Aber Instruments OPTURA®PALM®

Aber Instruments introduces the OPTURA® PALM®, a handheld biomass sensor designed for non-invasive, rapid, and accurate cell density measurement. This device utilizes near-infrared (NIR) bio-reflectance technology, allowing scientists to measure biomass without sampling, thus maintaining sterile conditions. The sensor operates by emitting a NIR laser that penetrates glass or plastic vessel walls up to 10mm thick and 2.5 cm deep. Reflectance is directly proportional to biomass, enabling precise measurements.

The OPTURA® PALM® can store up to 1,000 readings, which can be downloaded via software provided with the device. This feature allows for remote data collection and subsequent transfer for creating custom biomass calibration curves. Evaluation against traditional OD600 spectrophotometer analysis showed the OPTURA® PALM® performs non-invasive measurements in five seconds, with detection limits from 0.5 OD600 for E.coli, 1 x 10^6 for yeast cells, and 3 x 10^6 for Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells.

The sensor's accuracy is comparable to traditional methods, making it suitable for various microbial, plant, and mammalian cell applications. Using the OPTURA® PALM® eliminates the need for consumables such as pipette tips and cuvettes, thereby reducing costs and environmental impact. This sensor simplifies cell density measurement processes, saving time and effort while minimizing contamination risks and the need to repeat experiments.