MatriCal, Inc. introduces a high throughput sonication system for compound dissolution.

The SonicMan provides a platform to resuspend compounds stored as solutes dissolved in Dimethylsulfoxide and stored from 4oC to --80oC in 96, 384, and 1536 microplates.

(PRWEB) June 28, 2004 -- MatriCal, Inc., a privately held provider of drug discovery and life science research solutions based in Spokane, WA introduces the SonicMan high throughput sonication system for dissolution of compounds. The SonicMan provides a platform to resuspend compounds stored as solutes dissolved in Dimethylsulfoxide and stored from 4oC to --80oC in 96, 384, and 1536 microplates.

Applications include:

• Resuspend compounds initially or after freeze/thaw

• Shear genomic data into small fragments for PCR amplification

• Extract target proteins, RNA/DNA, and enzymes using cell lysis and membrane disruption without using harsh chemicals, including detergents

• Mix low volume assays

Sonication of biological and chemical samples has been used for many years to disrupt cells, shear proteins and DNA, and to dissolve small organic molecules. According to Chris Lipinski, Ph.D. Pfizer Global R&D in Groton Connecticut, up to 40 % of compounds stored in Compound Management Systems throughout Pharmaceutical and Biotech companies are precipitated upon freeze thaw. There has been no high throughput method available to ensure these compounds are in solution -- heating is not allowed due to fear of compound decomposition and shaking does not work due to high surface tension in the plate well.

The SonicMan demonstrates how a massively parallel sonication system designed to work in 96/384/1536 formats can be used to drive compounds back into solution," explains Kevin Oldenburg, PhD, President of MatriCal. This technology relies on a pinned lid that is placed on a microplate (96, 384, or 1536 well). The pins insert through the lid and into the liquid contained within the plate. A sonic horn is brought into contact with the lid and the sonic energy is transferred into the sample. As scientists are highly conscious of cross contamination, the lid has been developed as a disposable part. The pinned lid is designed to ensure sample integrity with no well-to-well cross contamination.

Other products from MatriCal include MatriPlates: microwell plates for high throughput screening, assay development, and diagnostic testing; MatriPress: a compression stacker and freezer rack equipped with MatriSeal lids, a novel gasketed lid technology that simplifies storage of small libraries of compounds; and the MatriStore: an automated compound management system which is environmentally controlled and stores up to 60 million samples. To learn more about MatriCal, visit our website or contact us at:

MatriCal, Inc.

665 N. Riverpoint Blvd.

Spokane, WA 99202

Phone: 509.343.6225

Fax: 509.343.6220

www.matrical.com