Cell scrapers and cell lifters are designed for harvesting cells from tissue culture flasks, dishes or bottles, often they are non pyrogenic and packaged sterile (gamma irradiated) in individual paper / poly wrappers. But do you know the differences between cell scapers and cell lifters?
Description of Cell Scraper
Cell scrapers are utilized for harvesting tissue cultures from flasks, plates, or dishes in Western or enzyme assays. Engineered to delicately extract cells, these scrapers optimize sample retrieval. Specially designed cell scraper models boast a flexible swivel blade design, providing various angle options and optimal access to all growth areas. Beveled ended lifters are well suited for multi well plates and situations where maintaining high viability is paramount. The blade widths and overall lengths vary among the available models.
Cell scrapers have soft, pliable blades for improved contact with growth surface to gently remove cells and maximize recovery.
Description of Cell Lifter
A cell lifter is a laboratory tool designed for the gentle detachment and lifting of cells from the surface of tissue culture vessels such as flasks, plates, or dishes. It plays a crucial role in cell culture work, facilitating the transfer of cells without causing significant damage.
Cell lifters are equipped with a 19mm blade featuring a beveled edge, accompanied by either a J-Hook or Narrow Blade on the opposite end. The J-Hook exhibits a curved tip designed for the vertical lifting of cells from 6, 12, 24, and 48-well plates. In contrast, the narrow blade is tapered to seamlessly fit into 96 well plates or micro centrifuge tubes.
Features of Cell Scraper
Material Composition: Cell scrapers are often made of materials such as polyethylene or other plastics that are compatible with cell culture applications. This ensures that they do not introduce contaminants to the cell culture.
Swivel Blade Design: Many mini cell scrapers come with a flexible swivel blade design, allowing the user to adjust the angle of the blade. This feature enhances accessibility to various areas of the culture vessel and helps in efficient cell detachment without causing significant damage.
Beveled Ended Lifters: Some models include beveled ended lifters, which are particularly useful for working with multi well plates. The beveled design facilitates gentle and effective scraping, making them suitable for applications where maintaining high cell viability is crucial.
Variability in Blade Width and Length: Different cell spatula models may offer variations in blade width and overall length. This variability allows researchers to choose a scraper that best suits the size of their culture vessel and the specific requirements of their experiment.
Sterility: Many cell scrapers are provided in sterile packaging to prevent contamination of the cell culture. Sterility is crucial to maintaining the integrity of the cell culture and obtaining reliable experimental results.
Features of Cell Lifter
Material Composition: Cell lifters are commonly made from materials such as polystyrene or other plastics that are compatible with cell culture applications. The choice of materials ensures that the lifter does not introduce contaminants to the cell culture.
Blade Design: The blade of a cell lifter is typically flat and broad, providing a large surface area for efficient cell lifting. The edges are often beveled to facilitate gentle scraping and minimize the risk of cell damage.
Handle: Cell lifters have a handle that allows users to maneuver the tool with precision. The handle is designed for ease of use and control during cell detachment procedures.
Sterility: To prevent contamination of cell cultures, cell lifters are often provided in sterile packaging. Maintaining sterility is crucial to ensuring the integrity of the cell culture and obtaining reliable experimental results.
Single Use or Reusable: Cell lifters may be available as single use disposable items or as reusable tools, depending on the intended application and laboratory preferences.
Compatibility: Cell lifters are designed to be compatible with various types of tissue culture vessels, including flasks, plates, and dishes commonly used in laboratory settings.
Difference Between A Cell Scraper And A Lifter
Cell scrapers are focused on efficient cell harvesting, while cell lifters are designed for the gentle lifting and transfer of cells between culture vessels. The choice between the two depends on the specific requirements of the experiment and the desired level of cell viability.
Function:
Cell Scraper: Primarily designed for the efficient harvesting of cells from the surface of tissue culture vessels, such as flasks, plates, or dishes. Cell scrapers are used to gently detach and collect cells for further analysis, subculturing, or experimentation.
Cell Lifter: Designed for the gentle detachment and lifting of cells from the surface of culture vessels. Cell lifters are often used to transfer cells during subculturing, harvesting cells for downstream applications, or moving cells between different culture vessels.
Blade Design:
Cell Scraper: Typically features a flat, spatula-like blade with a flexible swivel design. The swivel blade allows users to adjust the angle for optimal access to different areas of the culture vessel, maximizing sample recovery.
Cell Lifter: Has a broad, flat blade with edges that are often beveled. The design of the blade facilitates gentle scraping and lifting of cells without causing significant damage.
Application:
Cell Scraper: Ideal for efficient cell harvesting in applications such as Western blotting and enzyme assays. The swivel blade design enhances accessibility to various growth areas.
Cell Lifter: Commonly used for transferring cells during subculturing or when moving cells between different culture vessels. The beveled edges of the lifter are designed to minimize cell damage.
Viability Considerations:
Cell Scraper: Designed to maximize sample recovery while maintaining cell viability. The flexibility of the swivel blade helps prevent excessive damage to the cells during harvesting.
Cell Lifter: Particularly suitable for applications where maintaining high cell viability is crucial, such as when working with delicate cell types or when transferring cells for further culture.
Usage:
Cell Scraper: Used for scraping cells off the culture surface, especially in cases where a higher degree of mechanical force is acceptable.
Cell Lifter: Used for lifting cells gently without the same level of mechanical force as a scraper. This is important when maintaining cell integrity and viability is a top priority.
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