorders, in particular. While we possessed cliniMACS unit for clinical applications, and a simple miniMACS set for 1-time experiments, it seemed that we needed more throughput and flexibility in order to fulfill our everyday needs. A robotized system of the preparatory (not clinical) scale seemed to fit perfectly. Briefly, MACS (magnetic activated cell sorting) employs antigen-specific magnetic microbeads to enrich or deplete a heterogeneous cell population of a particular cell type/types. When purchased, it was clearly superior to FACS systems of the time in cell sorting (in cell viability most of all). When loaded with samples, consumables and after being programmed, autoMACS Pro Separator can work in a fully automated manner, decreasing manual labor manyfold. The system represents an impressive combination of mechanics, electronics and fluidics, working in 3D-environment. 

Experimental Design and Results Summary

Tips

When using the sorter for large-scale experiments (for many isolations in a row), make sure you have enough reagent in all bottles, for the complete set of isolations programmed. If the sorter will run out of the buffer (for example) in the middle of the run, it will ruin the sample. Since programming is so simple, we recommend setting up shorter sets (no more than 3 isolations in a row), and checking on the volume of reagents in between. Despite much tubing inside the sorter, we have never observed a leak, but make sure you use the wrench to check and tighten all connections weekly. Chill racks hold the temperature for about 40 min: if you have many experiments, you can order additional chill rack or two, of the size you use most (we use 15 ml for almost all of our isolations).

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MACS-sorted human bone marrow CD34+ cells utilized in cell migration experiment. Migration of CD34+ cells (control sample) from top to the bottom chamber of Transwell system, toward mesenchymal stem cells of healthy and diseased donors.

Summary

The Good

Automation increases throughput and reduces variability. A choice from pre-loaded programs is just great.

The Bad

The system is very sensitive to the temperature; it breaks if air conditioning fails. The manual is far from perfect.

The Bottom Line

A marvelous piece of mechanics, electronics and fluidics. Great balance of throughput and ease-of-use. Perfect for experiments of a preparatory scale.

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