Akadeum’s streptavidin microbubbles are high-buoyancy particles for use in targeting, capturing, and sorting cells, bacteria, viruses, or molecular analytes from common samples in the life sciences. Microbubbles come shipped ready for conjugation to biotinylated antibodies or other biomolecules.
Streptavidin microbubbles are compatible with any biotinylated target
Enables fast, easy, and effective separation that is exceptionally gentle on analytes of interest
Does not require the use of magnets or columns to create flexible, customized solutions
Akadeum’s Streptavidin Microbubbles are useful for binding and separating biotinylated target molecules such as antibodies, proteins, and DNA. These microbubbles are compatible with any biotinylated target, allowing for the development of unique, highly-specific, and customized applications.
Mechanism of Action:Akadeum’s Streptavidin Microbubbles are high-buoyancy microspheres coated in streptavidin. These microbubbles leverage the biotin-streptavidin binding complex and can be used for binding biotinylated target molecules like antibodies, proteins, DNA, and more. They permit the capture and sorting of a diverse range of targets such as cells, bacteria, viruses, or other molecular analytes allowing for highly-specific and customized applications.
How it Works: Akadeum’s Streptavidin Microbubbles are gently mixed into the sample where they bind to the biotinylated targets. Using their inherent buoyancy, the microbubbles quickly and gently float the biotinylated analytes to the surface for collection or removal.
Separation Buffer (Ca2+ and Mg2+ free PBS containing 2 mM EDTA, 0.5% biotin-free BSA)
5 mL Eppendorf Tubes
For best results, the following supplies are recommended:
Low retention 1,000 uL pipet tips
Centrifuge with swinging bucket rotor
Vacuum aspirator
Key Features
Buoyancy-activated cell sorting (BACS™) from Akadeum offers a novel way to target and remove analyte(s) of interest using science so simple, it floats! Our microbubbles combine the biotin-streptavidin binding complex with the power of gravity in a workflow that’s fast, easy, and effective while being gentle on analytes of interest. Our Streptavidin microbubbles are fast and easy to use while keeping delicate analytes of interest happy and healthy. The entire process can be done directly in your sample vial without the need for additional equipment or expensive consumables. Simply mix the microbubbles into your sample, where they will bind to the biotin-labeled targets, floating them to the top of the container for removal.
Elevated Solutions for Sample Preparation:
Using our fast & easy microbubble workflow
Effective removal of proteins, cells, and more
Can be used with any biotinylated target
No magnets, no columns, no additional equipment
Elegant in Simplicity, Powerful in Application
Akadeum’s microbubble technology harnesses the power of buoyancy in a fast, easy and gentle workflow without the need for additional equipment. This unique, gentle approach maintains cell health and physiology.
No Magnet. No Column. Happy Cells.
We’ve taken technology that traditionally requires additional equipment to accomplish targeted cell separation and put it into a single container where it’s self-separating. No harmful shear forces, no exposure to external forces like magnetic gradients. Stop losing your precious cells to harsh, outdated processing techniques.
Experience the benefits of a microbubble workflow. Akadeum’s Microbubbles Are:
Magnet-free, protecting your cells from harsh magnetic forces and eliminating the need for additional (and expensive!) equipment
Column-free, using microbubbles directly in the sample vial to separate cells allows for quick and easy isolation of any sample, any volume, anywhere
Gentle on cells, harnessing the targeted efficiency of affinity molecules coupled with the power of buoyancy to gently separate via flotation
Reliable and consistent, delivering fast and easy results that can be scaled for larger volumes with workflows that are compatible with nearly any downstream processing
Looking for Answers?
At Akadeum Life Sciences, our team is committed to your success. We thrive on problem-solving and are dedicated to helping the researchers we work with see exceptional results. If you’re interested in leveraging the microbubble platform to overcome existing hurdles in your sample preparation processes, we want to hear from you! You can speak directly to our team of scientists who are available to help you with an optimized workflow that takes advantage of our microbubble technology and solves long-standing headaches in sample preparation. Schedule a call today, we’d love to start a conversation!
Data
Streamlined Workflow brings Microbubbles to Custom Applications
To address longstanding problems in cell separation, Akadeum Life Sciences has developed a novel Buoyancy Activated Cell Sorting (BACS™) microbubble platform for selectively capturing cell populations from biological samples in a rapid and gentle way. When the low-density BACS microbubbles are mixed into a sample, they quickly engage their targets and naturally float them to the surface where they can easily be removed. Relying solely on the power of gravity to drive the separation eliminates the need for expensive equipment and consumables. Furthermore, it means that Akadeum’s microbubble platform is free from harsh chemicals, strong shear forces, and exposure to external forces like rare earth magnets. This straightforward approach is elegant in simplicity and powerful in application, offering some of the fastest and most gentle isolations available.
Interested in learning more? Download our app note today:
Akadeum has a deep understanding of the diverse and complex needs created by life science workflows, and the Streptavidin Microbubbles in particular are notable for their flexibility and versatility in allowing researchers to leverage the power of the microbubble technology in a highly specific and application-focused way. These microbubbles leverage the biotin-streptavidin binding complex combined with the power of gravity in a streamlined workflow that is fast and easy to use, while keeping delicate analytes of interest happy and healthy. This allows for the use of any biotinylated affinity molecule specific to the research need, combined with the single-vial, floatation-based separation offered by microbubbles.
Microbubble Workflow: A. Akadeum Microbubbles (blue spheres) are mixed with sample containing target cells (brown) and non-target cells (teal). B. Microbubbles capture target cells by streptavidin-biotin interaction. C. Microbubbles float to the top of the sample while non-targeted cells are pelleted at the bottom of the tube.
Increasingly sensitive cell and molecular biology techniques have created the need for more flexible and specific cell isolation options. In response to this growing need, Akadeum Life Sciences has developed a quick and effective isolation platform with seemingly limitless versatility. Akadeum’s Streptavidin Microbubbles offer the flexibility to create a customized cell isolation workflow to suit specialized research and development requirements. With Akadeum’s breakthrough Buoyancy Activated Cell sorting (BACS™) technology, a cell population of interest can be rapidly enriched even from complex samples.
1. Can I do back-to-back isolation to improve purity?
Yes. This can be specifically helpful when using the Dead Cell Removal Microbubble Kit or the Human Red Blood Cell Depletion Microbubbles.
2. Which cell types can be processed using Akadeum’s Dead Cell Removal Microbubble Kit?
Akadeum’s Dead Cell Removal Microbubble Kit utilizes Annexin V-coated microbubbles to selectively bind phosphatidylserine, a marker exposed on the surface of cells undergoing apoptosis. This technology enables efficient removal of apoptotic cells across various cell types where apoptosis is actively occurring.
3. Can the Dead Cell Removal Microbubble Kit be used if the sample is under 35% viability?
Although the initial cell viability is below the recommended threshold, successful outcomes have been achieved by performing the protocol twice on such samples.
General Questions
Are Akadeum microbubbles hollow silica spheres?
Yes, Akadeum’s microbubbles are hollow silica spheres. Silica is a material that has extensive precedence for use in therapeutics and diagnostics.
Are antibodies directly attached to the microbubbles?
Only specific kits, such as our Dead Cell Removal (DCR) and RBC microbubble kits, use antibody-coated microbubbles. Most Akadeum microbubble products are not coated with antibodies; instead, a biotinylated antibody cocktail is provided to use with the streptavidin-coated microbubbles.
What is buoyancy-activated cell sorting (BACS)?
BACS is Akadeum’s proprietary cell separation technology that uses buoyant microbubbles to isolate specific cell populations utilizing only the power of gravity.
What are microbubbles?
Akadeum’s microbubbles are hollow silica spheres that are on average 12 microns.
How big are microbubbles?
Microbubbles average 12 um in diameter. Learn more about microbubbles technology.
How many cells can a microbubble lift?
Microbubbles can carry as many as four cells.
What is the Separation Buffer?
Ca2+, Mg2+ free Dulbecco’s PBS containing 2mM EDTA, and 0.5% bovine serum albumin (BSA). BSA must be biotin free to not interfere with kit performance.
After sitting in the refrigerator, all the microbubbles have separated out of solution. Is there something wrong?
No, this is normal due to the buoyant properties of microbubbles. The solution will need to be mixed well before every use. If processing multiple tubes, mixing between tubes is necessary.
I don’t have an aspirator/vacuum available in my lab, can I still use Akadeum microbubbles?
Aspiration is the best and easiest way to remove the microbubble layer after centrifugation. Pipetting off the bubble layer is not very effective. Vacuum pumps are available from a variety of vendors.
How are Akadeum’s kits shipped?
Kits are shipped on ice packs with overnight delivery.
I have additional technical questions, who should I contact?
Please email all technical questions to techsupport@akadeum.com or check out our chatbot!
