What is a Dounce Homogenizer?
Invented by Alexander Dounce, a Dounce Homogenizer (also known as a tissue grinder or a “Douncer”) is a small, handheld mortar and pestle made of glass. It lyses tissue and cells using shear stress as the sample is squeezed through the small space between the mortar (or tube) and pestle. See an example of a Dounce Homogenizer here.
The sample is placed into the tube and the pestle is then pressed down and lifted up repeatedly. The shear can be controlled, to a very limited degree, using different sized pestles. The larger the diameter of the pestle, the smaller the clearance space between the pestle and tube, and the greater the shear.
Pros and Cons of a Dounce Homogenizer
The primary benefit of using a Dounce Homogenizer is that it allows for tissue and cells to be lysed whilst leaving the smaller organelles (like the cell nuclei) intact. They can be useful in enzyme applications where heat must be avoided. They are also relatively inexpensive, and easy to use and clean.
However, the limitations of a Dounce Homogenizer far outweigh the benefits. This manual process is extremely time consuming. Plus it is limited to small volumes and results are inconsistent and not scalable. Although Douncers are inexpensive, they are not a cost effective option in the long run; as they are very fragile and tend to break easily.
DeBee High Pressure Homogenizers: A Better Way to Lyse Cells
Cell lysis (or cell rupture / cell disruption) is a process required for research and manufacturing across many industries, including biotechnology.
At BEE International, our technology utilizes an in-line process that customizes forces like shear, cavitation and impact to break apart particles in a controlled fashion. These forces are adjustable, allowing the user to optimize cell rupture according to the specific cell type. E. coli, yeast, bacteria, mammalian tissue, insects and fungi cells can each be ruptured with the most efficient process for the highest recovery rates.
Our DeBee High Pressure Homogenizers yield a high cell rupture for a wide variety of cells, but without damage to cell tissue or other valuable intracellular materials. As always with DeBee High Pressure Laboratory Homogenizers, all laboratory developments are 100% scalable to manufacturing.
Sound too good to be true?
Try us and see for yourself! Contact us for a free, confidential sample testing. We’ll run your product on one of our DeBee High Pressure Homogenizers and return it to you, along with a detailed evaluation and analysis report.
For more information about cell lysis methods and factors you should consider when choosing the right one for you, download our FREE eBook:
