If you need to crack open cells or tear apart tissues, the tools can be found at OPS Diagnostics. A simple and well established method for disrupting samples is by bead beating which uses grinding balls and a shaking homogenizer, or mixer mill, to smash, rip, and tear samples. Bead beating can be done in microfuge tubes to disrupt bacteria or in larger vessels to homogenize full organs.
The key tools needed for bead beating are as follows:
Grinding balls are used for homogenizing plant and animal tissues. Small samples (e.g., 50 mg) can be processed in deep well plates with 5/32" balls while larger samples require vials and the larger balls.
Grinding Balls, 5/32" Stainless Steel (5000)
Grinding Balls, 5/32" Zirconium Oxide (1000)
Grinding Balls, 3/8" Stainless Steel (1000)
Grinding Balls, 7/16" Stainless Steel (1000)
6 mm Zirconium Oxide Grinding Satellites (1000)
Beads are suitable for microorganisms, with the smaller sizes used for bacteria and larger for fungal mycelia. The different grades of beads depend on the application.
Pre-Filled Tubes(available with beads and balls)
For larger samples (above 200 mg) samples are best homogenized in vials. Polycarbonate are the best vial, but are incompatible with organics. Polyethylene vials can be used with organic solvents.
15 ml Polycarbonate Replacement Vials
4 ml Polycarbonate Replacement Vials
4 ml Polyethylene Replacement Vials
Loading 2 ml and 0.5 ml tubes with beads is a nuisance. A wide variety of pre-filled tubes are available and can be used in both the Geno/Grinder and HT Homogenizer, as well as FastPrep and Precellys instruments.
Bacteria - 100 micron Zirconium or Silica
Yeast - 400 micron Silica
Molds - 800 micron Silica
Leaf Tissues - 1.7 mm, 2.8 mm, or 3 mm beads
Soft Animal Tissue -2.8 mm, or 3 mm beads
Skin/Sclera -6 mm Satellite with Garnet
High throughput homogenizers can be used to process samples in vials, tubes, and plates. The pulsing vortexer is effective for homogenizing in tubes.