Beckman Coulter Life Sciences OptiMATE Gradient Maker

Beckman Coulter Life Sciences, a Danaher company, has announced the OptiMATE Gradient Maker — an instrument designed to automate the process of density gradient ultracentrifugation (DGUC). The system is claimed to accelerate purification processes by up to 75% while improving consistency and reproducibility by reducing tedious, error-prone manual steps.

Current upstream workflows can take up to three days, with time-consuming steps including stock preparation, mixing and dispensing, along with tube sealing and up to 48 h for spinning. This can be slashed to as little as 6 h, with four simple steps: method creation, connecting consumables, method running and spinning. The spin process alone shrinks from up to 48 h to less than 5 h by dispensing pre-formed linear gradients, reducing centrifuge runtimes.

Designed for research use only (RUO), the system is suitable for the purification of viral vectors such as adeno-associated virus (AAV). It simplifies the process of preparing ultracentrifuge-ready tubes, allowing researchers to achieve high-purity results with minimal manual intervention.

Its plug-and-play design makes it easy to integrate into existing lab set-ups without requiring extensive training, providing a user-friendly solution for busy research environments. Intuitive software enables operators to be trained in a matter of hours versus weeks, all in a compact and space-saving benchtop design.

The product is not intended or validated for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions.