Laser-assisted protoplast screening platform combining raman/sers spectroscopy and laser-induced forward transfer

Overview

This laser-based platform integrates Raman/Surface-Enhanced Raman (SERS) spectroscopy with Laser-Induced Forward Transfer (LIFT) to automate the screening and isolation of individual protoplasts, algae, or other small biological samples. By providing real-time, label-free functional and metabolic information (e.g., protein expression, metabolic activity) the system allows users to select only cells with desired early-stage plant traits. The platform sharply reduces manual handling, minimizes contamination, and supports parallel processing of many variants, significantly accelerating early discovery research.

Technical specifications

Key features:

• Raman/SERS spectroscopy delivers rapid, label-free phenotypic and functional readouts without additional assays or labeling steps
• Laser-Induced Forward Transfer (LIFT) uses a pulsed laser to precisely and gently transfer selected living cells into microtiter plates, maintaining high viability
• AI-driven analysis guides the selection and transfer process, improving screening quality
• Software-tunable laser and analysis parameters allow the platform to adapt to variable early-stage protocols
• Integrates with robotic plate handling for end-to-end automation

Limitations: Requires compatible optics and sample preparation for Raman/SERS, and may need tuning for different cell types or Tissues. High initial setup complexity.

Technology readiness level

The core spectroscopy and LIFT methods have each been demonstrated individually in laboratory settings. The proposed platform integrates these into an automated system. Current readiness is at a proof-of-concept stage (TRL 3–4). A planned 12-month validation milestone includes optimizing hardware and AI models, running replicates with robotic integration, and comparing against conventional manual methods to advance toward a pre-commercial prototype (TRL 6+).