For decades, Greiner Bio-One GmbH has been developing and producing plastic microplates that are used throughout the world in laboratories for diagnostics and research. Microplates for high-throughput screening (HTS) enable fast, automated analysis of a multitude of substances. This high level of efficiency ensures successful development of new drugs, for example.
With one of the world’s largest product ranges, Greiner Bio-One is a leading supplier of microplates. Besides microplates, used for drug screening, the company also offers special plates for immunology, protein crystallisation, DNA analysis and microsystem technology.
Greiner Bio-One is one of the innovation leaders in the sector. In a number of cases, new developments are carried out in close collaboration with customers such as Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG and Novartis AG, which benefit from the company’s decades of experience with various materials and surface modifications.
The latest developments in this product sector are non-binding microplates. By repelling protein, these surfaces optimise the biochemical screening for active substances, as the influence of the plate surface on the test result is reduced considerably.
The move from isotopic to non-isotopic assays (fluorescence/ luminescence), and new applications in genomics and microscopy, has created a demand for clear bottom plates, microplates with pigmented walls and thin film bottoms. Up to now, clear bottom microplates have mostly been manufactured using a two-component injection moulding procedure by sticking or welding the components together. The development of a completely new and patented processing technique has made it possible for us to produce microplates with ultra-thin films, without the use of adhesives or solvents – the μClear® and UV-Star® products. This special method eradicates the risk of leaking wells.
MICROLON® stand for the quality of our immunology products. MICROLON® are clear microplates for transmission measurements. MICROLON® 600 are high binding polystyrene surfaces that have been
specifically treated to provide an increased protein binding. MICROLON® 200 are medium binding (med. binding) polystyrene surfaces. The polystyrene surface of a medium binding microplate is more hydrophobic than the surface of a high binding microplate, and therefore tends to be more suitable for non-polar proteins and peptides. The consistency and reproducibility of our immunology products is constantly evaluated using an ELISA.
FLUOTRAC™ stand for the quality of our immunology products. FLUOTRAC™ are black microplates for fluorescence measurements. FLUOTRAC™ 600 are high binding polystyrene surfaces that have been specifically treated to provide an increased protein binding. FLUOTRAC™ 200 are medium binding (med. binding) polystyrene surfaces. The polystyrene surface of a medium binding microplate is more hydrophobic than the surface of a high binding microplate, and therefore tends to be more suitable for non-polar proteins and peptides. The consistency and reproducibility of our immunology products is constantly evaluated using an ELISA.
LUMITRAC™ stand for the quality of our immunology products. LUMITRAC™ are white microplates for luminescence measurements. LUMITRAC™600 are high binding polystyrene surfaces that have been specifically treated to provide an increased protein binding. LUMITRAC™ 200 are medium binding (med. binding) polystyrene surfaces. The polystyrene surface of a medium binding microplate is more hydrophobic than the surface of a high binding microplate, and therefore tends to be more suitable for non-polar proteins and peptides. The consistency and reproducibility of our immunology products is constantly evaluated using an ELISA.
The spectrum ranges from clear bottom microplates and completely black or white microplates to UV-Star® products. 96 well polystyrene microplates are available in the following versions:
96 well polypropylene microplates are available in the following versions:
Polypropylene microplates are ideally suited for the following applications:
Compared with the 96 well standard microplate, the number of wells is quadrupled in this microplate, combined with a volume reduction from 382 μl to 131 μl. The well-to-well spacing is 4.5 mm (96 well plate: 9mm). The external dimensions of the 384 well microplates are compatible with standard equipment and automated systems. The 384 well microplates are available as black and white clear bottom plates (μClear®), in FLUOTRAC™, LUMITRAC™, MICROLON® or CELLSTAR® quality.
384 well microplates are available in the following versions:
Polypropylene (PP) has low biomolecular binding characteristics, a high temperature tolerance and is resistant to many standard laboratory chemicals, such as DMSO. From black polypropylene microplates for fluorescence via white microplates for luminescence assays to coloured microplates for orderly storage, the 384 well polypropylene programme has all you need.
384 well polypropylene microplates are available in the following versions:
The 384 Deep Well Small Volume™ polypropylene microplate offers new possibilities for drug discovery:
The 384 Deep Well Small Volume™ polypropylene microplate is especially suited:
The highest possible degree of automation, optimal performance and cost savings continue to be the requirements placed on microplates for high-throughput screening. In 1997, shortly after the launch of the 384 well microplates, Greiner Bio-One was the first manufacturer to introduce another innovative microplate format – the 1536 well microplate. The external dimensions were the same as those used in the 96 well and 384 well microplates. However, to utilise the available space most efficiently, the number of wells was increased fourfold from 384 to 1536.
Close cooperation with numerous users has now led to the development of a broad product range, and the constant drive towards improvements in quality has, for example, led to a reduction in curvature of the plates to < 100 μm. The 1536 well microplates are available as clear bottom variants, in clear polystyrene and completely black or white in CELLSTAR®, LUMITRAC™ and FLUOTRAC™ quality. The product range has been further expanded by a 1536 Deep Well polypropylene microplate.
1536 well polystyrene microplates are available in the following versions:
1536 Well HiBase Microplates
1536 Well LoBase Microplates
Greiner Bio-One polypropylene microplates are perfect storage plates for active agents, patient samples or biomolecules. Their most important properties are biological inertness, resistance to numerous solvents commonly used in the laboratory (e.g. DMSO, acetonitrile or acetone) and temperature resistance from -196°C to +121°C. The footprint is compatible with automated systems. The microplates are also characterised by elevated well walls which make it possible to easily seal them.
The 0.5 ml, 1 ml, and 2 ml MASTERBLOCK® are ideal microplates for storing sample material but are also ideal for cultivating bacteria or yeasts.
In addition to the 384 well polypropylene microplates with F-bottom and V-bottom, a 384 well MASTERBLOCK® extends the range of polypropylene microplates. The innovative design of the Deep Well MASTERBLOCK® enables numerous applications in which larger volumes are required. The MASTERBLOCK® is ideal for compound libraries and the storage of samples in general. The conical
shape of the wells enables precise pipetting down to the last drop. The standardised external
dimensions and the tight tolerances make liquid handling easier for robotics.
The SensoPlate™ family was developed in a complete product line consisting of 24, 96, 384 and 1536 well glass bottom formats. All plates consist of an optically clear borosilicate glass bottom with a light path of 175 +/- 15 μm and a black polystyrene frame. The glass bottom allows transmission measurements in the wavelength range above 350nm. For mounting the glass bottom plates an adhesive with the lowest possible autofluorescence is used.
Characterised by low protein, DNA, RNA and peptide binding properties the new non-binding surfaces
significantly increase assay sensitivity by reducing background and improving signal-to-noise ratio
Non-binding surfaces from Greiner Bio-One are achieved through a stable chemical modification to covalently link functional groups with the base polystyrene polymer. Under aqueous assay conditions a hydrate layer forms, preventing dissolved biomolecules from binding to the microplate surface.
As the non-binding surface is stable under common assay conditions, there is no potential for degradation or leaching and resultant assay interference.
Non-binding microplates are featured in 96 and 384 well formats in black, white and clear, including solid and μClear® film well bottoms. Characteristic features of the non-binding surface are:
Technology of the non-binding surface: The hydrate layer, created by covalently linked functional groups, enables biomolecules to remain in solution, thereby preventing their binding to the surface.
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