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Expertise | Sonication
Sonication
Sonication is ideal for DNA and Chromatin Shearing as well as for cell and tissue disruption. With hundreds of publications featuring its sonication capabilities, the Bioruptor® has acquired an unmatched reputation in the scientific community.
Optimizing DNA Shearing for Next Generation Sequencing Library Preparation with the Bioruptor®!
Major benefits of the Bioruptor®
- Reproducibility
- Time-saving
- Automated and High Throughput
- No foaming
- No risk of contamination between samples
- Wide range of sample size (10 μl - 20 ml)
- Validated for ChIP, MeDIP, MBD & Shotgun libraries (sequencing)

Diagenode’s Bioruptor® sonication device:
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| STANDARD | PLUS | TWIN | XL | NGS | |||||
| Bioruptor® (UCD-200) |
Bioruptor® Plus (UCD-300) | Bioruptor® Twin (UCD-400) | Bioruptor® XL (UCD-500) | Bioruptor® NGS (UCD-600) | |||||
| Chromatin Shearing DNA Shearing Cell Lysis |
Chromatin Shearing DNA Shearing Cell Lysis |
Chromatin Shearing DNA Shearing Cell Lysis |
Cell Lysis DNA Shearing |
DNA Shearing (e.g. NGS library preparation) RNA Shearing |
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| Standard, basic model with reliable performance across applications | Upgrade of UCD-200 with improved displays and controls for greater timing accuracy and temperature control | Provides high-throughput ability and processes up to 24 samples simultaneously | Provides high-throughput ability and processes up to 48 samples simultaneously | Provides high-throughput ability and processes up to 12 samples simultaneously. Water cooler system included. | |||||
Tube size |
# of tubes processed |
Tube size |
# of tubes processed |
Tube size |
# of tubes processed |
Tube size |
# of tubes processed |
Tube size |
# of tubes processed |
0.5 ml 1.5 ml 10 ml 15 ml 50 ml |
12 6 6 6 3 |
0.5 ml 1.5 ml 10 ml 15 ml 50 ml |
12 6 6 6 3 |
0.5 ml 1.5 ml 10 ml 15 ml 50 ml |
24 12 12 12 6 |
0.5 ml 1.5 ml 10 ml 15 ml 50 ml |
48 24 24 24 6 |
0.65 |
12 |
Analog timer |
Digital timer & controls |
Digital timer & controls |
Digital timer & controls |
Digital timer & controls |
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Metal soundproof box |
Metal soundproof box |
Metal soundproof box |
Metal soundproof box |
Metal soundproof box |
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| Control system for regulated water flow between Bioruptor® and Bioruptor® Water Cooler (BioAcc-cool). Includes overheat shutdown protection. | Control system for regulated water flow between Bioruptor® and Bioruptor® Water Cooler (BioAcc-cool). Includes overheat shutdown protection. | Control system for regulated water flow between Bioruptor® and Bioruptor® Water Cooler (BioAcc-cool). | |||||||
| TPX Microtubes Bioruptor® 0.5 ml Microtubes for DNA Shearing | TPX Microtubes Bioruptor® 0.5 ml Microtubes for DNA Shearing | TPX Microtubes Bioruptor® 0.5 ml Microtubes for DNA Shearing | TPX Microtubes Bioruptor® 0.5 ml Microtubes for DNA Shearing | Bioruptor® NGS 0.65 ml Microtubes for DNA Shearing |
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The Bioruptor® sonication devices use a unique system to uniformly process multiple samples simultaneously in sealed tubes of 0.5 ml to 50 ml capacity. It consists of a high power ultrasound generating element which is located below a water bath. The frequency of the ultrasound energy produced by the Bioruptor® is 20 kHz, which is similar to a probe sonicator. The Bioruptor® allows you to sonicate 6 to 48 sealed tubes simultaneously without aerosol formation improving biosafety (e.g. Mycobacterium, Viruses, etc.). The continuous sample rotation guarantees equal distribution of the energy and therefore 100% reproducible results. The parameters can be efficiently controlled and allow for the automation of the sonication step in your experiments. The Bioruptor® is easy to setup and uses standard disposable containers (PCR tubes, Eppendorf, 15 ml and 50 ml Falcon/Corning tubes). Validated protocols (e.g. ChIP, MeDIP etc.) can be standardized and transferred between labs.
What are the effects of ultrasound on biological samples?
High powered ultrasound waves can produce gaseous cavitation in liquids. Cavitation is the formation of small bubbles of dissolved gases or vapors due to the alteration of pressure in liquids. These bubbles are capable of resonance vibration and produce vigorous eddying or microstreaming. This mechanical stress has multiple effects on biological samples including; effective cell lysis, DNA and chromatin shearing as well as homogenization. When using a probe sonicator, the microstreaming phenomenon is limited to the vicinity of the probe which can generate high amounts of heat and release metal fragments. In contrast, the Bioruptor’s water bath is equally exposed to ultrasound energy allowing for the dissipation of heat and providing uniform absorption of energy.







