Temperature-controlled dispensing for temperature-sensitive reagents
COLD+ is a passively cooled dispensing solution for the Thermo Scientific Multidrop Combi designed to keep temperature-sensitive reagents below 10 °C during dispensing. Based on the low-dead-volume REAGENT+ cassette, COLD+ combines passive cooling, approximately 100 µL dead volume, and extended dispensing needles for demanding workflows such as Matrigel dome dispensing.
COLD+ is a patent pending temperature-controlled dispensing solution for the Thermo Scientific Multidrop Combi. It is based on the low-dead-volume REAGENT+ cassette and extends this design with passive cooling modules and extended dispensing needles. This allows for keeping temperature-sensitive reagents below 10 °C during dispensing without active cooling or modification of the instrument.
COLD+ combines temperature control with a dead volume of approximately 100 µL, helping laboratories reduce reagent loss while handling sensitive materials. It is particularly useful for hydrogel-based workflows such as Matrigel, Geltrex, Cultrex, and related ECM materials, as well as other temperature-sensitive reagents. For users mainly focused on low dead volume without temperature control, we recommend REAGENT+.
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Hydrogel workflows
COLD+ is designed for workflows where Matrigel must remain below gelation temperature during dispensing. The combination of passive cooling and extended dispensing needles helps users dispense directly to the well bottom and supports more reliable automated dome formation. COLD+ is also suitable for hydrogel-based workflows involving ECM materials such as Geltrex and Cultrex.
Sensitive materials
Beyond hydrogels, COLD+ can also be used for temperature-sensitive proteins, cell suspensions with gel components, and other reagents where controlled low-temperature dispensing is important. If you need other dispensing temperatures please contact us, as the temperatures can be fine-tuned to your needs.
COLD+ is designed for use with the Thermo Scientific Multidrop Combi and does not require modification of the instrument. There is an optional COLD+ software that runs on a tablet to control the Thermo Scientific Multidrop Combi for dome formation on the well bottom.
COLD+ can be used with standard 96-well and 384-well plates.
COLD+ uses two passive cooling modules to keep reagents cold during dispensing. One cooling body, the "Reservoir Cooler", surrounds the reagent EasyEmpty reservoir, the second one, the "Rotor Cooler", is positioned around the rotor area of the Multidrop Combi. Both cooling bodies are made from 3D-printed aluminum, filled with phase change material and insulated externally.
Before use, the cooling bodies are pre-cooled to approximately -20 °C. During operation, COLD+ typically maintains reagent temperatures around 10 °C for approximately 15 plates. For longer runs, the cooling bodies can be exchanged during operation. This enables temperature-controlled dispensing on a standard Thermo Scientific Multidrop Combi without active cooling hardware.
COLD+ is based on the REAGENT+ cassette architecture and uses the same low-dead-volume principle with a dead volume of approximately 100 µL. The cassette features a centralized fluid path with a Luer-Lock reservoir connection and routes the reagent through a custom manifold to the eight dispensing lines of the Thermo Scientific Multidrop Combi. Extended dispensing needles are used for applications such as bottom dispensing and dome formation.
Want to understand the COLD+ and its features better? Get the full brochure here or contact us for further questions and requests!
Practical poster on cooled hydrogel dispensing workflows using off-the-shelf bulk dispensers and passive cooling hardware.
Practical guide to Matrigel dome dispensing in 96-well plates: temperature control, dome shape, bubble prevention, low-dead-volume handling, and automation options.
Why temperature control is critical when dispensing ECM hydrogels in manual and automated 3D cell culture workflows.
Do you want to learn more about COLD+ or discuss your temperature-sensitive dispensing workflow in more detail? Our team can help you evaluate whether COLD+ is the right setup for Matrigel dome dispensing, ECM handling, and other cooled reagent applications in your lab.
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