New Device Concentrates Protein from Single Drop

Millipore Corporation today introduced the new Amicon Ultra-0.5 mL filter, the newest in the Amicon Ultra line of centrifugal filters for protein concentration and buffer exchange.

Offering 25- to 30-fold concentration with 90% recovery rates in as little as ten minutes of centrifugation, the Amicon Ultra-0.5 mL device provides the highest recovery with the fastest spin times in its product class. The device is currently available with either 3,000 or 10,000 molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) ultrafiltration membrane. Additional cut-offs will be introduced in the coming months.

Quality sample concentration is a critical step in protein biochemistry. Not only is sample concentration often the final step of a lengthy purification process, but it is also the step that determines the success and reproducibility of downstream analyses. “The high level of sensitivity in quantitative analysis of proteins means that researchers often expect to run hundreds of assays with one concentrated sample,” explained Sandrine Mercier, Product Manager at Millipore.

Structural biologists, for example, are highly dependent on quality sample concentration. “In our protein crystallography experiments, we routinely require extremely concentrated samples, up to 20 mg/mL. This has been made possible by the high recovery we achieve with Amicon Ultra filters,” said Stephen T. Miller, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry at Swarthmore College.

Decades of experience in filtration enabled Millipore engineers to develop the new filter’s innovative design. The Amicon Ultra-0.5 mL filter combines a vertical membrane orientation with a unique reverse spin capability, enabling both fast concentration and high yields. Further, an engineered dead stop prevents spinning samples to dryness, which can denature labile proteins.

The Amicon Ultra-0.5 mL filter complements the Amicon Ultra-4 mL and Amicon Ultra-15 mL filters, both of which have become standard tools for sample preparation via frequent citations in peer-reviewed literature.

Details on filter performance and guide to membrane choice are available by following the company article webapge link on the right hand side of the screen.