18 ANALYTICAL AND LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
Surgery, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, USA. Afzal’s research interests include ischemic stroke and diabetic retinopathy. “Our basic area of study is
stroke, which is caused by an ischemic event in the brain. To study the effect of stroke on various cell types in the brain, we needed to culture the cells in a hypoxic environment,” says Afzal. Since at least the 1960s,
researchers have reported differential effects of culturing cells in reduced oxygen (hypoxia), and many researchers now routinely grow tumours, stem cells and embryos for in vitro fertilisation under hypoxic conditions. Afzal was also concerned about maintaining a sterile, humidified and warm environment for primary cells to be cultured long-term for the research. In an effort to find an
alternative to expensive digital isolator and containment workstations, Afzal’s team studied a variety of alternative chambers. Tey concluded that the Posi-Dome, manufactured by Banthrax, was able to produce the needed results with a chamber that was less expensive and much easier to use. “In research, it’s always nice to
have all the bells and whistles, the toys that are shiny and new,” says Afzal, referring to larger glove box chambers. “But when we got around to considering what we really needed, the Posi-Dome met all our needs. “It also fit our budget, and its compact design allowed us to fit it within our designated research area,” she adds. “We were able to obtain reliable hypoxia data and never had a problem with contamination.”
Alistair Bolt, a pharmacist
from the UK’s Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, recently travelled to Sierra Leone, Africa to play a vital role in the fight against Ebola in a trial run by Oxford University. In a trial
www.scientistlive.com
during his stay in Sierra Leone, Bolt used a lean bench-type isolator (Posi-Dome) portable and rugged enough to work in tough field conditions. “Firstly it is a brilliantly designed piece of equipment that does exactly what it is supposed to,” Bolt says. “Te size is perfect for small-scale work, the glove spacings are exactly right for reaching the entire [containment] dome comfortably. Te operating pressure is what I would expect without restricting movement. All in all, the Posi-Domes met the requirements perfectly.”
Advantages of a lean glove box Lean glove box isolators and containment systems such as the Posi-Dome offer several advantages beyond the basic ability to produce reliable research results. Bench-top model glove boxes are less complicated to install, use and maintain. Setup and training requires minutes, rather than weeks. Te units are compact and portable so they can be quickly and easily moved from
one work area to another or to distant field locations. Workstations, such as the
Posi-Dome, have a transparent, curved, monocoque dome structure and are therefore much easier to clean and maintain than units with corners, ridges and light fixtures inside. Purging systems are less automated, but simpler, more energy efficient and safer than typical high- vacuum purge units. For labs mindful of
environmental impact, lean refers to the elimination of fans, heavy vacuum pumps and chemical treatment, reducing electrical demand while these smaller lighter units also have a much smaller carbon footprint. When all the factors are
considered – the reliability, flexibility, portability, and ease of use – lean glove boxes have the potential to deliver better, cleaner and quicker experimental results compared to traditional heavy, complex glove box chambers.
For more information visit
www.banthrax.com
The Posi-Dome from Banthrax is a lean bench-type isolator that’s a modern alternative to bigger glove box systems
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