How to set up Sitting Drop and Microbatch-Under-Oil experiments
at the same time.

Set up two screening methods and up to 4 drop ratios at the press of a button with the Combined MB-VD script.

The multi parameter experiment allows drop ratios to be varied and additives (e.g. seed stock) to be added.

Video of Combined MB-VD script
Video of Microbatch-Under-Oil 2D gradient optimization

        -  20uL of protein required for both methods (2x 96x 100+100 nL drops)
        -  Set up both plates at the same time in under 24 minutes
        -  Automatic oil dispensing onto aqueous drop. This give much more consistent drop size, shape and mixing
        -  Add seeds or a third ingredient to drop

Advantages of the microbatch under oil technique include:

        -  Microbatch can prevent skin forming on the drop surface.
        -  Microbatch conditions are easier to scale up.
        -  The rate of evaporation can be controlled by oil. (Paraffin gives slow evaporation, silicone gives rapid evaporation, mixtures give intermediate rates.) For optimization under oil pure paraffin oil can be used, which reduces evaporation to a minimum

Douglas Instruments Vapour Batch plates are available in Hydrophillic or Hydrophobic material. Hydrophillic are often the best option for screening. Hydrophobic are more suited to optimization experiments and low surface tension precipitants. See image below showing the difference in drop shape.

To request a quote or demonstration please contact Hilary@douglas.co.uk.

For any technical or product support questions please contact Stefan@douglas.co.uk

For anything else please contact Info@douglas.co.uk

Douglas Instruments will be at the following meetings:

Visit our booth and pick up a microseeding toolkit containing everything you need to do a MMS Microseeding experiment . The kit includes:
     -  Hampton Research Seed Bead
     -  Hampton Research Crystal Crusher
     -  Instructions and advice for making a seed stock, and setting up an MMS experiment.
     -  References to papers about MMS microseeding and 'cross-seeding'.

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