On the Importance of Basic Operations with Centrifuges in Experiments

　　 Centrifuge In experiments, basic operations are often something that cannot be overlooked.

　　Specific experiments involve corresponding basic operations that play a crucial role—they directly determine the success rate of the experiment.

　　Common topics include how to measure volume, how to measure and adjust pH, how to clean laboratory glassware, aseptic technique, how to use a pipette, how to prepare solutions, and how to perform autoclaving (high-pressure steam sterilization). Although these topics are not directly related to centrifuge operation, they do have indirect connections.

　　Today, using cell culture experiments as an example, we’ll demonstrate the use of various pieces of equipment:

　　The primary focus of cell culture is to maintain sterile conditions and avoid the influence of microorganisms and other harmful factors.

　　The types and general uses of laboratory instruments and equipment are as follows:

　　1. Ultra-clean workbench: Currently, the vast majority of cell laboratories use ultra-clean workbenches to perform sterile operations. These workbenches are easy to operate, convenient to install, take up little space, and offer excellent purification performance.

　　2. Microscope: An inverted microscope is an essential piece of equipment routinely used in cell culture laboratories, primarily for monitoring the daily growth status of cells and observing whether any contamination has occurred.

　　3. Incubator: Just like cells cultured in vivo, cells cultured in vitro also need to be maintained at a constant temperature. The generally optimal growth temperature is 37℃, and the temperature fluctuation should not exceed ±0.5℃.

　　4. Oven (Drying Oven): Some instruments and vessels used in cell culture must be dried before use; glassware, in particular, requires dry-heat sterilization. During dry-heat sterilization, the oven temperature typically needs to reach above 160°C; a forced-air oven is commonly used. Its advantages include uniform temperature distribution and relatively good sterilization effectiveness, while its disadvantage is that the heating process is relatively slow.

　　5. Water purification system: Cell culture has high requirements for water quality. The water used for cell culture, the preparation of cell-culture-related liquids, and the washing of cell-culture vessels must all undergo rigorous purification treatment beforehand.

　　6. Refrigerator: An essential piece of equipment for cell culture laboratories, it should be used exclusively and must not store substances that are volatile, flammable, or otherwise harmful to cells. It must also be kept clean.

　　7. Cell Cryopreservation Containers: Commonly used liquid nitrogen containers for cell storage come in various types and specifications, depending on application requirements. When selecting a liquid nitrogen container, three factors should be considered: container volume, ease of access and handling, and the rate of liquid nitrogen evaporation.

　　8. Centrifuge: During cell culture, centrifuges are commonly used to prepare cell suspensions, adjust cell density, wash cells, and collect cells. A standard benchtop centrifuge operating at 4,000 rpm is typically sufficient for routine applications. However, if cell sedimentation is required, a centrifugal force of 80–100 G is necessary; excessive centrifugal force can damage cells. Depending on specific requirements, a variety of more advanced centrifuges are available, including high-capacity centrifuges with adjustable temperatures, high-speed centrifuges, and low-temperature refrigerated centrifuges.

　　9. Balance: Commonly used types include precision balances and analytical balances. The accuracy of analytical balances typically ranges from 0.1 mg, 0.01 mg, to 0.001 mg.

　　The above is a brief introduction to the instruments required for cell culture experiments, with a detailed explanation of the centrifuge. I hope this provides you with some helpful information.