15/10/2026
In April 2025, the U.S. FDA named organoids among the New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) it encourages in preclinical submissions. Months later, NIH stopped issuing funding calls limited to animal models — and backed a national Standardized Organoid Modeling Center whose mandate is, in essence, reproducibility at scale.
Regulators are ready for organoid data. The harder question is whether organoid data is ready for regulators: results that can't be reproduced don't get submitted. A longstanding challenge — once mainly a requirement for publications — is becoming a requirement for regulatory acceptance.
Above 10°C, Matrigel Begins to Thicken . A plate takes an Hour
Organoids typically grow in a three-dimensional extracellular matrix environment. Matrigel provides the structural support needed for this 3D culture. However, its temperature sensitivity, tendency to gel, and relatively high viscosity make it challenging to handle consistently.
Matrigel begins to thicken and solidify at temperatures above 10°C. Manually dispensing Matrigel across a single 96-well plate can take an hour or more. By the time the last well is filled, the Matrigel may be in a different condition from that dispensed into the first well. It may be more viscous and leave more residue on the well walls, potentially affecting cell distribution.
Variability across wells can therefore be introduced during plate preparation itself. Even careful downstream culture may not fully compensate for these initial differences. When experimental results vary between batches, the cause may not lie solely with the cells—the Matrigel handling process also deserves attention.
Three Months of Practice—and It Still Comes Down to How You Feel That Day
Manual Matrigel plating relies on an operator's feel, pressure, pipetting angle, and physical endurance. Even the same person may produce different plates in the morning and afternoon, while differences between operators can be greater still.
Previously, this variability might have been treated as an internal laboratory challenge, with an experiment simply repeated when necessary. As organoid-based services move toward greater standardization and verifiable results, however, operator-dependent variability becomes a more significant bottleneck.
And Matrigel plating is only the beginning. After dispensing, the plate needs to be brought to 37°C to promote gelation, followed by medium exchange, drug addition, and detection. Samples may move repeatedly between ice boxes, incubators, and workbenches. Every transfer introduces another potential source of variability.
How Can Automation Improve Matrigel Plating?
Designed to address the handling characteristics of Matrigel, NAYO's automated liquid handling workstation enables precise control of key parameters, including aspiration speed, dispensing speed, and liquid volume, while supporting batch processing of multi-well plates.
Matrigel needs to remain cool during handling. With a temperature-control module, the reagent position can be maintained at 4°C. After dispensing, the same module can be adjusted to 37°C to promote gelation—without requiring samples to leave the work surface.
With a pipetting volume range of 1–1,000 µL, the workstation allows aspiration and dispensing speeds and volumes to be configured according to experimental requirements. pLLD (liquid-level detection) helps prevent aspiration from occurring above the liquid surface or the tip from being inserted too deeply.
When key parameters are controlled, Matrigel handling becomes more consistent. Combined with flexible liquid handling modules, automation reduces repetitive manual operations and helps complete Matrigel dispensing within a more consistent time window—improving both process stability and efficiency.
Key Technical Advantages
1. Open Interfaces for Integrated Workflows
Open API interfaces support integration with third-party equipment, including centrifuges, incubators, microscopy and imaging systems, and microplate readers. The workstation can be flexibly incorporated into existing laboratory workflows to support coordinated operation across experimental steps.
2. Precise Temperature Control for Flexible Workflows
The work surface can be configured with different temperature-control and shaking modules. This supports low-temperature Matrigel handling as well as gelation at 37°C, enabling key experimental steps to be completed within a single workstation setup.
3. Precise Liquid Handling with End-to-End Traceability
Pipetting channels support liquid-level detection and liquid-level tracking to help suppress vortex formation and reduce bubbles and liquid retention on tip walls. The software records operation logs throughout the process, supporting data reliability and traceability.
For high-throughput applications using 96- and 384-well plates, automation can transform Matrigel plating from a process heavily dependent on operator experience into a standardized procedure with configurable parameters, repeatable ex*****on, and improved consistency. This provides a more stable and reliable foundation for long-term organoid culture and high-throughput drug screening.
From Consistent Matrigel Plating to Standardized Organoid Workflows
Standardized organoid workflows depend on the stability and repeatability of critical experimental steps. As an important starting point for organoid culture, consistent Matrigel plating helps establish a reliable foundation for subsequent culture and drug sensitivity testing.
NAYO's automated liquid handling workstations support key steps in organoid workflows, including Matrigel plating, cell dispensing, and culture medium handling. With configurable temperature-control modules, flexible equipment integration, and comprehensive operation logging, NAYO helps laboratories establish automated workflows with controlled parameters and traceable ex*****on—supporting the standardization of organoid applications and their translation into clinical practice.
