what’s new
Depth filtration system The Zeta Plus Encapsulated System is a single-use depth filtration system designed for the bioprocessing industry where upstream cell culture clarification or downstream impurity removal is required. The system consists of three product lines: a small system that is suitable for lab-scale production or scale-up studies; and two larger systems that are designed for production-scale biomanufacturing. 3M offers a complete range in various surface areas to ensure there is a solution for a variety of batch sizes. The capsules are available in 170, 340 and 1020 cm2 surface areas and in a variety of grades. The single-use capsules reduce labour time and eliminate cleaning validation. The depth filtration media has a high contaminant loading to ensure economical filtration and reliable particle reduction. The Zeta Plus EXT Series media is a dual zone depth media designed to provide optimal clarification of bioprocess and biological fluids and to remove contaminants such as host cell proteins (HCP), viruses, DNA, protein aggregates and endotoxins. The 60SP02A grade is said to excel at primary cell clarification, coping with the variation between harvest batches while providing clarified harvest fluid with low turbidity levels. The products provide a simple solution for bioprocessing applications. 3M’s technical support is available to assist in optimising the grade and product selection for the user’s specific application. 3M Purification Pty Ltd www.3mpurification.com.au
Multiplexing system PerkinElmer has launched AlphaPlex reagent technology. The product allows users to quantify multiple analytes in a single well for fast and accurate results, even with low sample volumes. The homogeneous, all-in-one-well multiplexing reagent technology provides highly sensitive detection of a wide range of analytes in a simple, no-wash assay format. The system is said to enable a 5-20 times reduction in sample consumption compared to other multiplexing platforms and can be used with Alpha-enabled filter-based readers. Based on the company’s Alpha Technology, an alternative to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), AlphaPlex reagents are a homogeneous luminescent proximity technology. When the donor and acceptor beads are brought together, a cascade of chemical reactions is set in motion, causing a greatly amplified signal. By using multiple acceptor beads which emit different wavelengths, multiple analytes can be detected. Researchers can use the reagents to quantify a broad range of analytes, from nucleotides to large proteins, and to immunophenotype various cell populations including immortalised, primary and stem cells. The reagents can be used to perform ratiometric signal measurement, allowing for higher reproducibility and a lower false-positive rate - an important feature in high-throughput screening. PerkinElmer Pty Ltd www.perkinelmer.com
24 | LAB+LIFE SCIENTIST - October 2014
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