A leading name in laboratory innovation, Beckman Coulter Life Sciences, introduces the OptiMATE Gradient Maker. This novel device automates density gradient ultracentrifugation (DGUC), reducing purification times by up to 75%. The system enhances workflow consistency and reproducibility while simplifying complex processes. Current methods often take three days, involving multiple intricate steps. In contrast, the OptiMATE Gradient Maker completes the process within six hours through a streamlined four-step method. Furthermore, it significantly cuts down spinning time from potentially 48 hours to less than five.
OptiMATE Gradient Maker stands as a game-changer for research environments. By minimizing manual intervention, it reduces errors and improves result quality. Suitable for purifying viral vectors like adeno-associated virus (AAV), this user-friendly system integrates effortlessly into existing lab setups. Its intuitive software and compact design make training quick and efficient, offering space-saving benefits. Industry experts emphasize its potential to meet the increasing demand for faster, more reliable purification techniques.
Accelerating Purification Efficiency
The OptiMATE Gradient Maker revolutionizes the purification process by drastically cutting down the time required for density gradient ultracentrifugation. It replaces a traditionally lengthy procedure that could span three days with a swift six-hour process, achieved via a simplified four-step approach. This includes creating a method, connecting consumables, running the method, and spinning. A key advantage is its ability to reduce centrifuge run times from up to 48 hours to less than five by dispensing pre-formed gradients.
Prior to this innovation, upstream workflows were labor-intensive, encompassing stock preparation, mixing, dispensing, tube sealing, and extended spinning durations. Each step was prone to human error, impacting consistency and reproducibility. With the OptiMATE Gradient Maker, laboratories can now bypass these tedious stages, ensuring higher precision in results. This advancement not only boosts operational efficiency but also maintains high-quality outputs essential for various applications. For instance, researchers working on adeno-associated virus (AAV) purification benefit immensely from the enhanced speed and reliability offered by this automated solution.
User-Friendly Automation in Research
Beyond accelerating purification processes, the OptiMATE Gradient Maker brings automation to labs with an intuitive, plug-and-play design. Its ease of use minimizes the need for extensive training, allowing operators to be proficient within hours rather than weeks. This compact benchtop system saves valuable lab space without compromising functionality. As a research-use-only (RUO) tool, it caters particularly well to environments focused on high-throughput purification and efficiency improvement.
Experts highlight the significance of such advancements in meeting rising demands for quicker, more consistent purification methods. Balasubramanian Venkatakrishnan, Senior Application Scientist, underscores how automation at critical stages of gradient preparation enables labs to achieve high-quality results swiftly and with reduced variability. This empowers researchers to focus on their core objectives, facilitating breakthrough discoveries. The debut of the OptiMATE Gradient Maker at the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT) signals a new era in laboratory technology, promising enhanced capabilities and streamlined workflows for scientists worldwide.