Hi,
I'm using Sartorius Vivaspin 6mL and 20mL (3000MWCO) for concentrateD protein solution.
Can the Vivaspin tube reused?
Also if I want to reuse that, is there any thing to treat between two usages?
Depending how you define "reuse". I did it a few times by washing thoroughly with buffer and then with DI water and storing the filter in 70% EtOH in the fridge. I would not recommend reuse with a different protein or on a critical application as you risk clogging and or contamination.
Yoram
I'd agree with Yoram. In most cases it's not worth the risks. Depends plenty on the protein in question, too. When looking for membrane proteins clogging happens rather sooner than later...
if you mean these
http://www.sartorius.com/en/product-family/product-family-detail/m-vivaspin-20/VS2002/51088/?no_cache=1&cHash=737ba6907266f3c25f9c62c63e7cd709#
(or similar), we use them repeatedly. But we store them in 20% EtOH, 70% seems a little too much
I would surely reuse with the same protein (e.g. for the next prep, at the same level of purity) but definitely not with other proteins, to avoid contamination (as stated above). Proteins adsorb to the membrane and to the plastic of the device (wich sometimes is benefitial because you sort of saturate for the next use).
Make sure you keep them sanitized (20% EtOH) and in the cold and eventually clean the membrane with 0.1 NaOH or high salt.
I routinely use the 100ul 10,000MWCO mini columns repeatedly for Mass Spec analysis of peptides from pulldowns. As it takes almost a day to was out residual glycerine (that interferes with MS) I use the washed columns with the protein and peptide mix at least 3 times and have not noticed any reduction in purity at the MS level. I keep in 10% formic acid at 4 degrees as this is what I elute my peptide in.
Hi guys I am facing the exact opposite situation. The membrane pores seem to enlarge after few times of use. Has anyone observed such phenomena before?
I'm not sure about increasing the pores, but yes, they start leaking after some time.
I had quite trouble with that in the last year as I used them almost on daily basis, so I tried everything possible (you can find some questions regarding these filters on my profile). In conclusion, I have no idea, how to improve it.
I switched storing to glycerol (not sure whether it was 10 or 20%) with diluted buffer (something like 50mM, probably Tris, as I use that for the protein). Spinning only for short times, so that they do not dry out.
However, never check for the integrity with BSA as you will contaminate your sample, as I did :(
Hi everyone,
We were hypothesizing in storing them with an sodium azide solution 0.05% between usages. Has anyone ever tried this approach?
Thank you!
Sodium azide is used to prevent microbial growth. It should not affect the viability of the spin columns (unless it's bacteria that degrade the filters...)
Exactly..
We were hypothesizing this since we use sodium azide to store dialysis membranes ...and we were applying the same principle.
Thank you
It can be reuse, provided it was washed after use and kept in conditions that prevent the microbial contamination......sodium azide...4 C
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