30 Launch of Benchtop HEPA-Filtered Hypoxia Workstation


Oxford Optronix have announced the formal launch of HypoxyLab™ – the industry’s fi rst benchtop, HEPA-fi ltered, precision-controlled hypoxia workstation. HypoxyLab creates optimal, contamination-free conditions for a wide variety of cell-based research fi elds, including cancer biology, radiation cell biology, cardiovascular research, apoptosis, neurology, stem cell research, multidisciplinary drug development and proteomics.


HypoxyLab is a unique, fully-featured and easy-to-use hypoxia workstation that accurately reproduces physiological conditions for cell-based research. HypoxyLab provides a highly stable, localised environment in which levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide, temperature and humidity are precisely controlled within a HEPA-fi ltered isolation work chamber.


Using the optional OxyLite™ module, HypoxyLab also uniquely offers support for direct oxygen partial pressure (pO2) measurements from cell media or tissue using fi bre-optic sensors. The ergonomically-designed benchtop workstation maintains ultra-stable climatic conditions using processor-controlled temperature and the latest nebuliser-based, humidifi er technology – delivering requisite levels of humidity whilst maintaining a Class 5 environment.


Precision concentrations of O2 and CO2 as well as chamber temperature and humidity are controlled via a colour touch-screen display and delivered using unique, electronic gas fl ow controllers and auto-calibrating, state-of-the-art sensors. The workstation displays real-time values of chamber O2 , CO2 .


Temperature and Humidity on the touch-screen and simultaneously records this information onto a USB memory stick for off-line analysis. HypoxyLab’s highly optimised working volume ensures ultra-rapid cell cycling and tissue response times, whilst precise oxygen profi ling and cycling is controlled via the intuitive graphical user interface. This allows researchers to easily create any number of bespoke oxygen profi ling patterns.


In tissue culture technology, there is a growing need for systems capable of creating precise and reproducible mammalian cell environments. However, a signifi cant proportion of cell biology research is still performed in ‘traditional incubators’, in which cells are routinely exposed to the oxygen values found in air, at least two or three times the value expected in normal tissues, leading to cellular stress, signifi cant physiological changes which infl uence differentiation, growth factor signalling and other cellular processes including post-translational metabolic pathways.


By delivering a contamination-free environment that offers precise and continuous control of O2 , CO2 , temperature and humidity, Oxford Optronix’s new HypoxyLab workstation delivers a powerful new solution to research teams looking to accurately reproduce real-life physiological conditions in cell-based research.


Commenting on the launch, Andy Obeid PhD, CEO of Oxford Optronix said: “With the growing industry-wide recognition of the need to create physiologically reproducible, low oxygen and hypoxic environments for mammalian cells in the laboratory, we were determined to create a solution for our customers that combines cost-effectiveness and a small form factor with unrivalled accuracy and precision. Our new HypoxyLab is easy to use, economic to run and delivers the industry’s fi rst benchtop, HEPA-fi ltered hypoxia workstation with applicability for every cell-based research laboratory.”


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Autoclave Sealing Parts Withstand Four Months Aggressive In-Situ Testing Autoclaves are widely used to sterilise equipment with high pressure saturated steam at


temperatures of 121°C or more. These conditions can be maintained for 15 to 20 minutes, depending upon the size of the system load and the contents. Pressurised, high temperature steam is, however, one of the most aggressive operating environments, but this is necessary to achieve the high level of operating sterility and purity within the autoclave. In between system loads, autoclaves are also subject to continuous cleaning cycles at high pressure/temperature steam conditions.


Typical autoclave applications include pharmaceuticals, microbiology, medicine, veterinary and mycology sciences, together with dentistry and general laboratories. A growing application covers the pre- disposal treatment and sterilisation of waste material, including pathogenic hospital waste to neutralise potentially infectious agents.


Because of such challenging applications, it is of paramount importance that autoclave components withstand the operating conditions. Autoclaves can contain in excess of 200 seals that need to maintain their performance in hot pressurised saturated steam, as well as also being FDA and USP Class VI compliant.


The DuPont™ Kalrez® 6230 perfl uoroelastomer


(FFKM) seals have been developed to meet such unique requirements while providing excellent sealing qualities to comply with modern pharmaceutical processes. These products are available from the UK authorised distributor Dichtomatik Ltd, and reduce extractables to trace levels while providing excellent steam cycling


resistance up to 260°C. Where in-situ tests have been conducted with saturated steam at 4 bar pressure and 140°C temperature, the Kalrez®


6230 seal parts performed well over a four month


test duration of eight hours per day and fi ve days per week. At the end of the test period, the seals exhibited little or no cracks and only minor compression set when compared to competitive perfl uoroelastomer (FFKM and FKM) materials.


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New Application Note Examines Laser Diffraction Particle Sizing in Drilling Muds


A new application note from Malvern Instruments explores the role of particle size and the importance of particle size measurement in optimising the formulation of drilling muds used in oil extraction processes.


The particle size of drilling mud components exerts a signifi cant infl uence on the performance of the fi nal drilling mud product. Rapid, reliable measurement and control of particle size is especially important when tailoring drilling mud formulations for individual


geological situations and drilling operations. This new publication focuses on the use of laser diffraction particle sizing for this application, exploring the steps involved and providing examples of typical data generated. Delivering specialist information and advice, this application note adds to Malvern’s extensive range of expert resources and is downloadable from the company website.


Malvern’s highly robust Mastersizer 3000 system is widely used in drilling mud analysis. With a dynamic range spanning 0.01 to 3500 microns and exceptional sample dispersion capabilities, the Mastersizer 3000 delivers precise, particle size measurements for both water- and oil- based muds. Its small footprint compared with previous Mastersizer models enables its use in many different environments. Powerful Mastersizer software provides automatic data quality checks that guide the user towards good measurements, particularly important in routine QC where rapid, robust measurement is essential and where the system may be used by multiple operators. The software includes support for method transfer from other particle sizing instruments, whether older Malvern systems or those from other manufacturers, and Malvern specialists will provide comprehensive applications support to limit the need for any specifi cation changes.


In a recent extension to the Mastersizer family, Malvern has added the new Mastersizer 3000E, an entry level laser diffraction particle sizing system. It has a measurement range of 0.1 to 1000 microns and is offered with semi-automated wet dispersion units. The performance of the Mastersizer 3000E can be extended over time, with add-on software packages providing users with access to automated dispersion units and the advanced analysis and method development support capabilities of the Mastersizer 3000.


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INTERNATIONAL LABMATE - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014


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