Equipment & Details
Name- Preparative Ultracentrifuge
Manufacturer- Beckman Coulter
Model- Optima XPN-100.
Sample Details
- Suitable for a wide range of biological and biochemical samples including:
- Proteins and protein complexes
- Exosomes and extracellular vesicles
- Viruses and nanoparticles
- Nucleic acids and ribonucleoprotein complexes
- Cellular organelles and subcellular fraction
Utility and Working Principle
The ultracentrifuge is a high-speed centrifugation system widely used for the separation, concentration, and purification of biological macromolecules, organelles, membrane fractions, nanoparticles, and other subcellular components based on their sedimentation behavior under extremely high centrifugal force. The technique enables efficient fractionation of samples according to their size, shape, and density, making it an essential tool in modern biological and biomedical research.
Ultracentrifugation is extensively used in cell biology, molecular biology, microbiology, biochemistry, and nanoscience research. It plays a critical role in the isolation of lipid droplets, extracellular vesicles, exosomes, viruses, ribosomes, nucleic acids, membrane fractions, and protein complexes. Density gradient ultracentrifugation using sucrose, iodixanol, or cesium chloride gradients allows precise purification of biomolecular assemblies and organelles with high reproducibility.
The instrument operates by spinning samples at very high rotational speeds, generating centrifugal forces that can exceed several hundred thousand × g. Under these conditions, particles sediment at rates dependent on their mass, density, and hydrodynamic properties. Larger and denser particles sediment faster than smaller or lighter particles, enabling efficient separation of complex biological mixtures.
Ultracentrifugation is also a valuable technique for studying macromolecular interactions, aggregation behaviour, and nanoparticle characterization. It supports applications involving protein purification, virus concentration, extracellular vesicle isolation, membrane trafficking studies, and biomolecular complex analysis.
Detection and System Features
- High-speed and high-capacity ultracentrifugation system
- Temperature-controlled operation for maintaining sample stability
- Compatible with fixed-angle and swinging-bucket rotors
- Precise speed and run-time control for reproducible separations
- Supports density gradient and differential centrifugation workflows
Sample Compatibility
Suitable for a wide range of biological and biochemical samples including:
- Proteins and protein complexes
- Exosomes and extracellular vesicles
- Viruses and nanoparticles
- Nucleic acids and ribonucleoprotein complexes
- Cellular organelles and subcellular fractions
Specifications:
|
Description |
Specifications |
|
Maximum Speed |
100,000 rpm |
|
Maximum Relative Centrifugal Force (RCF) |
802,000 × g |
|
Speed Control |
±2 rpm at steady state (1,000 rpm to rated speed) |
|
Speed Display |
Actual measured rotor speed in 10-rpm increments below 1,000 rpm and 100-rpm increments above 1,000 rpm |
|
Acceleration Profiles |
10 acceleration profiles |
|
Deceleration Profiles |
11 deceleration profiles including coast |
|
Braking System |
Regenerative braking with power reclamation |
|
Time Setting |
Up to 999 hours 59 minutes including HOLD runs |
|
Run Modes |
Time, ω²t, and RCF modes |
|
Time Display |
Displays remaining time in timed runs, elapsed time in HOLD runs, and estimated time remaining in ω²t runs |
|
Temperature Range |
0 to 40°C in 1°C increments |
|
Temperature Control |
±0.5°C of set temperature after equilibration |
|
Ambient Operating Range |
10 to 35°C |
|
Cooling System |
Thermoelectric refrigeration system; air-cooled drive technology |
|
Rotor Compatibility |
Compatible with Beckman Coulter preparative ultracentrifuge rotors |
|
Display System |
Full-color LCD touchscreen interface |
|
User Programs |
Up to 1,000 user-defined programs with multi-step operation |
|
Data Connectivity |
USB ports and RJ-45 network connectivity |
|
Power Requirement |
200–240 VAC, 50/60 Hz |
|
Dimensions (W × D × H) |
94 × 68.1 × 125.7 cm |
|
Weight |
485 kg |