Slide-A-Lyzer™ Dialysis Flasks, 10K MWCO, 250 mL, 4 Flasks - FAQs

View additional product information for Slide-A-Lyzer™ Dialysis Flasks - FAQs (87759, 87762, 87763, 87760, 87761)

24 product FAQs found

If the Slide-A-Lyzer Dialysis Cassette is not reusable, why are there four portholes?

It is possible to add reagents to the Slide-A-Lyzer Dialysis Cassette at different times using different portholes, allow a reaction to occur, and then dialyze in the same Slide-A-Lyzer Dialysis Cassette, reducing sample loss through reduced sample handling.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Protein Purification and Isolation Support Center.

Contaminants are not removed completely from my dialysis experiment using the Slide-A-Lyzer Dialysis Flask. What should I do?

All molecules have different diffusion rates across membranes and may not have acted as other compounds of similar molecular weight. Increase dialysis time and/or number of buffer exchanges performed, or alternatively, use a device containing a higher molecular weight cut-off membrane.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Protein Dialysis, Desalting, and Concentration Support Center.

My filled flask does not float in the dialysis solution. What should I do?

Ensure that the flask capacity was not exceeded and that the flotation ring was attached. In some cases, the density of the solution in the flask may require reduced volumes for proper orientation during dialysis. Refer to the product manual for more specific information.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Protein Dialysis, Desalting, and Concentration Support Center.

Why did my sample volume increase during dialysis?

Most likely it‘s because osmotic pressure from dialyzing from high osmolarity to low osmolarity solutions causes a sample volume increase, as each sample component-including water-will move towards equilibrium concentration on both sides of the membrane.

What is the protein recovery after dialysis when using the 96-well Microdialysis plate?

Typical protein recovery is greater than 90% after dialysis.

Do I need to use all 96 wells in the Pierce 96-well microdalysis plate at one time?

The plate comprises detachable strips so that you can pull out the exact number of wells needed for an experiment (scalable from 1-96 samples).

How much sample will I lose in the Slide-A-Lyzer Dialysis Cassette?

The Slide-A-Lyzer Dialysis Cassette is the same regenerated cellulose as other dialysis tubing so you can expect about the same amount of protein loss as with tubing. As a guide, a 1 mg/mL solution will have a recovery rate of greater than 95%; at 100 mg/mL the recovery drops to 75-80%; and in solutions as dilute 10 µg/mL users may observe only a 50% (or less) recovery.

What conditions do you recommend for dialysis?

Dialyze for the amount of time sufficient to remove low molecular weight compounds for the specific downstream application. A typical dialysis procedure is as follows:

1) Dialyze for 2 hrs at room temperature or 4 degrees C.
2) Change the dialysis buffer and dialyze for another 2 hrs.
3) Change the dialysis buffer and dialyze overnight at 4 degrees C.

Use the dialysis buffer at 200-500 times the volume of the sample. For example, if the starting sample volume is 1 mL, then use a dialysis buffer amount that is equal to 200 mL-500 mL for each dialysis buffer change.

What is the buoy for?

The buoy plays two roles: it suspends the Slide-A-Lyzer Dialysis Cassette above the stirring bar during dialysis; it provides a stand to set the Slide-A-Lyzer Dialysis Cassette in on the bench-top

Is it necessary for me to buy needles and syringes if I already have them?

No, any 18 gauge needle at least one inch long, and syringes of sufficient volume will work.

What is the highest temperature and the pH range that is compatible with the Slide-A-Lyzer Dialysis Cassette?

The Slide-A-Lyzer Dialysis Cassette can be held at 56 degrees C for 2 hours. At temperatures and times above these, the ABS plastic gets soft and can deform. We recommend maintaining the pH range of 5-9.

Do I have to extensively wash or boil the Slide-A-Lyzer Dialysis Cassette before use to remove contaminants?

No. The Slide-A-Lyzer Dialysis Cassette membrane is of a grade used for human kidney dialysis and requires no pretreatment. However, when using small volumes we do recommend pre-wetting the units in deionized water for 30 seconds. Trace metals and 12% glycerol are present in all Slide-A-Lyzer Dialysis Cassettes. During the dialysis process these will dialyze away to virtually no concentration remaining in the cassette.

What materials are used to make Slide-A-Lyzer Dialysis Cassettes and are they compatible with organic solvents?

The plastic casing is made of ABS plastic and the gasket is made from a non-leaching silicone-type material. The membrane is made from regenerated cellulose. We have successfully used 10% solutions of DMF, DMSO, acetonitrile, methanol, hexane, heptane, 100% acetic acid, and 70% ethanol with the device. The units are compatible with 75% acetonitrile and 1% TFA in the sample, however we recommend not dialyzing into a buffer of acetonitrile concentration greater than 10%.

What sizes of the Slide-A-Lyzer Dialysis Cassette are available and in what MWCO?

There are 3.5 K, 7K, 10K, and 20K MWCOs available in 0.1-0.5 mL, 0.5-3 mL, 3-12 mL, and 12-30 mL. These units, especially at the smaller volumes, provide for greater sample recovery and shorter dialysis times than traditional tubing due to their greater surface area-to-volume ratio. For samples smaller than 100 µL, use the Slide-A-Lyzer MINI Dialysis Units and for larger volumes, refer to our SnakeSkin Dialysis Tubing.

Can I reuse the Slide-A-Lyzer Dialysis Cassette?

No, the Slide-A-Lyzer Dialysis Cassette is designed as a single-use, disposable device. Once hydrated, the membrane immediately begins to dry after the sample is removed: and the whole membrane will be dry within a few minutes, changing the molecular weight cut-off (MWCO).

Why doesn‘t the Slide-A-Lyzer Dialysis Cassette leak?

There is an unseen internal gasket which reseals as the needle is withdrawn. The most important items to remember are:

Fill with air first to check that system is airtight
Puncture each porthole only once
Do not allow the membrane to come in contact with the sharp bevel of the needle

What are the advantages of using a cassette for dialysis over traditional tubing methods?

Cassettes have easy handling and secure sample delivery, while traditional tubing is slippery when wet and can be difficult to handle, increasing risk of sample loss during sample addition/removal. Cassettes provide sample protection with a welded membrane and leak-proof cap, helping to minimize the risk of sample loss, whereas with traditional tubing, samples can leak out if the clamp is loose/falls off. Lastly, cassettes are fast and efficient with high surface/volume ratio allowing for more rapid dialysis than conventional tubing.

How is dialysis performed using the Slide-A-Lyzer Cassette (first generation)?

Please see the protocol summary below:

Insert syringe needle through the gasket via one of the corner ports. Inject the sample, withdraw the excess air and remove the syringe.
Attach a float buoy and dialyze. (Buoys also serve as convenient bench-top stands for the cassettes).
Insert empty syringe needle at a second corner port. Inject air to expand the cassette chamber, then withdraw the dialyzed sample.

What is the difference between a pack and a kit for the Slide-A-Lyzer cassettes?

The kit includes float buoys and syringes, and are only available for first-generation products. Please note that floats and syringes can also be purchased separately.

Are these Slide-A-Lyzer cassettes sterile?

We do not test for or claim sterility.

Do you offer gamma-irradiated array Slide-A-Lyzer cassettes?

Yes, we offer gamma-irradiated array Slide-A-Lyzer cassettes for both first-generation products (Cat. No. 66454, 66455, 66453, 66456) and second-generation products (Cat. No. 88250, 882551, 882552, 882553, 882554).

What is the difference between the original and second-generation Slide-A-Lyzer Cassettes?

The first generation cassettes can require a syringe to insert the sample, and may require a float buoy. They can hold 0.5-30 mL solution. The second-generation cassettes can be loaded with a syringe or pipet, are self-floating, and can hold 0.5-70 mL.

What is the difference between your dialysis devices (plates, device, cassettes, flasks)?

Please view our selection table to choose the right dialysis device for your experiment - https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/life-science/protein-biology/protein-purification-isolation/protein-dialysis-desalting-concentration/dialysis-products.html.

What is protein dialysis?

Dialysis is the separation of small and large molecules in a solution by selective diffusion through a semi-permeable membrane. It is generally used for larger sample volumes, and can take hours to overnight for complete dialysis.