PlasmidStudio

PlasmidStudio is an AI-assisted DNA design platform that allows researchers, biotech teams, and students to design annotated and validated plasmid constructs by describing them in plain English through a conversational interface. The platform generates plasmid maps in seconds and is currently available in early access, with pricing starting at $15 per month and free access for verified students.

The platform is built around a chat-based design workflow where users describe their construct requirements and PlasmidStudio produces annotated, validated outputs — including features such as promoter placement, coding sequences, resistance markers, and tag additions — while flagging potential issues like restriction site conflicts directly within the conversation.

Core AI Design Features

• Conversational plasmid design: Users describe constructs in natural language; the AI generates annotated plasmid maps with sequence-level detail, including position information and automated conflict detection.
• Cloning Strategy Advisor: The AI analyzes a given construct and recommends an appropriate cloning method, choosing from Restriction Enzyme cloning, Gibson Assembly, Golden Gate Assembly, or Gateway Cloning.
• Design Health Panel: Runs 14 automated checks covering issues such as missing terminators, frameshift errors, and incompatible origins of replication, with one-click fixes available for each flagged issue.
• Codon Optimization: Optimizes coding sequences for expression in E. coli, HEK293, CHO, yeast, or insect cells, with CAI scoring and guaranteed amino acid sequence preservation.
• AI Lab Protocols: Generates step-by-step wet lab protocols derived from the construct design, including materials lists, procedural steps, primer sequences, and a verification strategy, exportable as a PDF.
• Sequence Verification: Allows users to import Sanger or nanopore sequencing results and align them against the designed construct, with mismatches highlighted on the plasmid map.
• Starter Templates: Provides 20 curated backbone templates spanning mammalian expression, bacterial, CRISPR/Cas9, lentiviral, yeast, and Gateway applications, which can be further modified using the AI interface.

Free Standalone Tools

• Primer Tm Calculator: Calculates melting temperature using the nearest-neighbor method, includes polymerase presets, hairpin and dimer analysis, and construct-aware primer region identification. Available without sign-up.
• Restriction Enzyme Calculator: Identifies compatible enzyme pairs for directional cloning, simulates gel patterns, and checks methylation sensitivity across two input sequences. Available without sign-up.

Import, Design, and Export Compatibility

• Import formats: GenBank (.gb, .gbk), FASTA, SnapGene (.dna), and direct search and import from Addgene's repository of over 170,000 plasmids.
• Supported cloning methods: Restriction Enzyme cloning, Gibson Assembly, Golden Gate Assembly, and Gateway Cloning.
• Export formats: GenBank, FASTA, SnapGene (.dna), SBOL v3, PDF plasmid maps, and direct export to synthesis providers including IDT, Twist, and GenScript.

Security and Data Handling

• Data is encrypted in transit and at rest.
• AI requests are processed via an API proxy and are not used to train models; providers may briefly retain requests for abuse monitoring purposes only.
• Users can delete their constructs at any time.
• Constructs are stored in a secure cloud database to allow access across sessions.

Pricing and Access

• Free tier: 10 AI requests per day, no credit card required.
• Student tier: Free with verification via an academic email address; 50 AI requests per day.
• Standard tier: From $15 per month; 200 AI requests per day.
• Pro tier: Pricing to be determined; 500 AI requests per day.

PlasmidStudio is actively developed with user feedback informing new features, cloning methods, and file format support. The platform is positioned for use by academic researchers, biotech teams, and students working across a range of molecular biology applications.