Rapid method for measurement of surface tension in multiwell plates.

We describe an optical method for quantifying surface tension in 96-well microtitre plates. Absorbance and fluorescence measurements in vertical beam systems as in 96-well plate photometers are complicated by the interaction of the light with the curved surface of the liquid. If the samples do not a...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Cottingham, MG, Bain, C, Vaux, D
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 2004
_version_ 1797064960762707968
author Cottingham, MG
Bain, C
Vaux, D
author_facet Cottingham, MG
Bain, C
Vaux, D
author_sort Cottingham, MG
collection OXFORD
description We describe an optical method for quantifying surface tension in 96-well microtitre plates. Absorbance and fluorescence measurements in vertical beam systems as in 96-well plate photometers are complicated by the interaction of the light with the curved surface of the liquid. If the samples do not all have the same meniscus, errors in the data proportional to the degree of curvature are produced, which may confound interpretation of the data. We have harnessed this effect by modifying a 96-well plate spectrophotometer, and show that the apparent optical density measurements correlate very closely with surface tension. The method is much quicker than conventional methods for measuring multiple samples and requires considerably less technical skill. We demonstrate the applicability of the method to the study of biomolecules by investigating the surfactant properties of two peptides (Abeta and AChE(586-599)) that form amyloid fibrils in vitro, in one case replicating previously published results, and in the other case highlighting the similarity, and possibly generic nature, of the biophysical properties of these amyloidogenic peptides.
first_indexed 2024-03-06T21:21:48Z
format Journal article
id oxford-uuid:41b12bfd-7788-46c3-b87e-f27613c0b7c9
institution University of Oxford
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-06T21:21:48Z
publishDate 2004
record_format dspace
spelling oxford-uuid:41b12bfd-7788-46c3-b87e-f27613c0b7c92022-03-26T14:45:07ZRapid method for measurement of surface tension in multiwell plates.Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:41b12bfd-7788-46c3-b87e-f27613c0b7c9EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2004Cottingham, MGBain, CVaux, DWe describe an optical method for quantifying surface tension in 96-well microtitre plates. Absorbance and fluorescence measurements in vertical beam systems as in 96-well plate photometers are complicated by the interaction of the light with the curved surface of the liquid. If the samples do not all have the same meniscus, errors in the data proportional to the degree of curvature are produced, which may confound interpretation of the data. We have harnessed this effect by modifying a 96-well plate spectrophotometer, and show that the apparent optical density measurements correlate very closely with surface tension. The method is much quicker than conventional methods for measuring multiple samples and requires considerably less technical skill. We demonstrate the applicability of the method to the study of biomolecules by investigating the surfactant properties of two peptides (Abeta and AChE(586-599)) that form amyloid fibrils in vitro, in one case replicating previously published results, and in the other case highlighting the similarity, and possibly generic nature, of the biophysical properties of these amyloidogenic peptides.
spellingShingle Cottingham, MG
Bain, C
Vaux, D
Rapid method for measurement of surface tension in multiwell plates.
title Rapid method for measurement of surface tension in multiwell plates.
title_full Rapid method for measurement of surface tension in multiwell plates.
title_fullStr Rapid method for measurement of surface tension in multiwell plates.
title_full_unstemmed Rapid method for measurement of surface tension in multiwell plates.
title_short Rapid method for measurement of surface tension in multiwell plates.
title_sort rapid method for measurement of surface tension in multiwell plates
work_keys_str_mv AT cottinghammg rapidmethodformeasurementofsurfacetensioninmultiwellplates
AT bainc rapidmethodformeasurementofsurfacetensioninmultiwellplates
AT vauxd rapidmethodformeasurementofsurfacetensioninmultiwellplates