Incubators keep cells and tissue samples healthy by controlling critical parameters like temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, and oxygen. They are used in various industries, including zoology, microbiology, pharmaceutical research, food science, and cosmetics. Chilling incubators use Peltier cooling technology and a microprocessor to provide energy-efficient solutions for your laboratory experiments.
Stable Humidity
A chilled incubator offers a controlled environment essential for many laboratory experiments. The chamber is insulated from the outside and has an internal thermostat to maintain a steady temperature and humidity controllers to regulate relative humidity levels. A humid section is significant for in vitro experiments involving tissue, cells, extracts, or other materials. The process consists of equilibrating liquid-phase water in the sample with vapor-phase water in the headspace and measuring the relative humidity, or RH (expressed in %).
Stable Oxygen Levels
During cell culture, oxygen is a critical nutrient that allows cells to live and thrive. However, oxygen diffusion through a medium can be an enormous challenge for many cell cultures. This is due to several factors that affect the diffusion of oxygen, including cell density, the oxygen concentration in the air/medium interface, and the ionic strength of the water. Therefore, the dissolved oxygen concentration in the culture medium will vary based on these factors. Using these values, we can calculate the Henry constant of a solution of dissolved oxygen in an aqueous medium at 37oC and 175 mM ionic strength (Supplemental Table 1). This equation describes the relationship between the molar concentration of dissolved oxygen and its corresponding partial pressure.
Stable Temperature
Maintaining a precise temperature is vital for proper growth and survival when working with cell cultures. When the temperature fluctuates in either direction, it can lead to a high level of mortality. Incubators are used in lab experiments to provide a stable, refrigerated environment. They are commonly used in BOD determinations, bacterial culturing, water pollution testing, and many other applications that require consistent temperatures. A refrigerator incubator produces precise conditions for the long-term storage of drug substances and ultra-sensitive material. These incubators also create a controlled environment that prevents contamination.
Stable Pressure
Many experiments, including most cell culture and protein structure analyses, occur at room temperature (RT; 20-25degC). However, some protocols indicate that reagents or solutions must be heated or thawed before use. Keeping a sample in a water bath at 37degC allows for slow and even warming without disturbing the cells or reagents. This is especially useful for reagents that are difficult to dissolve at room temperature or for protein structures that need to be altered. Pressure stability is another essential factor when using a chilled incubator for laboratory experiments. The control stability window measures the degree to which an instrument fluctuates around a set pressure point.
Stable Vibration
A chilled incubator is best if your experiment requires precise temperature control. These refrigerator/cooling units create special, uniform temperature conditions ideal for forced degradation of antibiotics, protein crystal growth, and other applications. Designed for high accuracy and stability, these laboratory incubators are available in various sizes and volumes to meet your needs. Some models also feature glass doors that keep samples securely inside while allowing personnel to monitor their contents without disrupting the environment. Vibration in a cell culture vessel can result in early or delayed effects on cell quality and growth. This effect can be exacerbated by vibrations caused by tapping and closing an incubator door.
