Bead beating: A Method for Disruption

Link to the original article at OPSDiagnostics.com

Bead-beating has become a widely adopted mechanical disruption technique due to its robustness, efficiency, and versatility. The method involves agitating samples in tubes containing beads that collide with the sample, physically disrupting them. The size and composition of the beads play a significant role in the effectiveness of the process, with smaller beads offering higher shear forces and larger beads providing more force for tougher, more resistant cell types (Weigel et al., 2021). This can be coupled with a chemical or enzymatic process to amplify the forces and disrupt even the most difficult sample types.

OPS Diagnostics offers a wide range of bead types and sizes tailored to various sample types, ensuring optimal lysis and recovery of nucleic acids. The GenoGrinder is commonly used for bead-beating, providing controlled agitation speeds and uniform mixing, which is essential for maximizing disruption efficiency (Zoqratt et al., 2020). Other machines such as the Retch/ Tissuelyser can be used as well, however their arcing motion limits the effectiveness of their bead beating. To ensure uniform disruption it may be necessary to stop the machine part way through the disruption and turn the holder for more consistent results.