Arium lab water systems streamline neurobiology research
Researchers save time, effort, and precious samples with round-the-lab access to ultra-pure water with precise volume control
15 Oct 2024
The Arium® Smart Station has improved the speed and efficiency of media preparation for cell culture experiments
The Molecular Neurobiology Department of the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences has integrated a suite of Arium® Lab Water Systems from Sartorius into its laboratories. The new water systems have addressed the lab’s previous cumbersome liquid handling protocols and are helping to streamline research into nerve cell development and neurodegenerative diseases.
Research at the Molecular Neurobiology Department is focused on the molecular mechanisms of nerve cell development and function in vertebrate nervous systems. Using biochemical, morphological, mouse genetic, physiological, and behavioral methods, the team is working to elucidate the molecular basis of nerve cell differentiation, synapse formation, transmitter release, and postsynaptic transmitter detection.
Consistent, high-quality water is vital
The Arium® Mini water purification systems operates effortlessly using the large, touch-activated screen and user-friendly menus.
This work, as with any molecular biology research, requires access to laboratory water of very high quality and purity, as levels of RNase/DNase, endotoxins, and bacteria must be kept at a minimum to prevent any interference to samples or experiments. Ultrapure water is used for a range of purposes, from the preparation of cell culture buffers, dilution of DNA- and RNA/mRNA components, e.g. for CRISPR experiments, to ancillary tasks such as cleaning and rinsing. Due to the critical need to avoid contamination and background signals, tap water is inadequate even for washing of glass- and plasticware, and especially for instruments and parts either getting in touch directly with samples, or which are used to determine, the concentration and quality of samples like spectrometers and DNA analyzers, especially if fluorescence-based methods are applied.
The Molecular Neurobiology Department required a reliable system capable of delivering ultrapure water with the ability to adjust water concentration on demand. To meet its broad needs, a total number of six Ultrapure lab water units from Sartorius, including the Arium® Pro, the Arium® Mini, and the Arium® Smart Station, were installed throughout its many different labs. The Smart Station replaces the previous dosing pistol used in a laboratory, where a second water source from the same Arium® Pro ‘Mother System’ installed next door is needed.
Compact, intuitive, and easy to maintain systems
According to Fritz Benseler, Head of the DNA Core Facility in the Department, the implementation of these systems has significantly simplified and improved the laboratory workflows, enabling easy access to consistently high-quality water in a facility where space is at a premium.
The Arium® Mini offers a range of dispensing options including manual, volume-controlled or predefined volumes.
He especially praised the user-friendly interface of the instruments – which displays conductivity for easy monitoring and maintenance – as well as the ease of the cleaning process.
The Arium® Mini, which features Sartorius’ most advanced Bagtank technology, completely avoids the need to perform time-intensive cleaning and rinsing procedures – researchers can simply exchange the bag, preventing the buildup of a permanent biofilm.
Moreover, the system’s glove-friendly touch screen provides easy access to multiple dispensing functions, including manual, volume-controlled, or predefined volumes (favorites function), which the researchers have found to expedite repetitive tasks such as media preparation.
Ultrapure water exactly where you need it
The Arium® Smart Station offers a method combined with Arium® Pro for volume-controlled dispensing that is similar to a mechanical pipette but provides users with full control over quality and quantity parameters. The compact size of both systems and their flexible installation (wall-mounted or benchtop) have also proven invaluable for accommodating the unique layouts of the different labs in the department.
The Arium® Pro provides water quality that meets and exceeds the ASTM Type 1 standard, which Benseler notes is critical for highly sensitive experiments. To ensure reliable removal of endotoxins, microorganisms, and particles as well as DNase and RNase, the Arium® Pro can also come with a built-in ultrafilter and UV lamp, making it ideal for use in the field of life science such as cell cultivation, RNA work and other specialized laboratory applications.
Continued support minimizes unplanned downtime
As well as highly recommending the Arium® systems, Benseler commended Sartorius for its comprehensive service and maintenance support, which covers the entire life cycle of the system and includes invaluable on-site assistance. This support ensures the uninterrupted operation of the water systems, contributing to the smooth progression of the facility’s critical research.
