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>
No Cross Contamination
The samples are homogenized (or mixed)
non-invasively. The sample tubes are kept closed during
agitation, as the samples are processed. There are no probes to
clean between samples.
> Samples Stay Cool
The instrument uses very little power due to the
unique, patented design. It uses a small DC motor to agitate the
individual tubes, not ultrasonics. Also, because the motor
does not need to agitate any heavy platforms or plates, it is small and
will last for years.
>
Convenient
to Use
Simply place your tumors and other tissue samples or
cell cultures and some beads in standard high quality polypropylene
tubes, and load the tubes into the Bullet Blender™.
Set the duration (typically a few minutes) and speed
(vigorousness). There are no probes to clean. And it is
quieter than a sonicator and does not heat up your samples more than a
few degrees!
>
Risk Free
Purchase
The Bullet
Blender™ comes with a 30-day
money back guarantee and a two year warranty, with a three year
warranty on the motor. The simple, reliable design enables the Bullet Blenders™ to sell for a fraction
of the price of ultrasonic or other agitation based instruments, yet
provides an easier, quicker technique.
> Established Protocols
Brain:
Load 100mg glass beads (0.5 mm dia) in each microcentrifuge
tube. Add 100-200μL buffer (your choice, depending on your
downstream application). Place about 100mg of dissected tissue
into the buffer, then place the tube into the Bullet Blender™.
Set the time to 3 minutes and the speed to 6.
The Bullet
Blender™ home page shows the entire family of products and links to
other applications.
Protocol for Brain Tissue Homogenization in the Bullet Blender
The protocol described in this document is for the use of the Bullet Blender for the
homogenization of brain tissue (from a variety of animals). Note that the time and
speed settings may differ due to the variation in consistency/texture of tissue from
species to species. This protocol does not specify a particular buffer - you may choose
which is most appropriate for your downstream application (nucleic acid isolation,
protein extraction, etc.).
Materials Required:
brain tissue, Bullet Blender™, homogenization buffer, pipettor,
microcentrifuge tubes, and 0.5 mm glass beads (part number
GB05).
Instructions:
- Cut brain tissue into appropriately sized pieces for analysis (50mg-300mg) and place into a microcentrifuge tube. Typical sample size: 100mg.
- OPTIONAL: Wash tissue 3x with ~1mL PBS. Aspirate. NOTE: This step
removes external contaminants (blood, etc.).
- Add glass beads (0.5mm) to the tube. Use a mass of beads equal to your mass of tissue. One scoop of 0.5mm glass beads ≈ 77mg. It is acceptable to use
denser beads, such as zirconium silicate or zirconium oxide beads, or beads one size larger, i.e. 1.0 mm beads.
- Add 0.1mL to 0.6mL buffer (2 volumes of buffer for every mass of tissue).
- Close the microcentrifuge tubes.
- Place tubes into the Bullet Blender.
- Set controls for SPEED 6 and TIME 3 minutes. Press Start.
- After the run, remove the tubes from the instrument.
- Visually inspect samples. If homogenization is unsatisfactory, run for another two minutes at the SPEED 6.
- Proceed with your downstream application.
SAFETY NOTE!!!
When using a centrifuge to separate your homogenate from
the debris and beads, make sure your tubes are balanced.
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