Biomedical Researcher wins Microplate Catalogue prize draw

A scientist at the Genomics CoreLab of the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Addenbrooke's Hospital (Cambridge, UK) has won Porvair Sciences' latest free prize draw for people registering online for the company's 2010-2011 Microplate Catalogue.

Interest in Porvair Sciences' latest free draw to win a Cannon EOS 1000D DSLR camera was intense, but the lucky winner was Dr Ian McFarlane, a biomedical researcher in the Genomics CoreLab based in the University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories. Ian is responsible for leading a microarray and genomics service and is a regular contributor to the European chapter of the Laboratory Robotics Information Group.

Presenting the prize  - Porvair Sales Manager, Steve Knight, commented "The Genomics CoreLab are moving to new laboratories with a high degree of automation in sample preparation using new liquid handling robotics together with more efficient microarray techniques with ever-higher levels of automation, consequently their use of robot-compatible plates and reservoirs will increase. Integrating a high-specification microplate reader into their workflow will eventually require detection plates of superior quality too. As a major supplier of quality reservoirs and plates for this application we are pleased that one of the Addenbrookes team has won the sought-after DSLR camera."

Reflecting Porvair's commitment to continuous technological innovation - the 2010/2011 microplate catalogue introduces a suite of exciting new products. An addition to Porvair's specialist microplate range is the new Glass Vial Storage plate - 96 high quality glass vials in a 48mm storage block - ideal for UHPLC applications. Porvair Sciences instrument range boasts two new thermal plate sealers. MicroSeal is a budget priced heat sealer with great performance, whilst the popular MiniSeal gets a makeover to become MiniSeal Plus - quicker, quieter, safer and more economical than before. Add to this new PCR plates, more sterile plate options and a new range of seals and you will see that the 2010/2011 catalogue remains an indispensable reference guide to any laboratory using or interested in using microplates.

Established in 1992, Porvair Sciences Ltd. expertise in microplate technology and manufacturing covers scientific fields including Life Sciences, Drug Discovery, Combinatorial Chemistry, Solid Phase Extraction, Protein Purification, High Throughput Screening, Proteomics and Genomics.  Porvair Sciences Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Porvair plc.

To receive a copy of the 2010-2011 Microplate Specialist Catalogue register online at http://www.porvair-sciences.com/download_cat.php or contact Porvair Sciences Ltd. on telephone +44-1372-824290 / email int.sales@porvair-sciences.com.

Just Published: Journal of Chromatography B

A new issue of this journal has just been published. To see abstracts of the papers it contains (with links through to the full papers) click here:

http://rss.sciencedirect.com/publication/science/7220

Labnet Introduces the New AccuSeal™ Microplate Sealer

Labnet International, a division of Corning Life Sciences, is pleased to introduce their new AccuSeal Semi Automated Microplate Sealer, designed for consistent heat sealing of microplates.   The new AccuSeal works with a wide range of microplates, including PCR, assay, and deep well storage plates. It accepts shallow plates and high profile plates, and can be used with most manufacturers’ heat sealing films. 

Sealing temperature and sealing time are adjustable, and can be precisely set using the instrument’s digital control panel.  The user places a microplate on the open drawer with a sealing film on top, presses the “Seal” button, and the sealing process is carried out automatically.

For additional information, please contact Labnet International at +1 732-417-0700, email labnet@labnetlink.com or visit our website at http://www.labnetlink.com/

New mobile apps

I am currently investigating the possible opportuinities to create applications for mobile phones and devices such as iPad, but rather than just develop these ideas with my publishing colleagues, I feel it makes more sense to ask the community what features they would like to see - what would benefit them the most and make people's working lives easier.
I realise that everyone is busy, but should you have a spare five minutes, I'd appreciate some input.
Please send your ideas to me at: analyticalchemistry@elsevier.com

Just Published: Journal of Chromatography A

A new issue of this journal has just been published. To see abstracts of the papers it contains (with links through to the full papers) click here:

http://rss.sciencedirect.com/publication/science/5248

Porous Media & Materials for OEM Manufacture

Porvair Filtration Group, an international leader in the development and supply of materials and products for filtration and separation, has announced the publication of a new technical brochure describing its range of advanced media and materials for OEM supply.

Downloadable from www.porvairfiltration.com/view/PorousMediaAndMaterials.aspx the new 12-page brochure describes Porvair's extensive range of sintered porous polymeric and metallic materials.  Drawing upon these materials and extensive experience spanning industries as diverse as aerospace, nuclear, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, chemical processing and engineering enables Porvair to provide a fit-for-purpose option optimized to the customer's requirements.

Proprietary core materials used by Porvair for OEM products include Sinterflo® sintered metal materials, Vyon® sintered porous plastics and specialized BioVyon™ porous plastics for applications in the life sciences.

For a hard copy of the new Media & Materials brochure please contact Porvair Filtration Group on +44-1489-864330 / +1-804-550-1600 or email info@porvairfiltration.com.

Animal-free Preparation of Human Serum Albumim

AMSBIO has announced the launch of ecoHSA™ - an animal-free preparation of the human albumin gene produced in the seeds of Asian Rice (Oryza sativa).

Commercial human albumin proteins extracted from plasma have multiple and invaluable uses in cell culture work. However, existing and new regulations now discourage the use of animal components, even in early research studies. In additional human or animal derived albumin proteins, even those produced in vitro using insect or mammalian cultures, suffer from variable performance due to low yields and/or production complexities. Now the need for a defined, consistent and animal-free HSA is more important than ever.

Building on recent advances in seed protein production technologies to turn the rice endosperm into an optimal system for expressing recombinant proteins, ecoHSA™ offers significant advantages over traditional albumins.  ecoHSA™ eliminates risk of animal or viral infectious agents in cell cultures and helps comply with  FDA recommendations for animal-free components. Extensively tested in multiple functional studies, ecoHSA™ has been proven to be similar in structure and biochemical function to native HSA in all tests performed. Furthermore rigorous standards and procedures in the manufacturing process of ecoHSA™ ensure minimal batch-to-batch variability.

In tests - ecoHSA™ has been shown to improve the health of cells by acting as a fatty acid carrier and hydrophobic moiety scavenger.  In addition ecoHSA™ extends the life of cell cultures by scavenging toxins as well as stabilizing membrane proteins and maintaining oncotic pressure thereby providing better cultures and results.

For further information on ecoHSA™ Animal-free Human Serum Albumin please visit http://www.amsbio.com/Animal-free-Human-Serum-Albumin-HSA-ecoHSA.aspx or contact AMSBIO on +44-1235-828200 / email info@amsbio.com.