46 Smarter protection: New Class II biological safety cabinet


Thermo Fisher Scientifi c has introduced a new Class II, Type A2 biological safety cabinet designed to deliver enhanced protection, user comfort, and workfl ow effi ciency across high- demand laboratory environments. The Thermo Scientifi c™ 1500 Series cabinet responds to the evolving needs of researchers in pharma, biotech, academia, and clinical labs, building on the strengths of its predecessor with a completely refreshed design and smarter safety controls.


Central to the system is Thermo Fisher’s SmartFlow™ Plus technology, which provides continuous, real-time adjustment of both infl ow and downfl ow air. Working alongside the Digital Airfl ow Verifi cation (DAVe™ Plus) system, the cabinet offers constant monitoring and immediate alerts if airfl ow conditions deviate from safe ranges - ensuring reliable containment of biological agents and protection for users.


Safety is further enhanced by a dual-blower design, separating downfl ow and exhaust functions to improve airfl ow precision and reduce turbulence. Negative pressure zones between internal and external walls add an extra layer of containment, while the SmartPort feature allows tubing and cables to be routed safely without compromising the cabinet’s sealed environment.


Ease of use is another priority. The 1500 Series incorporates a 7-inch touchscreen interface that streamlines operations and provides real-time status updates. Thermo Fisher’s SmartClean front window simplifi es cleaning access, and intuitive tactile mechanisms improve day-to-day usability. Bright, energy-saving LED lights ensure optimal visibility without adding heat or raising energy costs.


The 1500 Series BSC represents Thermo Fisher Scientifi c’s commitment to advancing laboratory safety through user-informed innovation. It’s designed to meet NSF/ANSI 49 standards while supporting a wide range of workfl ows, including cell culture, molecular biology, biobanking, and vaccine research.


More information online: ilmt.co/PL/bwQ0 64680pr@reply-direct.com Demonstration video shows automated peptide synthesis in action


A new demonstration video from Vapourtec showcases how its patented Variable Bed Flow Reactor (VBFR) is transforming solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) - offering fully automated workfl ows, sharper process control, and higher purity crude peptides.


The video walks viewers through an SPPS cycle, starting with the swelling of Tentagel S resin in DMF and continuing through Fmoc deprotection using 20% piperidine in DMF. A visible decrease in resin volume, tracked in real time by the reactor’s volume graph and a UV signal at 365 nm, marks this deprotection step with a clear Fmoc peak.


Next, activated amino acids are added, triggering resin expansion. Viewers can observe this as a darker orange reagent slug fl ows through the reactor. Unlike traditional systems that rely on recirculation, the VBFR delivers reagents in a single pass - a key innovation that reduces side reactions and improves product purity.


With automated cycles of Fmoc deprotection and amino acid coupling, the VBFR allows precise control of resin bed conditions, eliminating problems like channelling or dilution. The system also responds dynamically to peptide sequence challenges: during synthesis of the GLP-1 sequence, aggregation during the F and E residue coupling steps is detected and controlled by elevating the reaction temperature, reducing the severity of aggregation compared to batch or ambient methods.


“The intuitive software interface gives researchers live feedback on UV absorbance and resin volume, so they can stay focused on results rather than constant monitoring,” explained Vapourtec Research Scientist Victoire Laude.


More information online: ilmt.co/PL/37K1 and ilmt.co/PL/2qMy 64667pr@reply-direct.com


Rapid membrane protein synthesis accelerates drug discovery


Nuclera has enhanced its eProtein Discovery™ system with a dedicated membrane protein production workflow, enabling researchers to express and purify functional membrane proteins in just 48 hours. This advancement opens the door to faster discovery of drug targets and improved structural biology pipelines by tackling one of the most complex areas of protein science.


Membrane proteins are critical to cellular function and represent targets for over 60% of FDA-approved drugs. Yet their production remains notoriously difficult due to their hydrophobic nature and structural complexity. Nuclera’s expanded eProtein Discovery capabilities address this bottleneck by integrating cell-free expression, digital microfluidics, and tailored additive screening to produce soluble, correctly folded membrane proteins ready for downstream applications such as cryo-EM.


To demonstrate this capability, Nuclera synthesised two well-characterised membrane proteins: the transporter MsbA and the integral membrane protein ZMPSTE24. Within 24 hours, the platform screened multiple conditions using nanodiscs, detergents, and lipid additives to identify optimal solubility and stability conditions. Both proteins were then scaled up to functional quantities within 48 hours, with high yield and quality suitable for structural and functional analyses.


Dr Toby Ost, SVP of Product Development at Nuclera, commented: “Membrane proteins have traditionally been difficult to work with, often yielding misfolded or inactive products. With this update, eProtein Discovery empowers researchers to overcome those barriers and accelerate their experimental timelines.”


Dr Konstantinos Beis, Reader in Membrane Protein Structural Biology at Imperial College London, added: “We evaluated membrane proteins produced with the eProtein Discovery system through Imperial Consultants. The results look promising - this could be a valuable tool for the community.”


The membrane protein workflow is available immediately to all current eProtein Discovery users via a software update.


More information online: ilmt.co/PL/EDqw 64856pr@reply-direct.com


Biocompatible valve technology for precision lab systems


Biotech Fluidics has developed a range of compact rotary valves designed to simplify liquid handling in life science instrumentation. Engineered with advanced polymeric sealing surfaces, these valves are fully biocompatible - making them ideal for use in analytical, diagnostic, and preparative systems where sample integrity is critical.


Replacing traditional banks of solenoid valves, a single Biotech Fluidics rotary valve can manage up to 24 channels, helping instrument manufacturers reduce both hardware complexity and costs. The design also minimises swept volume and effectively eliminates reagent carryover, supporting precise fl uid control even in demanding applications.


These valves offer further advantages for laboratories working with magnetic bead separation, segmented fl ow techniques, or systems sensitive to pulsatile fl uid motion. Their compatibility with air gaps and smooth fl ow profi les enhances performance in both automated and manual workfl ows.


Designed for versatility, Biotech Fluidics valves are available in a wide range of standard and custom confi gurations and can operate under pressures ranging from vacuum to 2.76 bar. Each unit is subjected to rigorous durability testing to ensure consistent, long-term performance.


Digital control options include RS232, I2C, or UART interfaces, all supported by smart closed-loop logic that allows real-time tracking of valve position - an essential feature for high-precision instruments.


For specialised applications, Biotech Fluidics offers collaborative design services. Using advanced CAD tools and computational fl uid dynamics (CFD) modelling, the team develops optimised valving systems tailored to unique instrument needs - always with a focus on minimising reagent use and maximising component lifespan.


With robust internal gearing and a focus on reliability, these biocompatible valves are built to deliver maintenance-free operation across years of daily use. More information online: ilmt.co/PL/ewvp


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INTERNATIONAL LABMATE - SEPTEMBER 2025


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