OT2-CherryPick: A Zero-Install Web Platform for Orchestrating Complex Liquid Handling on the Opentrons OT-2

Liquid handling automation is fundamental to modern high-throughput research, yet existing tools for the Opentrons OT-2 robot present researchers with a dichotomy: graphical interfaces such as Protocol Designer offer accessibility but lack flexibility for complex workflows, while code-based solutions require programming expertise that excludes many wet-lab scientists. Cherry-picking and sample reformatting operations, common in combinatorial chemistry and screening workflows, remain particularly underserved. Here we present OT2-CherryPick, a web-based platform that bridges this gap by combining zero-install deployment with comprehensive liquid handling customization. The system features a visual deck layout editor, CSV-driven transfer specification, and integration with the official Opentrons application for seamless deployment. Comprehensive liquid handling parameters are configurable through the interface, enabling precise control over aspiration, dispensing, and tip management across diverse experimental scenarios. All configuration compiles into self-contained protocol files requiring no external dependencies at runtime. Built-in simulation ensures protocols are validated before robot operation. The platform architecture exposes all protocol operations through a modular service layer compatible with the Model Context Protocol (MCP), enabling AI-assisted workflows. This integration exemplifies a novel approach to laboratory software architecture, making protocol operations natively accessible to AI assistants through structured, validated tool invocations. OT2-CherryPick is open source and freely available at https://github.com/HiteSit/OT2_CherryPick.