Airfuge Rotors
Common Applications of Airfuge Rotors:
- Microsomal fractionation
- Plasma membrane isolation
- Lipoprotein separations
- Concentration of subcellular particles
Airfuge rotors are designed for the rapid separation and pelleting of small biological particles in microliter-scale sample volumes. Using high centrifugal forces generated within the Airfuge system, these rotors enable researchers to isolate and concentrate proteins, viruses, membrane fractions, lipoproteins, and other subcellular particles without requiring a conventional ultracentrifuge.
Because Airfuge rotors are optimized for small-volume processing, they are frequently used in research workflows where rapid results, minimal sample consumption, and efficient particle recovery are important. Airfuge technology can generate centrifugal forces to pellet subcellular components or isolate microsomal fractions and plasma membranes. Additionally, Airfuge rotors can be used to clarify small volumes of lipemic serum by flotation of chylomicrons.
Beckman Coulter Life Sciences offers several Airfuge rotor configurations to support different separation objectives, allowing researchers to select the rotor geometry best suited to their sample type and workflow requirements.
FAQ on Airfuge Rotors
What is the difference between an Airfuge rotor and a conventional ultracentrifuge rotor?
Conventional ultracentrifuge rotors are generally designed for larger sample capacities and dedicated ultracentrifuge platforms. Airfuge rotors are optimized for rapid processing of small sample volumes while still providing the high centrifugal forces required for particle recovery and fractionation.
Can Airfuge rotors be used for virus isolation?
Yes. Airfuge rotors are commonly used for the concentration and isolation of viruses and other small biological particles from research samples, particularly when working with limited sample volumes.
What is an Airfuge rotor?
An Airfuge rotor is a rotor designed for use with Airfuge centrifuge systems, enabling rapid separation and pelleting of small biological particles from microliter-scale sample volumes. These rotors are commonly used when high centrifugal force and fast processing times are required.
What applications are Airfuge rotors commonly used for?
Airfuge rotors are commonly used for microsomal fractionation, plasma membrane preparation, lipoprotein separation, and other small-volume ultracentrifugation workflows.
How does an Airfuge centrifuge work?
An Airfuge centrifuge uses compressed air to drive the rotor at very high speeds, generating centrifugal forces capable of separating and concentrating small particles from biological samples. This design enables rapid processing without the need for a traditional ultracentrifuge system.
Why use an Airfuge centrifuge for small-volume samples?
Airfuge systems are designed to process microliter-scale samples efficiently while conserving valuable material. Their ability to generate high centrifugal forces in a compact format makes them useful for rapid particle separation and concentration workflows.
What types of particles can be separated with Airfuge rotors?
Airfuge rotors can be used to isolate proteins, viruses, lipoproteins, membrane fractions, microsomes and other small biological particles that require high centrifugal force for efficient separation.
