Automated Cell Culture
Explore how CellXpress.ai Automated Cell Culture System supports advanced biological models and high-throughput workflows
Accelerate discovery with AI-powered automated cell culture
Automated cell culture is evolving with the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to meet the increasing demand for scalable, reproducible, and high-throughput cell-based research. The CellXpress.ai™ Automated Cell Culture System leverages advanced robotics and AI-driven decision-making to standardize every phase of the cell culture workflow — from seeding and media exchange to cell monitoring and harvesting.
By combining intelligent automation with real-time imaging and machine learning algorithms, the CellXpress.ai system enables consistent and accurate culture of both 2D monolayer cells and advanced 3D models like spheroids and organoids. This AI-guided cell culture platform empowers researchers to increase efficiency, reduce manual errors, and produce high-quality, reproducible data — all critical for applications like drug discovery, toxicology screening, and regenerative medicine.
Why intelligent automation matters in modern cell culture
CellXpress.ai system software features customizable data review of the cell journey across multiple timepoints and plates.
Advancing cell culture from 2D to 3D models
Cell culture, particularly the ability to isolate and maintain cells in vitro, has played a pivotal role in advancing research in cell biology. The application of cell cultures at scale, especially in high-throughput, cell-based assays, is now a cornerstone of the drug discovery and development pipeline. Cell culture systems are typically categorized into 2D and 3D models, with 2D cultures being more commonly used in academia and the biotech industry due to their easier culture process, lower costs, and established protocols. However, 2D cultures fail to replicate the complex, in vivo cellular environment, leading to discrepancies between in vitro and in vivo data. In response, 3D cell culture systems, such as patient-derived organoids (PDOs), are gaining traction, as they offer more accurate models of in vivo biology. While 3D cultures hold promise, challenges such as assay reproducibility, scalability, and cost have hindered their widespread adoption. Automation, however, offers a pathway to address these issues, enhancing the efficiency, consistency, and scalability of 3D cell culture models.
What is automated cell culture?
Automated cell culture involves using machines to perform all or part of the traditional cell culture workflow including critical operations and decision-making rather than relying solely on manual labor. These systems can range from automating repetitive tasks to fully integrated platforms that manage complex protocols, monitor cell health, and adjust parameters in real time based on feedback from sensors and imaging systems.
Cell culture automation refers to the integration of automated systems and tools to streamline and enhance the various stages of the cell culture process. From seeding cells and media changes to monitoring growth and data collection, automation reduces the need for manual intervention, increases reproducibility, and improves consistency. By utilizing automation, labs can scale up their 2D or 3D cell cultures, handle more plates, and manage larger datasets, ultimately increasing productivity and throughput while maintaining high standards of quality and data integrity. Routine tasks, such as cell culture maintenance, can be automated, reducing the burden on lab personnel and enabling scientists to focus on higher-value tasks that require their expertise.
Key components of cell culture automation:
- Automated liquid handling systems – precisely manage the addition or removal of media, reagents, or cells.
- Robotic arms – move culture plates, flasks, or pipette tips between devices.
- Incubators with robotic access – maintain optimal environmental conditions (temperature, CO₂, humidity).
- Imaging and monitoring systems – track cell growth, confluence, and morphology in real time.
- Software and scheduling tools – orchestrate workflows, data logging, and quality control.
Leading the way in automated cell culture technology, the CellXpress.ai™ Automated Cell Culture System is an AI-driven platform that combines robotics, integrated hardware and machine learning-enabled software to standardize, scale, and improve the reliability of cell culture processes. The system is designed to automate every step of the cell journey, from seeding and feeding to passaging, expansion, and harvesting, and is capable of running 24/7 schedules for multiple stem cell lines, spheroids, or organoids.
The Benefits of automated cell culture
The primary advantage of automation in cell culture is clear: it replaces repetitive, manual labor with intelligent, reliable systems that work around the clock. Tasks that once demanded hours of technician time—such as media changes, plate transfers, and cell monitoring—can now be executed with precision and consistency by an automated platform. And with AI and machine learning integrated, today’s systems don’t just automate — they actively optimize.
- Time and labor efficiency
Automated systems dramatically reduce hands-on time, freeing scientists from the routine and allowing them to focus on higher-value research activities. By eliminating the need for constant supervision and intervention, labs can operate more efficiently—with processes running 24/7 without fatigue, shift limits, or human error. - True scalability
Scaling up traditional manual workflows is resource-intensive and error-prone. Automation makes scalability effortless—handling dozens or even hundreds of cell lines across multiple formats, all with consistent quality and throughput. Whether you're growing monolayers or complex 3D organoids, automated systems maintain performance at any volume. - Complex protocol execution with precision
Automated systems can reliably store and execute intricate, multi-step protocols—spanning dozens of pages—without deviation. This ability to manage complex workflows with exacting precision reduces human error, ensures procedural consistency, and drives more reproducible results. - AI-powered workflow optimization
Unlike manual processes that rely on fixed schedules and subjective assessments, AI-enabled systems continuously analyze real-time imaging and sensor data to assess cell health, confluence, and morphology. Based on these insights, they can adapt workflows, trigger next steps, or alert users—enabling smarter, data-driven decisions throughout the cell culture process. - Intelligent monitoring for data accuracy and consistency
AI-enhanced automation continuously monitors cell cultures using real-time imaging, sensors, and environmental data. These insights enable systems to adjust conditions, flag anomalies, and maintain protocol fidelity—removing human variability and delivering consistent, reproducible results. With every run, the platform captures rich, accurate datasets critical for tracking subtle changes in morphology, growth, or treatment response. - Reduced contamination risks
By minimizing human contact with cultures, automated systems significantly lower the chance of contamination. Enclosed, sterile environments and robotic precision safeguard the integrity of each assay from start to finish.
AI-driven automation of 2D and 3D cell culture workflows using the CellXpress.ai automated platform
Cell growth curves over time and over multiple passages. Machine learning-assisted decision-making standardizes the cell growth expansion process.
The drug discovery industry relies heavily on automation technologies to enhance efficiency, reduce errors, and ensure reproducibility of assays. Despite these benefits, in-house implementation of end-to-end automation is challenging due to the need for specialized expertise, integration of hardware and software, and the optimization of biological assays for automated workflows.
To address these challenges, the CellXpress.ai system was developed. Designed for automated cell culture, it integrates a liquid handler, incubator, imager, and AI-enabled image analysis solution, all controlled by a single software platform. This system features a modular workflow design, breaking down common lab workflows into phases that allow flexibility in protocol design. The AI assisted automated decision-making function can inform users or trigger subsequent steps in the cell culture process.
Applications of automated cell culture with the CellXpress.ai system
The CellXpress.ai™ system is designed to enhance cell culture and assay protocols by addressing standardization, reproducibility, and scalability challenges. The system automates critical processes for various applications: