Grinding Small Tissue Samples is More Efficient with the Scienceware® Liquid Nitrogen Cooled Mini Mortar and Pestle Set

29 Mar 2011

Grinding smaller amounts of frozen tissue within a 1.5ml microcentrifuge tube can reduce sample loss and collection time, and it is now possible with the Scienceware® Liquid Nitrogen Cooled Mini Mortar & Pestle Set. Unlike standard mortars that require larger tissue samples for effective processing, the Mini Mortar & Pestle Set allows you to pulverize tissue and extract DNA or RNA from tiny tissue samples within a microcentrifuge tube.

A stainless steel mortar with a welded fixture that cradles the tube is suspended above a stainless steel cavity. The cavity holds the liquid nitrogen and is nested in a heavily insulated blue polyethylene housing. The housing protects the user from liquid nitrogen exposure, although you should always wear gloves and goggles when working with liquid nitrogen. Suction cup feet keep the housing stable on the workbench.
“The contents of the tube are frozen by the liquid nitrogen that surrounds the mortar,” according to Lenny Hernandez, Product Manager for Bel-Art Products. “Liquid nitrogen never makes contact with the tubes, so it prevents them from cracking.”

The set includes a 5” long stainless steel pestle with a polyethylene handle that is used to pulverize the tissue within the tube. Hernandez goes on to say, “You just place the pestle in the mortar and allow it to cool for several minutes. Remove the pestle, insert the microcentrifuge tube containing the tissue, and apply controlled pressure with the pre-cooled pestle while turning. The tissue will be pulverized within a few turns.”

“The ability to reduce tissue sample size can benefit researchers when larger samples are unavailable or hard to acquire,” says Hernandez. “That’s what makes this product a great addition to any research and development laboratory where significant amounts of tissue samples can be scarce or collection time short.

For more information on Scienceware® Liquid Nitrogen Cooled Mini Mortar and Pestle Set, or the complete line of laboratory offerings from Bel-Art Products, please visit the company article page

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