Spherotech, Inc.

PRODUCT LISTING

The polystyrene particles are prepared by using emulsion polymerization process. Particles supplied by Spherotech have been precleaned using either mixed bed ion exchange or by centrifugation. Further cleaning by user is usually not required. The size of particles is determined by either NICOMP Laser Particle Sizer or visually by Scanning Electron Microscope.

We manufacture a wide variety of uniform particles, ranging in size from 0.05 um to 15 um, with surface functional groups such as carboxyl or amino groups for covalent coupling of proteins or other ligands.

Polystyrene particles coated with various antibodies and ligands are available

Fluorescent particles with single or multiple fluorophores are available in various sizes, emission spectra and combinations suitable for uses in flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy, phagocytosis studies and cell labeling.

We manufacture various fluorescent particles with carboxyl surface for covalent coupling.

We manufacture various fluorescent particles coated with antibody or avidin.

The Calibration Particles are designed for routine calibration of flow cytometer. The Rainbow Particles contains a mixture of fluorophores that enable the Rainbow Calibration Particles to be excited at any wavelength from 365 nm to 650 nm. which allows the calibration of all channels in the flow cytometer with the same set of particles. The Rainbow Calibration Particles contain a set of several similar size particles with different fluorescence intensities all contained in a convenient dropper bottle. A few drops of the particles from the dropper bottle to 1 ml of diluent provides enough particles for flow cytometry. The diluted calibration particles can withstand repeated freezing and thawing. Diluted particle suspension can be stored in the freezer and reused later. This is a cost saving feature unique to Rainbow Calibration Particles. In addition to the cost saving and convenience, the Rainbow Calibration Particles are also very stable under proper storage condition.

The colored particles are prepared by polymerizing styrene in a solution of oil soluble nonfluorescent. As a result the particles are free of solvent commonly found when the particles are prepared by staining with a solution of dye in organic solvent. Spherotech colored particles are intensely colored. The uses include visual detection in latex agglutination assay or chromatographic type detection devises.

The Rainbow Slides are designed for the alignment and calibration of confocal fluorescent microscope. The Rainbow Slides consist of Rainbow Particles with various sizes and intensities in mutiple well glass slides. The Rainbow Slides will be available in July, 1997. Please contact us for the availability.

The Ferromagnetic Particles available from Spherotech are uniform in size and can be reversibly magnetized or demagnetized. The Ferromagnetic particles are being used to study the mechanotransduction across the cell surface by binding the ferromagnetic particles to the cell surface receptors and to apply the mechanical stresses directly to the cell surface receptors with a magnetic twisting device.

SPHERO MAGNETIC PARTICLES

The SPHERO magnetic particles are prepared according to the procedures described in US Patent No. 5,091,206. They are prepared by coating a layer of magnetite and polystyrene onto monodispersed (ie. uniform sized) polystyrene core particles. As a result, the SPHERO magnetic particles are spherical in shape, and paramagnetic in nature. They are also very uniform in size. The magnetite contents of these magnetic particles can be adjusted but in general it represents about 10% to 15%. The magnetic particles can be easily separated from a suspension magnetically. These particles become non-magnetic when removed from a magnet, and do not retain any detectable magnetism even after repeated exposure to strong magnetic field. The SPHERO magnetic particles can be used for cell separation, affinity purification, DNA probe assays, magnetic particle EIA, etc.

MAGNETIC SEPARATOR

The FlexiMag Separator (Cat. # FMS-1000) is the only magnetic separator on the market with interchangeable tube holders to fit tube size from 1.5 ml microfuge tube to 200 ml tissue culture bottle. The separator is supplied with three tube holders, small, medium and large. Two holders can be used on each FlexiMag separator simultaneously. Extra set of holders can be purchased separately. Each small tube holder holds four 1.5 ml microfuge tubes or four 12x75 mm test tubes. Each medium tube holder holds two 16x100 mm test tubes or two 15 ml centrifuge tubes. Two 50 ml centrifuge tubes can be placed in the large tube holder. With two small tube holders in place it can accommodate up to eight 1.5 ml microfuge tubes, or eight 12x75 mm test tubes. With two medium tube holders in place it can accommodate four 15 ml centrifuge tubes. With two large tube holders in place it can accommodate four 50 ml centrifuge tubes. Without the tube holder in place it can accommodate two 200 ml tissue culture bottles.

The FlexiMag Separator is ideal for any laboratory working with magnetic particles for cell separation, immunoassay or affinity purification. The FlexiMag Separator offers the unmatched cost saving and flexibility to meet the requirements of a research laboratory which uses only small amounts of magnetic particles as well as the requirement of a manufacturing facility that may need to process large amount of magnetic particles at a time.

The FlexiMag Separator, Jr. (Cat. # FMJ-1000) is designed specifically for the research labs where only small amounts of magnetic particles are used. The FlexiMag Separator, Jr. will hold eight each of the microfuge tubes, 5 ml cryogenic vials or 12x75 mm glass test tubes.

The UltraMag Separator (Cat. # UMS-3000) is designed specifically for use with microtiter plates. It fits under standard 96 well microtiter plate to separate small amount of magnetic particles in each well to the wall of the well to facilitate the washing of the particles without loss of particles. After incubation and washing microtiter plate can be read in any microtiter plate reader with separator still in place to keep magnetic particles out of the way of light beam of the plate reader.

The MicroMag Separator (Cat # MMS-2000) offers maximum durability and stronger magnetic strength to minimize the loss of magnetic particles during the washing steps in the microtiter wells. It draws magnetic particles to the bottom of the well.

The microtiter plate magnetic particle EIA offers the following advantages over the conventional microtiter plate EIA:

1. Magnetic particles offer larger surface area and faster reaction rate than coated walls of a conventional microtiter plate.

2. Particle can be coated more uniformly and consistantly compared to lot to lot microtiter plate coating variation.

3. Use less reagents due to the fact that partial plate may be used as needed.

Last modified on Thursday, May 08, 1997