When you decide to work with lipids, the choice of the correct equipment to work with is key. A reliable system that guarantees uniformity in your results and, if possible, easy to integrate in your workflow.
This is the reason we want to talk about the Avanti Mini extruder from Avanti Polar Lipids.
- What is the Avanti Mini Extruder?
- Each lipid needs a membrane
- How to get homogeneus unilamellar vesicles (LUV)?
- How many passes do you need for optimal results?
- What happens when temperature is a critical factor?
- HOW IT WORKS IN THE VIDEO TUTORIAL/
Lipids are an abundant class of cellular metabolites, which influence cell structure, signaling, trafficking, [ 
and interactions with the extracellular environment.
A liposome is a spheric vesicle composed of one lipid bilayer with a hydrophlic head and a hydrophobic tail.
Classic liposome shape?
Check out Avanti’s logo…
What is the Avanti Mini Extruder?
Avanti Mini Extruder is an elegant solution for users who need to assembly lipids in a tight budget.
The Avanti Mini-Extruder is constructed of stainless steel and Teflon; the new design is guaranteed to give years of trouble-free service and is available for a fraction of the cost of a larger extruder.
Avanti Mini Extruder allows researchers and scientists to prepare large, unilamellar vesicles (LUV) by extrusion in an efficient manner.
Each lipid needs a membrane
Thanks to its polycarbonate membrane it is possible to generate unilamellar liposomes ranging from 30nm-1 µm when assembled with appropriate polycarbonate membrane, this means: Vesicle size readily controlled
And thus, generate uniform populations of unilamellar liposomes without the use of solvents or detergents.
Save time and problems in your daily routine!
It is very useful for a wide variety of lipid composition and interchangeable with 250 µL and 1 mL syringes.
How to get homogeneus unilamellar vesicles (LUV)?
In fact, this a really simple (and mechanical) procedure.
The particle size distribution of unilamellar vesicles prepared by extrusion is a function of the number of passes through the extruder membrane.
The more passes, the better uniformity
It is well explained in the picture: hydrated lipid solutions will initially form large, multilamellar vesicles. After the initial pass through a membrane, the particle size distribution will tend towards bimodal. After sufficient passes through the membrane, a unimodal, normal distribution is obtained. A minimum of eleven passes through the extruder membrane is recommended for most lipids.
How many passes do you need for optimal results?
Most of the times, 11 passes will be enough to get a perfect uniform distribution.
What happens when temperature is a critical factor?
Optional heating block allows the extrusion of vesicles at elevated temperatures, which is critical for the successful production of vesicles from phospholipids with a phase transition temperature above room temperature.
Placing the stabilizer block-extruder assembly on a hot plate achieves rapid temperature control for lipids that have transition temperatures above room temperature.
If you have some questions about how this technology works, or need any help to set up your assay, our experienced Tech Support Team (all are PhD) will be happy to help you by mail (tecnic@labclinics.com), phone (+34.934464700) or we can visit you. Let’s talk!
HOW IT WORKS: VIDEO TUTORIAL
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