Ultracentrifuge: The "Precision Separation Master" for Biomacromolecule Research
In the field of life science research, the ultracentrifuge is a core equipment for biomacromolecule separation and purification. With its ultra-high rotation speed (up to 100,000-150,000rpm) generating strong centrifugal force (up to 1 million g), it achieves precise operations such as protein fractionation, nucleic acid purification, and virus particle separation based on the differences in density and sedimentation coefficient of biomacromolecules. Widely used in molecular biology, immunology, virology and other research scenarios, for example, separating monoclonal antibodies in antibody drug research and development, and purifying plasmid DNA in gene editing research, it can improve the purity of target molecules in complex biological samples to more than 99%, providing high-purity samples for subsequent structural analysis and functional research.
Operating the ultracentrifuge must follow the principle of "sample protection - precise parameter matching". When separating heat-sensitive proteins, turn on the refrigeration system to control the chamber temperature at 4℃-8℃, and increase the rotation speed gradient (10,000rpm every 5 minutes) to avoid sudden temperature rise or centrifugal force mutation damaging the protein spatial structure; when purifying nucleic acid samples, use an angular rotor (higher sedimentation efficiency), set the rotation speed to 120,000rpm, and adjust the centrifugation time according to the nucleic acid molecular weight (2-3 hours for plasmid DNA, 40-60 minutes for small-molecule RNA). Samples must be loaded in special ultra-clean centrifuge tubes, and the weight deviation is controlled within 0.1g to prevent severe vibration caused by rotor imbalance.
Daily maintenance should focus on "rotor maintenance" and "system stability". After each use, clean the rotor and chamber with ultrapure water, wipe dry and apply special anti-rust oil (for metal rotors); check the rotor for cracks and corrosion marks every week, and replace it compulsorily when the number of uses reaches the rated life (usually 500-800 times); calibrate the temperature and speed sensors every month to ensure the errors are controlled within ±0.5℃ and ±100rpm respectively; replace the vacuum pump oil and sealing ring every quarter, and perform leak detection on the refrigeration system to prevent refrigerant leakage affecting the temperature control effect. When idle for a long time, take out the rotor and store it separately, and run it with no load for 30 minutes every month to maintain system activity.
Compared with conventional high-speed centrifuges, ultracentrifuges have the advantages of high separation precision, high sedimentation efficiency, and adaptability to biologically active samples, and support complex separation modes such as density gradient centrifugation. With the in-depth development of life science research into the microcosmic field, ultracentrifuges with intelligent touch control, program storage, and real-time data monitoring functions have become essential core equipment for universities, laboratories, and biopharmaceutical enterprises to carry out cutting-edge research.
