Material evolution is used to rapidly screen large libraries of candidates for one or more properties. To enable this new method of materials development, high-throughput screening is necessary to enable the processing of large libraries of different materials. To this end, we have developed a number of different protocols using inexpensive, open-source robotics operations. Large biological panels, which often require months of trial-and-error to achieve, can be completed within a week with using our high-throughput screening technologies. Looking forward, we aim to apply these open-source robotics to additional systems to begin to access material evolution systems across a range of material types. By combining these high-throughput methods developed in the Olsen lab for synthesis and analysis with theory, a cyclic process, in which large data sets can be constructed and evaluated, is able to identify promising candidates for further evolution steps.
Highlighted Publications
Mills, C. E., Ding, E., & Olsen, B. (2019). Protein Purification by Ethanol-Induced Phase Transitions of the Elastin-like Polypeptide (ELP). Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 58(27), 11698-11709. Link