The BlotCycler is an automated Western blot processing system that can save time, improve results by automating the following steps:

  • Shaking: The BlotCycler gently shakes the blots during blocking, primary/secondary and washing steps to ensure that the reagents are evenly distributed. This helps to reduce background and improve signal-to-noise ratio.
  • Blocking: The BlotCycler applies the blocking solution to the blots evenly and automatically. This helps to prevent nonspecific binding of the antibodies and improve the sensitivity of the assay.
  • Hybridization: The BlotCycler applies the primary and secondary antibodies to the blots evenly and automatically. This helps to ensure that the antibodies are bound to the target proteins in a reproducible manner.
  • Washing: The BlotCycler washes the blots with the appropriate buffers automatically and the number of washing steps can be programed for each experiment. This helps to remove the unbound antibodies and improve the specificity of the assay.

In addition to saving time, the BlotCycler can also improve the results of Western blots by:

  • Reducing background: The BlotCycler’s gentle shaking and automated blocking and washing steps help to reduce background, which can improve the signal-to-noise ratio and make the results of the assay more accurate.
  • Improving sensitivity: The BlotCycler’s ability to apply the antibodies evenly and automatically can improve the sensitivity of the assay, making it possible to detect smaller amounts of proteins.
  • Increasing reproducibility: The BlotCycler’s automated steps help to ensure that all blots are processed in a reproducible manner, which can improve the accuracy and reliability of the results.

The BlotCycler can reduce cost in a number of ways:

  • Reduced labor costs: The BlotCycler automates the most time-consuming steps of Western blot processing, freeing scientists to focus on other tasks. This can lead to significant savings in labor costs.
  • Reduced reagent costs: The BlotCycler applies the primary/secondary antibodies and washing solutions evenly and automatically, which can help to reduce the amount of reagents used. The primary antibody is recycled and can be reused up to 4 times. This can lead to significant savings in reagent costs since the primary antibody is usually the most expensive reagent in the experiment.
  • Reduced consumables costs: The BlotCycler distributes reagents precisely with no pipetting errors. This can lead to savings in consumables costs over time.
  • Increased productivity: The BlotCycler can process multiple blots at the same time, using multiple primary antibodies.