Microanalytical ultracentrifuge

Abstract

An ultracentrifuge based on the air turbine of a dental drill attains 400,000–600,000 rpm and a centrifugal force 2 to 3 million ×g. It is used for the examination of cell suspentions and homogenates and can be applied to macromolecular solutions. Microcuvettes with volumes ranging from less than 1 mm3 to 0.001 mm3 (suitable for single cells) are of disk and square capillary form and are made of polycarbonate or glass. A special microscope is used to obtain a stopped image of the rotating cuvette. A new method to preserve the centrifugal state of the contents is tested: deep freezing of a rotating cuvette for subsequent freeze-drying and microscopical examination. Experiments on cells include centrifugal intercellular movement of nuclei and cytoplasmic particles, cell fusion, and homogenization.

Centrifugal cell hybridization

“…The micro-ultracentrifuge (Moroz, 1980) which is a modified dental air turbine with capillary or round rotors with radius I to 5 mm, provides centrifugal force up to 2 • 106 g. This ultracentrifuge is not manufactured industrially.…”

“…A tentative technique of centrifugal hybridization based partly on initial experiments (Moroz, 1980) can be seen as follows. Suspension of two different types of cells are mixed well, so that potential donor cells considerably outnumber recipient cells, and surround and insulate them from each other.…”

“…Instrumentation for the centrifugal genetic engineering A microanlytical ultracentrifuge (Moroz, 1980) provided the highest forces ever used for practical purposes--up to 2.5 X 106 g. With such forces the sample is as small as 1 mm 3. But this means hundreds or thousands of cells, which is sufficient for nearly mass experimentation.…”

“…Microscopical observation of the sample of cells during rotation (centrifugal microscopy; Moroz, 1980). 2.…”