We need to stir a 200-300uL volume in a microtube, and currently are relying on flea stirrers; however, even the smallest stirrer we can find always needs cut with bolt cutters to get a small enough stirrer to fit into the tapered tube without getting stuck. This is a pain in the ass because 9/10 times we break the stirrer, or the magnetic part comes out. It's also unfavorable because the magnetic rod is exposed to the solutions.
Is anyone familiar with something like micro-stirrers that would be less than 1mm across, or even something like a spherical teflon magnetic bead that would fill the same purpose?
Here's our setup so you can visualize what I'm talking about.
Thanks
Hi Adam, You can buy very small neodymium magnets from this guys
http://www.supermagnetman.net/
If the Copper Nickel coating is OK for you, use them as they are. Or else coat them in epoxy (any old Araldite or similar from the hardware store will do unless your mixture is very hot (100 oC +), in which case you need Teflon). He can sell them parylene coated or maybe Teflon coated for a price.
A stir-vane might do the job:
http://www.belart.com/shop/Resources/Spinbar%20Shapes%20and%20Performance.pdf
Hi Adam, I have some very tiny stirrer bars I got for stirring conjugation reactions in low volumes in Eppendorfs, but unfortunately I can't remember where I bought them from. Such things do exist though! Or look for small spin vanes, which are similar but more suited to small tubes.
Thanks for the recs guys, spin vane might be perfect, but I need to find a super small one haha
I had used a piece of glass pipet (may can also be plastic pipet), put a small piece of staple. Seal both ends with heat. You may try.
Good idea shanxiang. I'm also thinking that instead I might just try to get a microvibrator and rely on agitation over stirring.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Methodology
- Laboratory
- Laboratory Techniques