The Mini-Beadbeater-16 is a high-energy cell disrupter designed to handle four to sixteen samples at a time.

The Mini-BeadBeater-16 disrupts microbial cells and plant and animal tissue by violently agitating four to sixteen 2 ml screw-cap microvials containing small glass, ceramic or steel beads and disruption buffer. Even resistant samples like yeast, spores or fibrous tissue are completely homogenized around 3 minutes in 0.1 to 1 ml of extraction medium. The non-foaming, aerosol-free method preserves enzymes and organelles. In the presence of nucleic acid extraction media such as phenol, Gu-SCN or a commercial kit solution, DNA and RNA are recovered in the highest possible yield. The method is ideal for PAGE, PCR applications and diagnostics using antibody or oligonucleotide probes. Because beads and vials are disposable, there are no cross-contamination concerns when homogenizing multiple samples.

The Mini-Beadbeater-16 can also be used for dry grinding.  Steel beads are added to hard samples such as hair, bone, teeth, seeds and minerals and are completely powdered in 10-60 seconds. Softer materials such as biological tissue, rubber or plastics can also be powdered by first freezing the sample to liqN2 temperatures (a process called Cryo-grinding).  Special break-resistant vials are highly recommended for dry- or cryo-grinding.  The powdered material can be safely extracted with aqueous and most organic solvents in the same vial, thus simplifying recovery of the analytes.

See also a short video showing the operation of the MBB-16, see below.

FEATURES :

Features to Consider when Shopping for a High Speed Shaking Bead-mill Cell Disrupter…

SHAKING TIME:  If you are harvesting intercellular proteins you will want close to 100% cell disruption.  The MiniBeadbeater series of cell disrupters deliver those high yields with 2-3 minutes of beadbeating.  Some high-speed bead mill manufacturers claim “disruption times” of less than 30 seconds.  That shorter time may suffice for PCR work where a partial extraction of nucleic acids is adequate, but for blotting methods or protein recovery, higher yields require more beadbeating time.

SHAKING SPEED:  Some commercial bead-mill cell disrupters express their disruption setting as meters/second (m/s). This term combines shaking speeds in rpm with vial displacement distance to create a unit that supposedly defines a bead-mill’s cell disruption power to mechanically lyse cells.  The fact is that there is no available formula that comprehensively defines cell disruption efficiency of bead mill grinding machines.  Were a term to exist, it would need to take into consideration not only shaking speed and distance of vial displacement but additional important variables such as shaking direction (vertical vs.horizontal), shaking pattern (linear vs.figure eight), kinetics of change in shaking direction (sigmoidal vs. square wave), vials used (size and shape) and beads used (sizes, composition, bead load).

VIAL ORIENTATION, SHAKING PATTERN and SHAKING DISTANCE (THROW):  Most bead mill cell disrupters shake 2 ml microvials in either a vertical (upright) or approximately horizontal direction. In terms of cell disruption efficiency (CDE), the horizontal position is more efficient than vertical.  All shaking-type beadbeaters have flattened figure-eight shaking patterns.  The exact shape of this figure-eight pattern has little impact on the CDE.  Shaking distance (throw), however, has a significant impact on CDE.  By necessity, all shaking type bead mill cell disrupters must have a vial throw of about ¾  to 1 inch.

The interplay of these multiple variables is complex.  Each manufacturer attempts to optimize the interaction of these variables when designing their cell disrupter machine.  As might be expected, some machines have achieved this goal better than others.

A final point:  Published cell lysis protocols using high-speed bead-mill cell disrupters are seldom operated at shaking speeds less than the maximum speed.  Thus, the availability of variable speed settings, be they “rpm” or “M/s”, might be viewed as a ‘bell and whistle’ feature.

SPECIFICATIONS :

• Power: 115 volts, 60 Hz, 7.4 amp or 230 volts, 50 Hz, 3.7 amps.
• Width 10 in, Depth 16 in, Height 12 in, Weight 40 pounds.
• Shaking pattern: Uses proven, more efficient near horizontal vial orientation with shaking motionand a “figure 8” shaking pattern.
• Capacity: Four to sixteen screw-cap microvials (0.5, 1.5 and 2.0 ml) with each handling up to 400 mg (wet weight) bio-sample.
• Shaking speed: 3450 oscillations/min.  The CDE “performance” meets or exceeds all other bead-mill cell disrupters on the market (see detais below).
• Throw or vial displacement: 0.75 inches.
• Timer: 0-5 minute digital, with auto reset.
• Removable vial-holding cassette.
• No required motor cool-down-time between sample runs.

The MiniBeadBeater-16 uses standard screw-cap plastic microvials. Stainless steel microvials or a specially reinforced polypropylene microvial (XXTuff vials) are available when dry- or cryo-milling with steel beads. Larger 7 ml vials can be processed with an accessory holding ring.

OTHER INFO :

…..from a Researcher at Lawrence Livermore National Lab: ‘We have now tested the MiniBeadBeater-16 with two different sets of samples, with more than 100 samples processed. It seems to perform comparably with the single channel units we have from BioSpec, which is a very pleasant surprise. We are able to isolate DNA from purified Bacillus spores, which have proved to be too difficult for all of the other commercially available, multi-channel instruments we have tried.’   {*Not to be taken as an endorsement by LLNL or its affiliates}

…..from Ontario Veterinary College: ‘We received your MiniBeadbeater and put it to use immediately. It is just as advertised, easy to use, and our tissue homogenization and resultant RNA isolation has improved drastically!!’

Great prices

…..from Steve @emu.edu: ‘I’m shopping around for a bead-beater kind of homogenizer, and the Mini-Beadbeater-16 looks great, price-wise anyway, compared to the Fastprep™ and other similar products. How does it compare to the other $7000-$10000 bead beaters on the market and why is it so much cheaper?’ Answer: For over 30 years our business model has been to offer quality scientific equipment at reasonable prices. BioSpec accomplishes this in two ways: 1. Sometimes we design and build equipment which incorporates a preexisting mass-marketed tools or appliances (example: our ‘TissueTearor’ homogenizer uses a low cost Dremel-tool motor drive). Savings from this strategy are passed on to the customer. 2. We advertise modestly. Advertising costs associated with print and digital advertising, distributor and customer discounts, representative commissions, and trade shows must be factored into a final product price…indeed, offsetting promotional costs can account for 50% of the sales price of a lab tool.

What is meter/second?

…..from Alexa at Mt Sinai School of Medicine:  ‘I received a protocol from another lab where they used a FastPrep™ machine to lyse Staphylococcus aureus for RNA isolation.  I wanted to use a BioSpec bead beater in my lab for cell disruption.  The FastPrep protocol called for 20 seconds at a setting 4.0 m/s, cool on ice for 5 minutes, then process again for 20 seconds at a setting of 4.5 m/s.  You suggested that I try a total of 30 seconds in the MiniBeadbeaater, alternating between 10 seconds beadbeating and 1 minute cooling in ice-water.  I am writing to let you know that this revised protocol is working for me.  If anyone else is having a similar problem, please feel free to have them contact me’.  …And a related question from Teresa, Virginia Tech:  ‘I have a protocol that uses the FastPrep at a machine setting of 6.5 m/s.  What does the FastPrep setting mean and what is the cell disruption speed I should use with my new MiniBeadbeater?’  Answer:  In our opinion, the original manufacturer of FastPrep machines did not do the scientific community a service by coming up with the term ‘m/sec’ to express cell breakage performance. The term, which lumps shaking speed and vial displacement into a single “physical unit”, does not and can not comprehensively describe cell disruption efficiency of a bead mill.

Such a term, were it to exist, would have to take into consideration not only shaking speed and distance of vial travel (throw), but also the shaking direction (vertical/horizontal), shaking pattern (linear/figure eight), kinetics of change in shaking direction (sigmoidal/square wave), vial size and shape and other variables.  Clearly, the interplay of these variables is complex and poorly defined.  In designing an efficient bead mill to disrupt cells engineers must take into consideration all of these variables and, as might be expected, some commercial machines achieve this goal better than others.

Here is a Rule of Thumb for operating any bead mill cell disruption machine offering variable shaking speed, whether made by BioSpec or another manufacturer:  If the objective is to disrupt cells operate the machine at its maximum speed setting.  Special applications requiring lower operating speeds are rare.

Grinding time will vary, depending on the type of sample.  Generally, 2-3 minutes will get you close to total cell lysis.  If you are doing PCR work and can settle for less than total cell lysis, shorter periods of beadbeating may suffice.  Also important for good cell disruption is the choice of bead size, bead composition, and bead load.  These details are covered in operating instructions that accompany our machines or contact us technical@stratech.co.uk

The Mini-Beadbeater-24 disrupts up to 24 microbial or tissue samples with better than 95 percent efficiency. Cells are disrupted quickly and safely in the sealed system. The apparatus is easy to clean, has a small footprint and is essentially maintenance free. Compared to the Minibeadbeater-16, the Mini-24 adds advanced electronics for enhanced motor function, variable speeds of 2400-3800 rpm and a 30% increase in microvial capacity.

The Mini-BeadBeater-24 disrupts microbial cells and plant and animal tissue by violently agitating four to twentyfour 2 ml screw-cap microvials containing small glass, ceramic or steel beads and 0.1 to 1 ml disruption buffer. The performance of the Mini-BeadBeater equals or exceeds that of any other type or brand of cell disrupter. Even resistant samples like yeast, spores or fibrous tissue are completely homogenized in 1-3 minutes. The non-foaming, aerosol-free method preserves enzymes and organelles. In the presence of nucleic acid extraction media such as phenol, Gu-SCN or a commercial kit solution, DNA or RNA is recovered in the highest possible yield. The method is ideal for PAGE, PCR applications, and diagnostics using antibody or oligonucleotide probes. Because the beads and vials are disposable, there is absolutely zero cross-contamination between samples – essential for PCR techniques.

Protocols developed using a different model of the Mini-BeadBeater are transferable with minimal modification.

The Mini-Beadbeater-24 can also be used for dry grinding. Here, steel beads are added to hard samples such as hair, bone, teeth, seeds and minerals and are powdered in 10-60 seconds of operation. Resistant materials such as tendon, cartilage, rubber or some plastics can be powdered by pre-freezing the sample to liquid nitrogen temperatures (cryo-grinding), then grinding in the hard frozen state. Dry-grinding requires using special microvials resistant to breakage. When dry grinding with ceramic or steel beads at room temperature our ‘XXTuff’ microvials are recommended. Our Stainless Steel microvials are available for dry grinding with steel beads at cryo-temperatures.

SPECIFICATIONS :

• Power: 115 volts, 60 Hz, 7.5 amps or 230 volts, 50 Hz, 3.7 amps
• Width: 10 in. Depth: 18 in. Height: 12 in. Weight 47 pounds
• Shaking pattern: Uses proven, more efficient near horizontal vial orientation
• Capacity: four to twenty four screw-cap microvials (0.5, 1.5, and 2.0 ml) each containing to 400 mg (wet weight) bio-sample
• Shaking speed: Digitally variable from 2400-3800 strokes/min.  The calculated M/sec “performance” value is greater than all competitive beadbeater-type cell disrupters on the market.
• Throw or stroke displacement: 7/8 inches
• Controller: Digital 0-5 minute with auto reset and 3 programmable presets
• Magnetic lid interlock cuts power to the Mini-BeadBeater-24 if the lid is opened at any time.
• Removable vial-holding cassette
• No imposed motor cool-down-time between each sample run
• The Mini-BeadBeater-24 uses standard screw-cap plastic microvials. Stainless steel microvials or special reinforced polypropylene microvials ( XXTuff vials ) are available for dry- or cryo-milling with steel beads. Eight larger capacity, 7 ml vials can be processed using an accessory vial-holding ring (see Parts and Accessories below).

Buying Tips….

SHAKING TIME:  If you are harvesting expressed proteins, for example, you need close to 100% cell disruption.  But, if you want nucleic acids for PCR amplification, perhaps a partial disruption of cells is acceptable.  Some manufacturers claim disruption times of less than 30 seconds.  That may be fine for PCR work, but not for blotting.

SHAKING SPEED:  Some manufacturers of beadbeaters (bead-mill) machine offer speed settings expressed in an ill-defined term: meters/second.  The term combines measurable shaking speeds with vial displacements to create a unit presumed to define cell disruption power.  Unfortunately, no unit is available that comprehensively defines cell disruption efficiency of bead mill grinding machines.  Were it to exist, such a term would need to take into consideration not only shaking speed and distance of vial displacement, but also shaking direction (vertical vs.horizontal), shaking pattern (linear vs.figure eight), kinetics of change in shaking direction (sigmoidal vs. square wave), vial size and shape and other engineering variables.  Clearly, the interplay of these variables is complex. They must be taken into consideration in the design of a high performance cell disrupter machine and, as might be expected, some machines achieve this goal better than others. Additionally, most published protocols rarely call for shaking speeds below the maximum shaking speed available from the machine.  Thus, speed control, when available, can be viewed as a ‘bell and whistle’ feature.

OTHER INFO :

FROM THE BIOSPEC ‘TECH GUYS’:  BioSpec Products was the first to introduce ‘beadbeating’ cell disruption to the scientific laboratory 35 years ago.  This method of cell disruption for small samples has replaced many traditional methods.  In addition to BioSpec’s current five models of beadbeater cell disruptor, about a dozen other manufacturers offer similar microvial-shaking ‘beadbeater-type’ cell disruptors*.   Most of them are well designed and fulfil criteria for maximum cell disruption performance: Look for machines that have a shaking speed of at least 2000 rpm; a throw (or displacement) of the vial of at least 3/4 inches and a shaking orientation and pattern that maximizes bead circulation within the vial.  As discussed earlier, other factors influencing cell disruption performance are numerous and complex. They cannot be expressed in a simple mathematical formula with units of meters/sec.

Here is a Rule of Thumb for operating any shaking-type, bead mill cell disruption machine offering variable shaking speed, whether made by BioSpec or any other manufacturer:  If the objective is to disrupt cells, crank up the machine and get the job done. Operate the machine at its maximum speed setting.  Special applications requiring lower operating speeds are rare.  Grinding time will vary, depending on the type of sample.  Generally, 2-3 minutes will get you close to total cell lysis.  If you are doing PCR work and can settle for less than 100% lysis, shorter periods of beadbeating may suffice.  Also important for good cell disruption is the choice of bead size, bead composition, and bead load.  These later details are covered in operating instructions that accompany our machines.

If native proteins or intracellular organelles are being recovered, temperature control will be essential.  With most high energy beadbeaters the grinding process increases the homogenate temperature about 10º per minute of beadbeating.  This is most easily done by removing the microvials after one minute of beadbeating and cooling them in crushed ice/water mix for one minute.  Recycle this one minute beadbeat and cooling cyle as necessary.  Temperature control is not as important for nucleic acid extraction in nucleic acid extraction media.

There are three equally important variables under the control of the user which determine efficiency of cell disruption: bead size, bead composition and bead load in the vial. These variables must be optimized by the user, not only for the ‘beadbeater’ machine which is in use, but for the type of sample being investigated.  While there are commercially available vials prefilled with special bead mixes offering solutions for these three variables, one can usually get equivalent results and at the same time, save money by loading your own beads into vials. Only one kind and size of bead is usually needed.  BioSpec’s web site OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS  and our web site Beads (Guide-lines) give straight forward advice on how to do that.  And also, there are our tech guys standing by to help.

NOTES:

For the names and contact details of all commercially available bead mill cell disrupters see Cell Disrupters: A Review.  In addition to shaking cell disrupters there are vortexing bead mill cell disrupters.  Most function like the shaking bead mill cell disrupters but tend to be 5 to 10X slower in achieving complete disruption.  The notable exception is BioSpec Product’s NEW SoniBeast™ Cell Disrupter which can disrupt cells at rates up to 10X faster than the current commercial shaking-type beadbeating machines.

The Mini-Beadbeater-Plus™ is an upgraded version of the venerable Mini-BeadBeater-1.  Improvements include a programmable timer, a powerful brushless motor and 115/230 VAC compatibility. The high-energy bead-mill rapidly and completely disrupts microorganisms and plant and animal tissue.

Note:  Vials and beads required for the MBB Plus will vary with the particular sample being disrupted and should be purchased separately.

The new Mini-BeadBeater-Plus™ is a high-energy bead-mill designed to violently agitate up to a half gram sample of biological material sealed inside a 2 ml microcentrifuge vial containing tiny glass, zirconia or steel lysing beads. The grinding action of the beads (beadbeating) rapidly disrupts microorganisms and plant and animal tissue in 5-90 seconds.  Being an upgrade of the venerable MiniBeadbeater-1, new features include a programmable timer, a more powerful brushless motor and 115/230 VAC compatibility.
Because cell disruption occurs inside sealed microvials, cross-contamination during homogenization is completely eliminated – an important feature for nucleic acid isolation.  And time is saved because no clean-up is needed between samples.  Sterile technique is easily accommodated for recovery of intracellular virus and bacteria from plant and animal cells and the non-foaming, non-aerosol method is ideal for recovery of enzymes, membranes and intracellular organelles.

The Mini-BeadBeater-Plus is also used for dry- or cryo-grinding.  Heavier zirconia or steel beads and special breakage-resistant microvials are used.  Hard samples such as hair, bone, teeth, seeds, and minerals are powdered in 5 – 30 seconds.  All protocols developed with the Mini-BeadBeater-Plus are transferable to larger, higher-capacity MiniBeadBeater models.

FEATURES :

IMPORTANT FEATURES AND CAPABILITIES

►  COOLING. Temperature control must be addressed when using a bead mill cell disrupter for the isolation of proteins, membranes or organelles.  The Mini-BeadBeater-96, like all other high-energy, shaking-type bead mill cell disrupters, will heat up a sample from collisional friction of the beads…about 10° for each minute of beadbeating. An important accessory for the MBB-96 is a 48 capacity 2 ml microvial holder and a 2 tube capacity 50 ml tube holder, both machined out of solid aluminum.  Cooled beforehand in a deep freezer or with liquid nitrogen, the mass of the aluminum vial holder and its excellent heat transfer properties maintain samples at their initial low temperature during the entire beadbeating run…something that some competitor’s bead mills offering flowing cold air accessories fail to accomplish.  The fact is that air is not an efficient media for the transfer and rapid removal of heat.  For this same reason, operating a bead mill cell disruptor in a cold room offers little regulation of heat buildup during beadbeating.

But this is not always a concern.  Strict temperature control is not a needed when cells or tissue are being disrupted in the presence of DNA or RNA extraction media.

►  ”DRY” GRINDING. The Mini-BeadBeater-96 can be used to powder most dried plant and animal tissues and, at  liquid nitrogen temperatures, fresh tissues. Exceptions to the rule are woody tissue and some tissues having high lipid or oil content.  Most dry grinding is done using steel beads.

When dry- or cryo-grinding plant or animal tissue use our stainless steel microvials with silicone rubber caps, special XXTuff microvials or special Porvair Sciences deep well microplates. Common plastic microvials and deep well plates will break when dry grinding with steel beads.

To the tubes or wells add either one 6.3 mm diameter chrome-steel bead, two 6.3 mm diameter zirconia beads or three 3.2 mm diameter chrome-steel beads.   Beadbeat for 5-30 seconds.  Note that steel beads can be used in common plastic vials and common deep well microvials for wet grinding, provided that the vial is completely filled with aqueous media and the amount of entrapped air is minimized..

►  DEEP-WELL MICROPLATES. When using deep well microplates possible leakage and subsequent cross contamination between wells should be concern. While the entire mat surface area is evenly clamped to the microplate during beadbeating in the Mini-BeadBeater-96, the user must first thoroughly press the mat onto the microplate during the initial sealing process. Rollers and mat presses help in this task (see accessories listed below). The best mats are made of EVA or silicone rubber. Mats made of other rubber-like polymers or adhesive- or heat-bonded films – may not prevent leaking during the intense shaking in the Mini-BeadBeater-96.  There is an easy way to check for this concern.  Give us a call.

►  SPEED CONTROL.  The Mini-BeadBeater-96 features digital variable speed control presets between 1400 rpm to 2400 rpm and three programmable time presets.  These presets allow for storage of your favorite speed and time settings for easy retrieval.

SHOPPING GUIDELINES:  BioSpec Products was the first company to introduce bead mill cell disrupters to the scientific laboratory – some 30+ years ago.  This method of cell disruption of unicellular organisms and small tissue samples has superceded most traditional cell disruption methods.  In addition to BioSpec’s current five models of beadbeater cell disrupters, several other manufacturers now offer similar microvial-shaking, ‘beadbeater-type’ cell disrupters*.   Many of of these shakers fulfill the following physical parameters that assure maximum cell disruption performance: A SHAKING SPEED of at least 2000 rpm; a THROW or displacement of the vial of 3/4  to 1 inch, a FIGURE “8” SHAKING PATTERN and a NEAR HORZONTAL ORIENTATION of the vial, tube or microplate. The full incorporation of these parameters maximizes bead circulation and bead collisions within the vial.

Side Note: Some, but not all, manufacturers are using shaking speed settings expressed as M/S…”meters/second”.  A machine setting in m/sec is not a comprehensive measurement of cell disruption efficiency.  The term has caused buyer confusion while comparing cell disrupter bead-mill products.  The term also makes it difficult to reproduce cell disruption protocols when using a different bead mill cell disrupter.

Because there is no consensus performance term for shaking-type bead mill cell disrupters BioSpec Products suggests that shaking cell disrupters machines be operated at their maximum available speed setting.  Beadbeater applications requiring lower operating speeds are rare.  Put bluntly, if the objective is to disrupt cells, crank up the rpm of the machine and get the job done.  The optimal time of beadbeating is a relevant varimable and will depend on the nature of the biological sample and the type of bead mill shaker used.  With current high performance machines, wet milling for 1-3 minutes gives close to 100% cell disruption.  If you are doing PCR work with nucleic acids and are content with less than 100% cell disruption, shorter periods of beadbeating will suffice.

Besides the five variables shaking speed, vial throw distance, vial shaking pattern and orientation and time of shaking, three equally important variables which determine efficiency of cell disruption are bead size, bead composition and bead load in the vial.  These later three variables must be optimized by the user, not only for the particular ‘beadbeater’ machine being used, but for the type of sample being investigated.
“Solutions” to deal with these last three variables are being offered in the form of commercially available vials prefilled with beads.  Unfortunately, there is little comparitive literature documenting how these vendors came up with their “magic mixtures”.

One can usually get comparable results by loading your own beads into vials or microplates (and save a lot of money, too). Usually only one kind and size of bead will suffice.  Our Bead Selection Guidelines give a straight forward advice on how to select the correct bead size and composition and, if you have a lot of vials to load, BioSpec has three different bead loading devices designed to streamline the loading process.

In addition to shaking-type bead mill cell disrupters there are also vortexing-type bead mill cell disrupters.  While the later will fulfill their intended goal, it can take 5 to 10X longer beadbeating times to get complete cell disruption.  The sole exception is BioSpec Product’s new SoniBeast™ cell disrupter, which uses patented high speed vortex technology to disrupt cells even faster than ordinary shaking-type beadbeating machines.

• SPECIFICATIONS :

  The MiniBeadbeater-96 is powered with a huge 1 hp induction motor.  No other beadbeater on the market offers higher shaking energies for cell disruption.  Power requirements for the 115 VAC MBB-96 is 20 amps, and for the 230 VAC machine it is 10 amps.

  • Sample Capacity: Holds one 2 ml deep-well microplate or two 1 ml deep-well microplates.  Also included is a microplate shaped vial holder wich can hold 4 to 45 microvials (0.5, 1.5 & 2.0 ml) each containing up to 400 mg (wet weight) of biomaterial.
  • Vial displacement distance or Throw: 1.25 in. (3.2 cm).
  • Shaking Speed: Variable speed.  1400 rpm to 2400 rpm (40 oscillations/second). Disruption efficiency has been engineered for equivalency with other MiniBeadbeater models having smaller vial capacities – thus developed protocols are interchangeable.  The “calculated M/sec performance” value is greater than competitive beadbeater-type cell disrupters on the market.
  • 3-D shaking pattern: Vial contents shake from the top to bottom of the vial or plate in a compressed figure-8 pattern.  Vials and microplates are held in a near-horizontal orientation rather than the less efficient vertical position.  This exclusive shaking pattern assures complete cell disruption in the shortest possible time.  No reorientation of plates in mid-cycle is required.
  • Timer: 0 – 5 minutes with automatic reset.
  • Recycle delay time: No motor cool-down time is required during or between sample runs.
  • Dimensions: Width: 16 in, Depth: 24 in, Height: 18 in, 120 pounds
  • Maintenance: None
  • Warranty: Two years.

The Mini-Beadbeater-Plus™ is an upgraded version of the venerable Mini-BeadBeater-1.  Improvements include a programmable timer, a powerful brushless motor and 115/230 VAC compatibility. The high-energy bead-mill rapidly and completely disrupts microorganisms and plant and animal tissue.

Note:  Vials and beads required for the MBB Plus will vary with the particular sample being disrupted and should be purchased separately.

The new Mini-BeadBeater-Plus™ is a high-energy bead-mill designed to violently agitate up to a half gram sample of biological material sealed inside a 2 ml microcentrifuge vial containing tiny glass, zirconia or steel lysing beads. The grinding action of the beads (beadbeating) rapidly disrupts microorganisms and plant and animal tissue in 5-90 seconds.  Being an upgrade of the venerable MiniBeadbeater-1, new features include a programmable timer, a more powerful brushless motor and 115/230 VAC compatibility.
Because cell disruption occurs inside sealed microvials, cross-contamination during homogenization is completely eliminated – an important feature for nucleic acid isolation.  And time is saved because no clean-up is needed between samples.  Sterile technique is easily accommodated for recovery of intracellular virus and bacteria from plant and animal cells and the non-foaming, non-aerosol method is ideal for recovery of enzymes, membranes and intracellular organelles.

The Mini-BeadBeater-Plus is also used for dry- or cryo-grinding.  Heavier zirconia or steel beads and special breakage-resistant microvials are used.  Hard samples such as hair, bone, teeth, seeds, and minerals are powdered in 5 – 30 seconds.  All protocols developed with the Mini-BeadBeater-Plus are transferable to larger, higher-capacity MiniBeadBeater models.

FEATURES :

• Versatile – processes up to 400 mg (wet weight) of bacteria, yeast, algae, tissue culture cells, and plant and animal tissue.
• Simple to operate with intuitive digital controls.
• Two programmable time presets.
• Safety interlock lid design.
• Totally sealed homogenization – no dangerous aerosols.
• Uses disposable 2 ml screw-cap microvials – no sample cross-contamination.
• Proven, near horizontal shaking with a compressed figure-8 (3-D) pattern.
• Powered by a maintenance-free, high torque brushless motor.
• Dual voltage compatibility: 110 or 220 volt.

SPECIFICATIONS :

• Motor: High torque, brushless motor with 4X greater power than commonly used brush or induction motors.
• Dimensions: 10 inches width, 9 inches depth, 6 inches height, shipping weight 10 pounds
• Digital: Touchpad speed control: 1-99 seconds.
• Precise microprocessor-controlled speed: 4350 oscillations/minute (rpm)
• Horizontal vial displacement of 0.75 inches – more efficient than vertical shakers.
• Uses standard laboratory 2.0 ml, screw-cap microvials having a sharp conical bottom.
• Cell or tissue capacity: 10 – 400 mg (wet weight)

Quicker, Simpler, Less Consumables, Smaller Footprint, Affordable

• Extremely Fast Cell Lysis:  <20 sec
• Perfect for Small Samples
• 12 Vial Capacity
• Simple One Button Operation

The SoniBeast™ is the newest addition to our stable of high energy BeadBeater cell disruptors. Small samples of tissue or cells are completely disrupted in seconds rather than minutes. It processes up to twelve 0.6 ml locking-cap PCR microtubes, each containing 1-100 mg of tissue, or three 2 ml microvials each containing 10-400 mg of tissue.  The SoniBeast is designed for wet milling in water-based media. Common applications are the isolation of intracellular protein and nucleic acids.

A pack of polypropylene 0.6 ml locking cap PCR tubes is included with the SoniBeast.  Additional Vials should be ordered separately.  Beads size and composition vary with the kind of sample being disrupted.  For guidance on choosing beads see Lysis Beads or email technical@stratech.co.uk

If you plan to power the SoniBeast with 220-240 Volt AC rather than 110-120 Volt AC please select product number “715-12-EUR“.

A hand-held, cordless, smaller capacity version of the Sonibeast is available (see below). Designed for samples taken in the field or other locations distant from a diagnostic laboratory, it is powered by a rechargeable lithium battery and is capable of complete homogenization of plant or animal tissues in either two 2 ml microvials or one 7 ml vial.

The SoniBeast-Jr is a hand-held, cordless, variable-speed version of our high-energy MiniBeadbeater/Sonibeast series of bead-mill cell disruptors.  While the SONIBEAST-jr is targeted for processing samples in the field or locations remote from the laboratory, it is also an affordable choice for processing a limited number of samples (<20/day) in the laboratory.  Manually operated with a slide switch on the body of the SoniBeast jr’s motor housing, the vial tray holds two 2 ml screw-top polypropylene microvials or one 7 ml screw-top polypropylene vial.

Hamilton Beach is the worlds largest manufacturer of commercial grade blenders. The model 909 comes with a one liter stainless steel container and can handle the toughest job required from a blade blender.

Although less efficient than rotor-stator homogenizers, blade homogenizers (commonly called laboratory blenders) have been utilized for decades to produce fine brie and extracts from plant and animal tissue. They are fast, have a good working volume and are easy to clean. Compared to other types of homogenizers, they are relatively inexpensive.  Blenders cannot efficiently disrupt microorganisms.

DESCRIPTION

The BeadBeater is the ultimate laboratory-scale homogenizer for disrupting aqueous suspensions of yeast, fungi or bacteria.  Complete cell lysis of 10-80 g (wet weight) of cells is achieved in about three minutes of operation.

The BeadBeater comes complete with a 350 ml polycarbonate chamber, rotor assembly, motor base, ice-water cooling jacket, and glass beads.

The BioHomogenizer is a rotor-stator type tissue homogenizer designed to rapidly homogenize, disperse, and emulsify biological samples in aqueous media from 1 to 1000 ml.  The BioHomogenizer includes both the motor and probe.

The powerful 10,000 rpm motor is totally sealed and can be hand-held or stand mounted. During operation, the suspended material is repeatedly cycled through 12 narrow slits in the stator by the action of a high speed rotor. The material is rapidly sheared and disintegrated by the high frequency mechanical action. Complete homogenization of soft tissue (muscle, liver, brain, etc.) is usually achieved in one minute or less. Samples may be processed in a test tube chilled during treatment by immersion in an ice bath. Other applications include dispersion and emulsification of dairy and cosmetic products.

The BioHomogenizer comes complete.

FEATURES :

• Versatile: Stainless-steel rotor-stator achieves any combination of mixing, emulsification, shredding, or chopping.
• Practical: The sample is usually contained in a test tube or beaker and can be kept cold by immersion in ice
• Handy and mobile. Easy to hold and feather-light
• Simple to use. No sample loss due to transfers from a blender vessel. Just hold it in a vessel and turn on the two-speed switch.
• Easy to clean. Rinse it under a tap or in a washing up container.
• Quality designed. Powerful two speed 7,000/10,000 rpm motor. Totally sealed and double insulated for safety.
• Simple operation. Two-postition momentary switch

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Universal Motor: AC/DC 110V.
• Two Speeds: 7,000 and 10,000 rpm.
• Loading: 100 watts (designed for intermittent operation of less than 5 minutes per run).
• Insulation: Double insulated, sealed motor.
• Cable: Two-conductor.
• Overall Length: 33 cm
• Probe Length: 14.5 cm
• Stator Diameter: 1.4 cm or 2.5 cm (2 models available)
• Weight: 1 lb. 10 oz.

Ideal for a one step preparation of cell lysate from most fruits and vegetables.  Suitable tissues include tubers, squash, leafy tissues, fruits and pods.  One of the few methods that do not require added liquid to obtain a cell free extract.  Consequently, the highly concentrated proteins and biochemicals in the homogenate optimize down-stream purification or analysis steps.  Not suitable for extracting animal tissue.

DESCRIPTION

A modified, top-of-the-line domestic waste disposer that has been modified to sit operate top of the lab bench – ready to be plugged into a 110 V power socket.  Closed-loop plumbing has been installed on the basic unit to permit recycling the tissue sample contents.  The Semi-Continous Tissue Disperser delivers a high-quality homogenate of almost any plant or animal material.  Kilogram quantities of material can be processed in minutes in either batch- or semi-continuous mode.  Operates at room temperature or in a cold room.

The Tissue-Tearor is a rotor/stator type tissue homogenizer which can rapidly homogenize, disrupt, and emulsify plant and animal samples in 0.5 – 1000 ml of liquid.  Complete homogenization of tissues (muscle, liver, breast tissue, etc.) is usually achieved in ten to thirty seconds. Little, if any, heat is produced during the process.  Rotor/stator homogenizers cannot efficiently disrupt microorganisms.  This “limitation” can be an advantage if you want to homogenize or disperse tissue sample (or soil or waste samples) in order to recover viable bacteria or viruses for plating and analysis.

If you need a 230 volt unit, please select models that end in EUR.  When ordering select one of our four different probe sizes – 04, 07, XL, and 14. Unlike most competitive Brands of rotor-stator homogenizer, THE TISSUE-TEAROR COMES COMPLETE WITH BOTH THE HIGH-SPEED MOTOR AND ONE STAINLESS STEEL PROBE OF YOUR CHOICE.  See chart below for probe selection guidance. Additional probes are available.  All are interchangeable with the TT motor unit.  A cord-less variety of the TissueTearor is also available with model numbers ending in CL.

DESCRIPTION

FEATURES :

• Use for tissue cell disruption, emulsification and extreme mixing
• Practical answer for small samples of 10 mg to a few grams
• Easy to hold and lightweight for one-hand operation. Can also be stand-mounted
• Inert to aggressive solutions.  Stainless steel probe easily cleaned when processing multiple samples
• All probes are interchangeable and can be removed for autoclaving
• Extremely high speed 32,000 rpm motor with variable speed control

SPECIFICATIONS :

• Extremely high speed: 32,000 rpm motor with variable speed control
• Sample Volume Range: 0.2 to 1000 ml, depending on the probe selected
• Universal Motor: 110-120 volt, AC, 1.2 amp.  Or, for some overseas applications, 230 volt, AC
• Probes: Type 316 stainless steel with fluorocarbon bushings
• Weight: Approximately 1/2 Kg

OTHER INFO:

AWAY FROM ELECTRICAL LINES? Consider the model 780CL Cordless Tissue-Tearor.  The purchase includes a cordless (i.e., battery operated), high speed motor, one probe of your choice, a rechargeable 9.6 volt Li battery pack and a plug-in battery charger. The maximum speed of the 780CL is slightly slower than the line-operated TissueTearor (25,000 vs 35,000 rpm).  However, 25,000 rpm is quite adequate for homogenizing soft tissue like muscle, liver, or brain.  The price for the 780CL Tissue-Tearor is the same as the line powered 985370 series.  To order a Cordless Tissue-Tearor, combine the 780CL model number with the probe of your choice using the above table (example: 780CL-07).

Hamilton Beach is the worlds largest manufacturer of commercial grade blenders. The model 909 comes with a one liter stainless steel container and can handle the toughest job required from a blade blender.

Although less efficient than rotor-stator homogenizers, blade homogenizers (commonly called laboratory blenders) have been utilized for decades to produce fine brie and extracts from plant and animal tissue. They are fast, have a good working volume and are easy to clean. Compared to other types of homogenizers, they are relatively inexpensive.  Blenders cannot efficiently disrupt microorganisms.

DESCRIPTION

A low cost, versatile high-speed mixer and blender.  Perfect for blade blending in open beakers, jars, and bowls. Swiss-made.

The BioMixer is a versatile high-speed blender/mixer. Designed for one-hand operation, the BioMixer can be used with any suitable beaker or vessel having at least a 2 inch opening. Three stainless steel attachments allow any combination of mixing, emulsifying, shredding or chopping. A grinding mill attachment is included for dry materials such as seeds, grains, plant fibers, pharmaceutical materials, etc.

FEATURES :

• Versatile: Three stainless steel attachments for any combination of mixing, emulsification, shredding, or chopping
• Practical: Can be used with any suitable vessel anywhere in your laboratory
• Handy and mobile: Easy to hold or clamp it on a lab ring stand
• Simple to use: No sample loss due to transfers from a blender vessel. Just hold it in a beaker or other vessel and turn on the switch
• Easy to clean: Rinse it under a tap
• High quality: Swiss designed and manufactured. Powerful 10,000 rpm motor. Totally sealed and double insulated for safety
• Simple operation: Two-postition momentary switch.

SPECIFICATIONS :

• Working range for liquid mixing: 100ml to 2 liters
• Universal Motor: AC/DC 115 V, or 230V 50Hz
• Speed: Two speeds, 7,000 and 10,000 rpm
• Loading: 85 W (designed for intermittent operation at maximum of 5 minute runs)
• Insulation: Double insulation, sealed motor
• Cable: Two-conductor
• Overall Length: 12 inches
• Probe Guard Diameter: 2 inches
• Weight: 1 pound 10 ounces
• Attachments: chopper, vortex mixer disc, perforated mixer

The Bio Cryo Tissue Grinder is a high-speed blade mill. The tightly sealed, 3/4 cup capacity (~200 ml) grinding chamber has a sealed pour spout for optional addition and removal of extraction liquids after “dry” grinding.

The BioVortexer™ is a battery-powered motor drive designed to rotate stirring rods or plastic pestles in 1.5 ml microtubes.  Rotating at thousands of revolutions per minute, it makes short work of dispersing centrifugal pellets or grinding small tissue samples.

The BioVortexer has two distinct applications…

• A practical alternative to a conventional vortex mixer for mixing and dispersing samples.  Combined with Disposable Polypropylene Stirring Rods (1/8 X 3″)*, it rapidly re-suspends precipitates such as pellets of protein or DNA.  The working range is 10-500 mg of powdered or homogenized solids in a media volume of 0.5  to 10 ml.  “Take the BioVortexer to the sample instead of the sample to the vortex mixer”.

• A  low cost device to rapidly homogenizing small samples of soft tissue for extraction of proteins and nucleic acids.  The BioVortexer rotates Disposable Polypropylene SpiralPestles™ at ~9000 rpm in 0.6 or 1.5 ml conical microtubes containing sample, extraction media and a small quantity of glass grinding beads.  Complete cell lysis of soft tissue samples is achieved in seconds.

FEATURES :

• Rotates 3″ Stirring Rods or Pestles in small tubes or microvials for rapid, efficient mixing or grinding of pellets or soft tissue
• Roration speed about.9000 rpm
• Lightweight
• Cordless:  Uses two standard AA batteries
• Low cost

The Cryo-Cup™ Grinder is a mortar and pestle specifically designed to pulverize and powder plant and animal tissue samples at liquid nitrogen temperatures.  It gives superior results compared to conventional ceramic mortar-pestles.

The Cryo-Cup Grinder consists of a stainless steel, semicircular bowl (or mortar) imbedded in a double walled, insulating cup. Up to 5 grams of hard frozen tissue is placed in the mortar precooled to liq N2 temperature. Using the special hand-held pestle made of non-heat conducting plastic, the tissue is quickly reduced to a powder. Two different sized pestles are provided for a variety of applications.

FEATURES :

• Ideal for extraction of proteins, enzymes and nucleic acids
• Stainless steel mortar strictly regulates temperature. Once cooled, no further liquid nitrogen is need during grinding
• Designed for 100mg to 5 grams of fresh tissue
• Non-porous, stainless steel mortar minimizes sample loss
• Sterilizable. Easily cleaned. Affordable… stock several to process multiple samples

SPECIFICATIONS :

• • Double insulated, polypropylene cup
  • Stainless steel mortar insert (2 3/8′ diameter)
  • Includes two polypropylene pestle balls, 1 3/8″ and 1 7/8″ diameter, and one large pestle handle
  • Solid stainless steel pestle balls are also available (please enquire)
  • Shipping wt. 1 lb

The Mini Leaf Crusher™ is a hand-held clamp designed for sampling plants and their pathogens in the field and other locations distant from the analytical laboratory.  Used in combination with its unique BioSpec DNA Sample Card™, the intracellular contents of leaves, stems, and root tissue are crushed by clamping at thousands of pounds per inch²,  The released cell extract is immediately captured and stabilized on special cellulose filter paper located within the compact Sample Card.  Multiple samples can be collected in a day and no preservatives or low-temperature storage is required for transit of the card(s) to the laboratory for subsequent RNA or DNA analysis.

Using published techniques, the bound nucleic acids can be then be extracted in minutes from the special filter paper in the Card in a purified state ready for direct application in downstream PCR-based methodologies or genome sequencing.  The Card alone has additional applications.  It is used to stabilize and transport microliter quantities of blood, sputum, urine, and homogenized processed foods.

The Mini Leaf Crusher comes with an introductory five-pack of BioSpec DNA Sample Cards.  Additional Sample Cards can be ordered separately.

DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION

Low profile porcelain mortar and pestle.

DESCRIPTION

The NEW SpiralPestle™ and 1.5 ml Microtube grinder is a significant improvement over traditional smooth-walled polypropylene pestle and tube combinations.  It is used to homogenize culture cells and small samples (<100 mg wet weight) of soft tissue such as liver, brain, and muscle.  It can also be used to disperse centrifugal pellets, precipitates, and other solids.

HOW IT WORKS:

The SpiralPestle™ has a unique screw-like pattern on its surface.  The ‘theads’ of the turning pestle serve as a screw pump to draw 10 to 100 mg of soft plant or animal tissue suspended in a 200 to 500 µl of extraction solution to the bottom of the microvial where it is macerated and mechanically dispersed between the rounded bottom of the pestle and vial.  Tissue grinding is further enhanced by including a pinch of glass grinding beads (a sample is included with each SpiralPestle order).

While pestle and microtube grinders are traditionally operated by hand rotation, to achieve optimum homogenization efficiency the SpiralPestle should be combined with a BioVortexer™. The BioVortexer is a low-cost, hand-held mixing motor drive.  With its greatly increased rotational speed (~9000 rpm) and the addition of some glass grinding beads, lysis of soft tissue samples is completed in seconds.

All stainless steel Potter-Elvehjem style tubular mortar and pestle.  Superb temperature control during use, shatter-free, easy to clean.

The BioSqueezer is used to “snap-freeze” (quickly freeze) 10-100 mg of soft animal and human tissue.  It does the same thing as a classic freeze clamp but is easier to use and gives more reproducable results.

Fresh tissue is compressed into a thin disc about the size of a small coin under pressure from a stainless steel clamp head that has been pre-cooled in liquid nitrogen or dry ice.   Freezing occurs in a few milliseconds, thus offering a “snapshot” of metabolic events in the cells.  The hard frozen disc is easily fragmented by hand or by grinding in a Cryo-Cup mortar and pestle for subsequent rapid extraction of labile nucleic acids*, proteins and other intracellular products.

* Very high molecular weight DNA is obtained by cryo-pulverizing hard frozen tissue using one of our dry-milling devices (see Cryo-Cup mortar and pestle, BioPulverizer , or MiniBeadbeater) followed by passive extraction (i.e., minimum physical stirring, pipetting or agitation during the cell lysis step in DNA extraction solution).

DESCRIPTION

The Cryo-Cup™ Grinder is a mortar and pestle specifically designed to pulverize and powder plant and animal tissue samples at liquid nitrogen temperatures.  It gives superior results compared to conventional ceramic mortar-pestles.

The Cryo-Cup Grinder consists of a stainless steel, semicircular bowl (or mortar) imbedded in a double walled, insulating cup. Up to 5 grams of hard frozen tissue is placed in the mortar precooled to liq N2 temperature. Using the special hand-held pestle made of non-heat conducting plastic, the tissue is quickly reduced to a powder. Two different sized pestles are provided for a variety of applications.

FEATURES :

• Ideal for extraction of proteins, enzymes and nucleic acids
• Stainless steel mortar strictly regulates temperature. Once cooled, no further liquid nitrogen is need during grinding
• Designed for 100mg to 5 grams of fresh tissue
• Non-porous, stainless steel mortar minimizes sample loss
• Sterilizable. Easily cleaned. Affordable… stock several to process multiple samples

SPECIFICATIONS :

• • Double insulated, polypropylene cup
  • Stainless steel mortar insert (2 3/8′ diameter)
  • Includes two polypropylene pestle balls, 1 3/8″ and 1 7/8″ diameter, and one large pestle handle
  • Solid stainless steel pestle balls are also available (please enquire)
  • Shipping wt. 1 lb

The Mini Leaf Crusher™ is a hand-held clamp designed for sampling plants and their pathogens in the field and other locations distant from the analytical laboratory.  Used in combination with its unique BioSpec DNA Sample Card™, the intracellular contents of leaves, stems, and root tissue are crushed by clamping at thousands of pounds per inch²,  The released cell extract is immediately captured and stabilized on special cellulose filter paper located within the compact Sample Card.  Multiple samples can be collected in a day and no preservatives or low-temperature storage is required for transit of the card(s) to the laboratory for subsequent RNA or DNA analysis.

Using published techniques, the bound nucleic acids can be then be extracted in minutes from the special filter paper in the Card in a purified state ready for direct application in downstream PCR-based methodologies or genome sequencing.  The Card alone has additional applications.  It is used to stabilize and transport microliter quantities of blood, sputum, urine, and homogenized processed foods.

The Mini Leaf Crusher comes with an introductory five-pack of BioSpec DNA Sample Cards.  Additional Sample Cards can be ordered separately.

DESCRIPTION

The Bio Cryo Tissue Grinder is a high-speed blade mill. The tightly sealed, 3/4 cup capacity (~200 ml) grinding chamber has a sealed pour spout for optional addition and removal of extraction liquids after “dry” grinding.

Hand-operated device especially useful for crushing bone and tooth samples.

DESCRIPTION

Low profile porcelain mortar and pestle.

DESCRIPTION

All stainless steel Potter-Elvehjem style tubular mortar and pestle.  Superb temperature control during use, shatter-free, easy to clean.

The BioSqueezer is used to “snap-freeze” (quickly freeze) 10-100 mg of soft animal and human tissue.  It does the same thing as a classic freeze clamp but is easier to use and gives more reproducable results.

Fresh tissue is compressed into a thin disc about the size of a small coin under pressure from a stainless steel clamp head that has been pre-cooled in liquid nitrogen or dry ice.   Freezing occurs in a few milliseconds, thus offering a “snapshot” of metabolic events in the cells.  The hard frozen disc is easily fragmented by hand or by grinding in a Cryo-Cup mortar and pestle for subsequent rapid extraction of labile nucleic acids*, proteins and other intracellular products.

* Very high molecular weight DNA is obtained by cryo-pulverizing hard frozen tissue using one of our dry-milling devices (see Cryo-Cup mortar and pestle, BioPulverizer , or MiniBeadbeater) followed by passive extraction (i.e., minimum physical stirring, pipetting or agitation during the cell lysis step in DNA extraction solution).

The Lever Tissue Press prepares tissue as an initial mincing step preceeding mechanical homogenization (cell disruption) or preceeding single cells isolation from solid tissue by digestion of  extracellular connective matrix with proteolytic enzyme. The press eliminates tedious chopping of tissue into little pieces with a scissors or scalpel and produces much smaller tissue pieces.  Unlike many other tissue dispersion/blending devices, no buffer is added in its operation.

Tissue processed in this press must be “soft”, relatively non-fibrous and have high water content.  Acceptible examples are muscle, brain, liver, plant fruits, and some plant roots and tubers.  If the tissue is fatty or partially fibrous, manually trim off the tough or fatty parts before pressing.  Fibrous tissue will interfere with the passage of the soft tissue through the press and lower the yield of dispersed cell material.  Unacceptible tissues are skin, hide, connective tissue, woody or fibrous plant stems, many mature seeds and all dried tissues.

Special App!  Disaggregation of tissue for primary culture – An improved method for enzymatic tissue disaggregation. The incubation period with the digestive enzymes is reduced and diffusion of nutrients and gases in the tissue during incubation is optimized.  Expect to get higher yields of viable cells.

Operating Instructions:

1)  Retract the piston of the Lever Tissue Press from its stainless steel “can”.  Add 1 to 10 g of fresh tissue into the cavity of the “can” and insert the piston back into position.

2)  Gripping the two levers, force the piston down the can.  Scrape the dispersed tissue protruding from the bottom of the can with a knife or scapel.  Depending on the amount of connective or fibrous tissue present in the sample, the yield of dispersed tissue will vary from 20-95%.

The MicroMincer^tm is a compact, hand-operated screw press which macerates 0.5 grams or less of soft1 fresh plant or animal tissue (e.g. muscle, liver, brain, epicotyl and pulpy leaf tissue) without sample loss, heat generation, foaming, or aerosol problems. The sample, without added buffer, is pushed through a 250-micron stainless-steel sieve under thousands of pounds of force.  The tissue emerges from the tip of the MicroMincer having the consistency of liver paté.

In the case of most plant tissues, fibrous pulp is left behind on the sieve while cell juice and intracellular products are extruded.  The resultant extract can be deposited directly in microtubes.

The stainless steel MicroMincer utilizes disposable polypropylene liners. Thus, multiple samples can be quickly processed without a need to clean or risk of contamination between samples.

HOW IT WORKS:

1. Put 100 mg to 500 mg of tissue into the barrel of the disposable liner (pre-chopping may be needed). It is usually not necessary to pre-chop soft tissue.
2. Partially insert the piston/screw into the barrel of the liner and slide the assembly into the press cylinder.
3. Screw down the press. Extract exits from the pointed end of the liner.  Continue screwing down the press until all of the samples have been extracted. More pressure beyond this point will shear the plastic tip and force it out of the press cylinder. However, because the liner is a disposable item no harm is done.  With very small samples, some of the extracts may remain in the liner tip but can be removed with a micropipette or small spatula.
4. Unscrew the press and remove the used liner and the used piston seal.

FEATURES :

• Directly macerates small samples of soft tissue (e.g., liver, muscle, brain) – without dilution with added buffers or solvent.
• Simple to operate – no need for compressed gases or high pressure electro-mechanical pumps.
• No heat, foam, or aerosols formed.
• The only parts in contact with the sample are the polypropylene cylinder liner containing a 250 micron stainless steel screen and the rubber piston seal..
• Develops thousands of pounds/square square inch to mince the entire sample. No tissue is lost.
• Disposable liners eliminates cleanup and contamination between samples.

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Sample is pressed at a controlled speed through a screen having 250 micron openings.
• Working capacity of 100 to 500 mg fresh, frozen or rehydrated plant or animal tissue.
• 316 stainless steel body, piston/screw and screen.
• Cylinder liner and piston seal made of polypropylene and ethylene-propylene rubber, respectively.
• All parts can be autoclaved.
• Size: 2 cm diameter, 11 cm high, weight 300g.

CELL LYSIS

The Screw Tissue Press is used to initially disperse soft animal tissue (e.g., muscle, kidney, spleen, liver) before using mechanical, detergent, or chemical-based methods to lyse the cells. Compared to manually chopping using scissors or a scalpel, much smaller tissue fragments are produced and the cell lysis that follows will be faster and more complete. Notably, the addition of buffer is not required to use the Screw Tissue Press. The dispersed tissue exits the Screw Tissue Press having a consistency much like liver paté or toothpaste.

SINGLE CELL PREPARATION

The Screw Press is also used in the preparation of viable single cells from soft animal tissue by enzymatic digestion of connective matrix.  Screw tissue Press dispersion delivers higher yields of viable cells by significantly reducing incubation time with proteases and enhancing the diffusion of essential nutrients and gases during the incubation with the enzymes.

Screw Tissue Press Operating Instructions:

Acceptable tissue is soft, relatively non-fibrous, and has high water content.  Examples are muscle, brain, liver, plant fruits, some plant roots, and tubers.  If the tissue sample is partially fibrous, fatty or covered with a tough membrane, first manually trim off the tough or fatty parts.  Fibrous tissue will interfere with the passage of the soft tissue through the press and lower the yield of dispersed cell material.  Skin, hide, cartilaginous tissue, plant stems, wood, and all dried tissues cannot be processed.

1)  Partially retract the piston cylinder of the Screw Tissue Press to make room for the tissue. Unscrew the ‘cap’ with its array of holes from the bottom of the Screw Tissue Press and place 0.5 to 10 g of tissue sample into the cavity of the press.  (For smaller sized samples see our MIcroMincer tissue press below)

Generally, the array of 2 mm diameter holes in the press cap is used. However, if your sample is soft, non-fibrous material with high water content, you can also use the included 500-micron stainless steel wire sieve.  Carefully center the screen on the end of the press cylinder after adding the sample tissue and screw on the press cap.

2)  Manually turn the piston to extrude the tissue. The dispersed tissue will exit the press having a paste- or granular-like texture. Depending on the amount of connective or fibrous tissue present in the sample, the yield of dispersed tissue will vary from 20-95%.

3)  Extruded tissue material can be released from the end of the Screw Tissue Press with a scalpel or single edge razor blade.

The NEW SpiralPestle™ and 1.5 ml Microtube grinder is a significant improvement over traditional smooth-walled polypropylene pestle and tube combinations.  It is used to homogenize culture cells and small samples (<100 mg wet weight) of soft tissue such as liver, brain, and muscle.  It can also be used to disperse centrifugal pellets, precipitates, and other solids.

HOW IT WORKS:

The SpiralPestle™ has a unique screw-like pattern on its surface.  The ‘theads’ of the turning pestle serve as a screw pump to draw 10 to 100 mg of soft plant or animal tissue suspended in a 200 to 500 µl of extraction solution to the bottom of the microvial where it is macerated and mechanically dispersed between the rounded bottom of the pestle and vial.  Tissue grinding is further enhanced by including a pinch of glass grinding beads (a sample is included with each SpiralPestle order).

While pestle and microtube grinders are traditionally operated by hand rotation, to achieve optimum homogenization efficiency the SpiralPestle should be combined with a BioVortexer™. The BioVortexer is a low-cost, hand-held mixing motor drive.  With its greatly increased rotational speed (~9000 rpm) and the addition of some glass grinding beads, lysis of soft tissue samples is completed in seconds.

Our BioChopper Kit provides two simple tools to aid in preparing your tissue samples for homogenation.

DESCRIPTION

Garnet sharp particles are sold in one pound bottles.  Average size +/- 20%

Like Silicon Carbide sharp particles, these abrasive particles have sharp cutting edges that may accelerate lysis of plant and tough animal tissue in a Mini-Beadbeater vial.

Unlike Silicon Carbide particles, Garnet particles fracture into smaller size particles during the beadbeating process. This can be an advantage if you want to simultaniously lyse a sample of tissue containing microbial cells. Similarly, largeer 2 mm diameter particles help disperse fecal samples, and at the same time lyse microorganisms in the sample.  Garnet particles should not be used to disrupt tissue if the goal is to recover viable microbial cells or intact intracellular organelles.

NOTE: Garnet Particles should not be used with the BeadBeater Model 1107900.

Preliminary information suggests that plant and animal tissue can be disrupted more quickly with sharp-edged material rather than smooth beads.  Particles are sold in one pound bottles.

The sharp, hard edges of these irregular particles impart a knife-like cutting action during high-energy shaking in Mini-Beadbeater vials.  They may abrade and micro-chop tough tissue faster than beads.  For softer tissues beads are preferred.  These beads are dusty.  Wash with lab detergent before first use.

NOTE: While Silicon-Carbide Sharp Particles are routinely used with any of our MiniBeadbeater models, they should not be used with the BeadBeater, model 1107900.

Glass has a density of 2.5 g/cc and is the most commonly used bead media for “beadbeating.”  Beads are sold in one pound bottles with easy pour spouts.  Listed bead sizes are median (average) values.  Because beads are sorted by sieves, bead size varies between +/-10% of a listed value.

For those of you working on a smartphone microscope as described by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory we now have a bead sample pack available for you.

Each pack comes with a sample our 0.5, 1.0, and 3.5 mm glass beads.  Each sample contains a smaller amount of beads than our standard one pound bottles.  However there more than enough beads to create almost 150 scopes using the 3.5 mm beads and a few thousand with each of the two smaller sizes.

Please note that our beads are a grinding grade and not precision grade of bead. As they are not precision beads, some will have slight clarity and size irregularities.  As there are hundreds to several thousand beads of each size in the Sample Pack, you will have many to select from to find perfect ones.

Stainless steel beads have a density of 7.9g/cc.   They are used mostly for grinding leaves and seeds. They are made of Type 316 stainless steel – the most corrosion resistant available.

*Note: These beads are not sold in one pound amounts.

DESCRIPTION

A replacement thermal-conductive media for water baths and aluminum heat blocks.

Aluminum has excellent thermal conductivity properties and good corrosion resistance.  With these properties, small aluminum beads have become a popular substitute for water in a laboratory bath.  There are several advantages:  Heated bead baths can be left on so they are always ready to use without monitoring and refilling.  Similarly, cooling buckets can be left in a refrigerator or freezer until needed. Vials or tubes inserted into the beads are firmly supported and do not tip over or sink, the risk of contamination from the water is eliminated, the beads are easy to decontaminate and sterilize, and the energy efficiency of heating baths are improved by a factor of 2 or 3.  While spherical-, raisin- or cylindrical-shaped aluminum “beads” available from other suppliers provide the above improvements, BioSpec’s Tiny Teardrops™ aluminum beads go a step further.  Their shape permits higher packing densities and 10X greater surface-to-surface contact for improved heat conduction.

NOTE:  Thermal beads are not always a prefered alternative to water.  Pros and cons are discussed in an objective “advertorial” on thermal beads sponsored by ThermoFisher Scientific [BioTechniques, Vol 63, Issue 5, p.238-239 (Nov 2017)].  See also “Converting from Water to Aluminum Beads in Lab Baths or Ice Buckets” by Mike May [Lab Manager, Vol.11, No.3, p.63 (2016)].  In short, unlike the uniform properties of a stirred water bath and despite the excellent thermal conductivity of aluminum beads, a stable, depth-dependent temperature gradient will be established in a bath filled with metallic beads.  There will be a discrepancy between the bath’s gauge temperature and the temperature of the inserted tube. Always keep an accurate thermometer in the aluminum bead bath and locate it in the same position as the sample vessel.

SPECIFICATIONS :

• Tiny Teardrops™ Aluminum Beads have a shape similiar to teardrops or raindrops.  One end is spherical and the other end comes to a point.  The widest part is about 2 mm in diameter.  Because of this non-sperical shape they pack tightly around tubes, microtubes, beakers, flasks and bottles, thus providing superior thermal transfer than spherical shaped aluminum beads.
• Packaged by volume (1 liter) rather than by weight.
• Aluminum beads can be cleaned, dried and sterilized with drug-store 70% isopropanol.

Tungsten Carbide has a density of 14.9g/cc.  While very dense, these dense beads impart a brown-gray color to homogenates.  This inert, colloidal tungsten-carbide can often be removed by centrifugation or filtration.

Zirconia beads have a density of 5.5g/cc (Twice as dense as glass beads – good for tough tissue).  Sold in one pound bottles.

Zirconia/Silica has a density of 3.7g/cc (50% more dense than glass – good for spores and most tissues)  Beads are sold in one pound bottles.

BioSpec is your source for LabTie™ Bead Loaders.  The highly versitile dispenser, custom fit to your application, can quickly and accurately dispense beads, powders, seeds and irregular small partricles into a variety of industry standard plates, tubes, vials, or trays.  This gravity-type loader can dispense a wide variety of sizes, shapes, densities, amounts, and volumes.

A variety of LabTie dispensers are offered below and custom dispensers are available to fit your specific needs.

SPECIFICATIONS :

Please contact us if you do not find a dispenser that meets your requirements. Many custom options are available.

Dispensers for Vials

Catalog Number Description & Fill Volume

Dispensers for 96-well Microplate

Catalog Number Description & Fill Volume

Catalog Number Description & Quantity-Diameter of Bead(s) Dispensed

DESCRIPTION

Each dispenser is designed, produced, and tested by LabTie.  These dispensers are used all over the world in research laboratories, universities, pharmaceutical and biochemical laboratories, and institutes.  With its modular design, the mesh plates can be interchanged allowing the dispenser to be used to dispense multiple types and amounts of beads.  The dispensers work equally well dispensing various volumes of small diameter beads or dispensing just a couple larger diameter beads.  They can be used inconjuntion with our tough Porvair microplates to load a small number of steel beads; perfect for high-throughput homogenizing of tough sample materials.  For those working with vials, the dispensers can be used with our 2.0 ml vial blocks allowing one to fill 45 microvials at a time.  Custom dispensers designed to your specifications are also available as well as dispensers designed to depositing various types of seeds.

The biggest value the LabTie Bead Dispenser offers is the huge timesaving over other loading methods, up to 60 times or greater.  By reducing costs and errors, researchers can focus on what really matters.

The Suction-type Microplate Bead Loader includes a polycarbonate/polystyrene bead-loading manifold, a hand-held 115V AC vacuum unit and an on/off foot-switch.

DESCRIPTION

Microplates and sealing mats.

BioSpec Products now features 96-well microplates and sealing mats manufactured by Porvair Sciences.  When used with our high-energy Mini-BeadBeater-96 cell disrupter and bead mill these microplates offer the highest level of processing reliability

Porvair Science’s reinforced polypropylene, 2 ml square 96 deep well microplates have extra structural ribbing on their bottom which provides support when used with a high energy shaking bead mill.  Their microplates are made of specially formulated polypropylene and pair with special reusable mats.  The microplates can also be sealed with adhesive-bonded or heat-bonded films, but these films seldom prevent leaking during intense shaking in a Mini-BeadBeater-96.

Recently, BioSpec tested plate/mat combinations made by several manufacturers using steel beads in both wet-grinding and dry-grinding conditions. In one of the more stringent tests, Porvair microplates and mats maintained structural integrity while powdering dry samples of human hair in the Mini-BeadBeater-96 using two 3.2 mm chrome steel beads in each well .  In contrast, all other plates cracked during use and some even had holes punched through them under the  severe test grinding conditions.  Independent support for these findings come from a leading UK contract genomics laboratory. Testing barley seeds, a notoriously hard carpel to crack, they reported that Porvair deep well microplates sucessfully survived 4 minutes of bead beating using a single 6 mm steel in a high speed shaking bead mill.

FEATURES :

• Plates are made from virgin polypropylene
• Mats are made from EVA
• Tested for low extractables
• Tight specification levels
• V-bottom to allow total liquid removal, partial collection and to aid re-suspension
• No inner edges to allow better collection of magnetic beads
• Manufactured under a DNase/ RNase free environment
• Plates are autoclavable
• Working volume of 2ml
• Raised well rims to improve heat  sealing
• Conical base which aids sample concentration, reconstitution, and centrifugation

Our 2.0 ml, screw cap with o-ring seal, microcentrifuge vials are made of inert polypropylene and have straight walls with a sharp conical bottom. This vial shape is required for the Mini-Beadbeater-1+ and recommended for the MiniBeadbeater-16, MiniBeadbeater-24 and MiniBeadbeater-96.  Compatible with other brands of bead-mill cell disrupters and available sterile or non-sterile.

For extraction and cell disruption of larger sample volumes we also have 7 ml polypropylene vials.  The vials include screw caps and, when combined with the appropriate adapter, arer used with the Mini-Beadbeater-16, -24, or -96.

Note:  Using our high-energy Minibeadbeater series cell disrupters, current polypropylene microvials  (offered by us or other Providers) cannot be used with vials containing steel beads that also have a significant air space (i.e., dry milling).  During shaking, the steel beads will crack or punch through the vials.  No problem exists using zirconia or glass beads for dry milling or steel beads for wet milling where the air space wthin the sealed vial is minimized.  If dry milling with steel beads is required, as is commonly done at liquid nitrogen temperatures, use our stainless steel microvials equiped with silicone rubber stoppers or our exclusive polypropylene ‘XXTuff™’ 2 ml microvials.  The later are reinforced in critical areas of the vial and is fabricated using a special, high density polypropylene resin. Tests show that this vial is 10X more resistant to breakage – hence the name ‘XXTuff’.

50ml polypropylene screw cap centrifuge tubes.  Sterile, with cap.  25 tubes per bag.

Our 50 ml conical centrifuge tubes are designed to fit with close tolerance into the 50 ml Solid AluminumTube Holder used in our MiniBeadbeater-96.  The aluminum holder maintains tube temperature while cells and tissue are being lysed.

Please note:  There are subtle differences in the diameters of other brands of 50 ml screw-cap centrifuge tubes.  That may prevent them from properly fitting into our Aluminum Tube Holder.

Our Stainless Steel Microvials have the same physical dimensions and weight as standard 2 ml polypropylene microvials. They can be sealed with either polyethylene flange caps, silicone rubber stopper caps¹ or crimped 13 mm OD septa caps.

Applications include:

• Ideal for dry grinding with steel beads in a high energy Bead mill cell disrupter (e.g.,MiniBeadbeater) where milling forces often crack common plastic microvials – – Note an exception is our 2 ml XXTuff polypropylene microvials.   These 2 ml screw-top polypropylene vial are the toughest on the market and can be used for most dry milling applications.
• Provides far better heat transfer capabilities compared to common plastic or glass micrvials- as might be desired for control of sample heating during the beadbeating process and for some PCR methods using rapid temperature change protocols.

NOTE:  When beadbeating dry or cryo-grinding frozen samples using steel beads our Silicone Rubber Caps, specially shaped to securely seal our s.s. microvials, are highly recommended. Flange caps fail under these milling conditions.

OTHER INFO :

A protocol for dry grinding small frozen samples at liquid nitrogen temperature (i.e., cryo-grinding): Three 3.2 mm dia. chrome-steel beads are added to a 2 ml stainless steel vial. The vial and beads are brought to liquid nitrogen temperature…without entrapping any liquid nitrogen inside the vial. Then add hard frozen cartilage, skin or other tough tissue (pre-chopping the sample is usually not necessary)*, quickly seal the vial with a non-frozen silicone rubber cap and grind for 5-15 seconds in a MiniBeadbeater. The sample will be powdered.
If extraction of intracellular biomolecules is to follow, promptly add ice-cold liquid media of your choice to the still frozen, powdered sample in the original vial and beadbeat for up to 3 minutes. The optimal beadbeating time will vary with sample type and should be empirically determined with an initial time study of 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 minutes of beadbeating.

*  Add pre-frozen tissue.  Fresh tissue will “stick” to the cold steel beads and delay good grinding.

A pack of five polypropylene microvial vial racks.  The rack has a standard microplate footprint and holds up to forty-five 1.5 ml or 2.0 ml microvials on one side and thirty-two 0.5 ml microvials on the other side.  One of these racks comes standard with our Mini-BeadBeater-96.

This polycarbonate vial rack has a microplate footprint.   It holds four to twelve 7 ml screw-cap vials (BioSpec’s Cat No. 3205) and is used in our MiniBeadbeater-96 cell disruptor when larger-sized samples are being processed

This solid aluminum vial rack for 2ml vials offers superior temperature control during beadbeating than bead mill cell disrupters relying on flowing air chilled by dry-ice or refrigeration. It is well-known that chilled air has much poorer heat conductivity than chilled metal. The block is pre-cooled in a deep freezer or, to cryo-temperatures with dry-ice or liquid nitrogen.  Having dimensions of a standard deep-well microplate, it is compatible with not only our MiniBeadbeater-96 but with several competitor microplate shakers.

An important accessory for the MiniBeadbeater-96 when temperature control is a concern**.  Typically, a vial filled with beads, sample and extraction media warms up ~10 degrees per minute of beadbeating.  Our 2 ml vial holder (capacity 48 vials) is machined out of high-heat-conductivity aluminum.

The vial holder is pre-cooled to low temperatures inside a refrigerator, a  -80º C freezer, or with liquid nitrogen.  During the beadbeating process, the chilled vial holder keeps the sample temperature at desired low temperatures.

A related application is ‘dry’ bead-grinding of fresh tissue by the cryopulverization technique.  The sample, beads, vials, and vial holder are all pre-chilled to liquid nitrogen temperatures before being processed in a Mini-BeadBeater-96.

** Helpful Note: Nucleic acid extraction of microorganisms or tissues in the presence of nucleic acid extraction media generally does not require the above temperature control.

Cat. No. 330TX, XXTuff™ non-sterile, reinforced 2 ml vials and caps, 500 count

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