FEATURE HYDRAULICS & PNEUMATICS
PERISTALTIC PUMPS: POWERING
INNOVATION IN LIFE SCIENCES SOLUTIONS
Vivaflow SU, a tangential flow filtration (TFF) cassette from Sartorius, uses a
Watson-Marlow 323 peristaltic pump to concentrate and rebuffer samples in research laboratories. Here we find out why
M
ajor life sciences group Sartorius has recently released Vivaflow SU, a tangential flow filtration (TFF) cassette.
Vivaflow SU is designed to ensure enhanced ease of use and flexibility, so the company needed to specify a pump that offered similar qualities. Critical to the performance of the Vivaflow
SU cassette is a laboratory pump capable of delivering a consistent flow rate during ultrafiltration and diafiltration. To ensure Vivaflow SU runs within an optimal
feed flow rate range, the TFF cassette therefore uses the precise flow control of a Watson-Marlow 323 peristaltic pump. This pump also creates a fluid path that is quick to set up and importantly eliminates the risk of carryover. Since Vivaflow SU is increasingly used to process shear-sensitive targets, such as lentiviral vectors (LV), the gentle pump action of the Watson-Marlow 323 is also vital. Peristaltic pump technology has proven to be particularly suitable, removing the risk of sample contamination during the TFF process as only the tubing is in contact with the process fluid, the company explains.
323 PUMP Vivaflow SU utilises the Watson-Marlow 323 pump for ultrafiltration and diafiltration applications including cell culture and process fluid clarification, protein, nucleic acid and virus concentration, and nanoparticle separation and enrichment. The peristaltic pump is, however, suitable for other separation processes – including ion exchange or affinity purification with Sartobind Lab chromatography units, microfiltration with pressure filter holders, as well as general dispensing and filling applications. Dr. John Cashman, product manager for Lab Ultrafiltration at Sartorius, commented: “Both Watson-Marlow peristaltic pumps and Vivaflow share the same principles in terms of their ease of use. Vivaflow is a plug-and-play cassette that offers an intuitive setup and rapid sample concentration and buffer
48 DESIGN SOLUTIONS JUNE 2025
exchange. Similarly, the Watson-Marlow pump is quick and easy to set up, with markings that guide the user to effortlessly define the tubing dimensions for reliable retention, and a user interface that simplifies control of the flow rate and direction. “Carryover is a challenge in research labs – especially those that are handling a wide variety of sample types. However, increasingly stringent health and safety requirements and the additional time that is needed are making cleaning processes less favourable. Therefore, solutions like Vivaflow SU, run by a pump where the sample is confined to a single-use
efficiency in the TFF steps of these workflows. Sartorius previously used analogue pumps
from a different pump company. However, by switching to digital drive, users now have a clear view of when the feed flow rate is within the recommended range, especially given that 1rpm corresponds to 1mL/min with most Vivaflow cassette configurations. Of further benefit, Watson-Marlow 323 pumps have a membrane keypad that controls the pump, and a digital LCD to display speed. “As more labs need to concentrate and
“The Watson-Marlow pump is quick and easy to set up, with markings that guide the user to effortlessly define the tubing dimensions for reliable retention, and a user interface that simplifies control of the flow rate and direction”
flow path, eliminate the risk of carryover while reducing effort and increasing laboratory safety. The pumps are also easy to keep clean, with a wipeable housing.”
INNOVATION Vivaflow SU simplifies TFF for research scientists who need a fast and reliable solution for concentrating and rebuffering large feed volumes in their macromolecule isolation workflows, while reducing contamination risk and minimising waste. Efficient and standardised workflows help to ensure consistent results while allowing time and effort to be focused towards tackling the more complicated aspects of scientific research that are faced in the assays and analyses downstream of TFF. The tool-free pumphead mounting and intuitive tubing loading with the Watson-Marlow 323 contribute to improving
rebuffer larger feed volumes, they need a solution that can achieve these processes without expensive equipment, high running costs and complicated setup and process optimisation,” Cashman added. “Vivaflow uses standard Watson-Marlow pumps to make lab-scale TFF processes more cost-effective and as intuitive as possible for a truly effortless transition from spin filters to TFF. High performance for most samples can be achieved without the need for additional training or complicated process optimisation. “As Sartorius continues to innovate in lab
separation technologies, from basic filtration to membrane chromatography, new features we have gained with the Watson-Marlow 323, such as remote start/stop and instantly reversible flow direction, will support an increasing range of applications for this pump.”
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