Loading ...Just as a rose by any other name smells as sweet, MicroPlex Microspheres, formerly known as xMap compatible Multi-Analyte COOH Microspheres or Carboxylated Beads, have a new name, but still deliver excellent results for researchers seeking cost-effective, quick, and focused bioassays.
Polystyrene MicroPlex Microspheres are sold by several vendors, and are essentially identical in size, concentration, and shelf life. Also known as beads, they are internally labeled with dyes and contain exposed carboxyl groups for the covalent attachment of ligands and biomolecules. As opposed to solid planar arrays, beads are used in wet chemistry, taking advantage of faster liquid reaction kinetics, requiring smaller sample sizes, and delivering faster, more reproducible results than solid, planar alternatives.
Researchers can purchase pre-prepared beads in kits sold by Luminex partners, such as Panomics (www.panomics.com), or attach their own ligands, using a variety of simple published methods. MicroPlex Microspheres are sold in 100 distinct color-coded varieties (called bead regions), each of which can be coated with a specific reagent needed for a particular assay. Researchers can test up to 40 samples in duplicate on a single 8 point standard curve using a 100 well plate. Plates can be stacked for multiplexing, saving time and labor costs.
Once coated with a ligand or biomolecule, these beads allow the capture and detection of specific analytes from a variety of samples using any Luminex xMAP instrument. Within the reader, individual beads are analyzed by two lasers (red and green) which simultaneously excite the dyes within each bead and a reporter dye captured during the assay. The system rapidly performs multiple readings of each bead, ensuring a high degree of accuracy in the results.
Here is a link for more information on purchasing MicroPlex Microspheres.
Add A Comment