Rotor Stator Consumables

8 Decarbonation – the removal of dissolved CO 2 – is crucial for the analysis of ingredients like aspartame and caffeine in beverage development and manufacturing/QC. The Omni THq homogenizer fitted with either the Omni Tip plastic probe or stainless-steel probe provides an efficient and quick solution for decarbonation. The study determined pressure and CO2 volume after processing cola, diet cola, and lemon-lime soda samples. The results suggest that rotor-stator homogenization can be translated easily to an automated system for high-throughput decarbonation of beverage samples for those looking to scale or in a production environment. For research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

Genetically Modified (GM) crops allow for the introduction of new traits, such as resistance to pests, disease, and herbicide. The introduction of these genetic elements tends to confer advantages including crop hardiness or yields, which in turn can benefit farmers. In this application note, we assessed the efficiency of DNA isolation from either organic soybeans or soy powder samples from GM soy. Extracted DNA was subjected to PCR and fragment analysis by gel electrophoresis to identify the genetically-modified EPSPS gene. We also assessed the degree of carry-over observed in a PCR-based assay when using a stainless-steel probe subjected to only disassembly and thorough rinsing between samples rather than full cleaning and autoclaving. The Omni GLH 850 rotor-stator homogenizer was efficient in extracting DNA from both matrices, with resulting DNA yielding clean PCR products as observed on the gel. Use of the single-use Omni Tip disposable plastic probes resulted in no detection of the resistance gene from organic soy, as expected; however, samples processed using the stainless-steel generator probe resulted in visible PCR fragments from not only the GM soy powder but also the organic soybeans. Our results indicate that disassembly and rinsing of the probe is likely insufficient to prevent cross-contamination between samples for PCR-based assays. As resulting DNA yields were more than sufficient for multiple rounds of PCR, if needed, the Omni GLH 850 rotor-stator homogenizer combined with the single-use plastic disposable probe is the recommended combination for research assays sensitive to low-levels of analyte.

Cannabinoid quantification is a crucial process in cannabis production and testing, where the quantity of abundant cannabinoids such as THC, CBD, and others are assessed. The most common method involves milling the flower or edibles into homogenous mixtures using an organic solvent for extraction, followed by analysis via HPLC or mass spectrometry. This study evaluated the Omni Prep 96 automated homogenizer’s efficiency for cannabinoid extraction via walk-away rotor-stator technology from a spiked cannabis analog, fresh hops. Results were obtained for CBA and THC recovery rates of the spike standards and compared to recovery by manual mixing only. For research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

Hand-held rotor-stator homogenizers are laboratory staples for sample prep, allowing convenient access to analytes under investigation, such as protein and nucleic acid. They are effective solutions, but require ample due diligence when it comes to proper cleaning between every sample to prevent cross-contamination. In assays that are sensitive to even small amounts of carryover - such as PCR-based techniques - insufficient cleaning can make a difference in the resulting dataset; thus, the general recommendation is to perform a full disassembly and autoclave. We evaluated the effectiveness of standard cleaning procedures on rat liver tissue using 2 cycles of washing with no disassembly, and we found that while multiple washes did reduce carryover levels below the limit of detection for nanodrop for our study. We also reviewed the carryover with gel electrophoresis for each cycle of spin-washes, and observed bands sufficient to suspect analytes were likely sufficiently still present for sensitive PCR-based techniques, including NGS. We would defer to using disposable plastic probes, like the single-use Omni Tip™, for our next studies as it can not only significantly reduce contamination risks, but streamline workflows. For research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

The black rhinoceros, an endangered species, saw a dramatic decrease in population by more than 97% in the 20th century; however, thanks to conservation efforts, they regained their numbers back to ~ 4,880 individuals by 2010. Animal and community research efforts are an important component of conservation studies aimed at understanding reproductive physiology to further reproductive success of endangered species. We review a study by Freeman et al. focused on the analysis of reproductive hormones, progestagen and androgen, from the feces collected from these animals. The lab collected 231 fecal samples between July 2007 to November 2010, identifying specific animals through anatomical features and ear notching. The samples were processed using a battery-powered handheld rotor-stator homogenizer equipped with disposable plastic probes, making the process suitable for fieldwork. Hormone was quantified by enzyme immunoassay and subsequently correlated with factors such as season, location, climate, age, and reproductive status. The study found a linear relationship between average monthly temperature and faecal progestagen metabolite concentrations in non-pregnant females, but no such correlation was found between androgen metabolite concentrations in male black rhinos. This research contributes to the ongoing efforts to understand and conserve the black rhinoceros population.