I'm looking for ways to prevent the settling of magnetic beads in solution. I have been using a syringe pump to inject a suspension of magnetic beads in PBS into a microfluidic device, and so far have not been able to prevent my beads from settling down in the syringe.
I vortex my bead solution a few times before adding it to the syringe, but this hasn't worked to prevent the beads from sedimenting.
I have tried to use a few different flow rates and volumes to prevent the settling, but no matter how fast I run the solution through, no beads actually make it into the device, they all settle in the syringe. How can keep them suspended for longer?
Can you place the syringe assembly on an orbital, wave or rocking shaker table.
Iiro Kiiski Thank you for your insight! I have tried pulling the solution into the device instead of injecting it, but I still had the same problem. I'm thinking of maybe using a variable peristaltic pump, which would mean I could keep vortexing the bead solution as it is being pushed into the device.
William Letter That's a great idea! I will have to look into that. Thank you!
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Biological Science
- Kinesiology
- Running