Liquid Nitrogen Handling
Liquid Nitrogen Handling - Related Videos
08:24
Optimization of the Ugi Reaction Using Parallel Synthesis and Automated Liquid Handling
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Cited by 5 •
2008
The Ugi reaction has proved to be a convenient way to quickly create diverse libraries of compounds. It involves the reaction of an amine, an aldehyde, a carboxylic acid and an isonitrile typically in methanol at room temperature. In this video, we utilize a 48-slot Mettler-Toledo MiniBlock equipped with filtration tubes and a Mettler-Toledo MiniMapper automated liquid handler was used to deliver the reagents and solvent. The parameters of interest were the concentration, the solvent...
06:42
A Multi-hole Cryovial Eliminates Freezing Artifacts when Muscle Tissues are Directly Immersed in Liquid Nitrogen
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Cited by 9 •
2017
This protocol describes a procedure to freeze muscle tissues by plunging them directly into liquid nitrogen. This protocol also highlights a new cryovial that can avoid the "blanket effect" of nitrogen gas when liquid nitrogen contacts the tissue surface of a specimen.
08:00
Scalable 96-well Plate Based iPSC Culture and Production Using a Robotic Liquid Handling System
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Cited by 23 •
2015
The protocols described allow laboratories to perform scalable, adherent stem cell culture in high throughput with minimal labor, experience and equipment investment cost using a programmable liquid handling robot and 96-well plates. iPSCs passaged more than 20 times on this system maintained pluripotency, normal karyotypes and differentiated into cardiomyocytes.
01:49
The Nitrogen Cycle
0 Views •
2019
Nitrogen atoms, present in all proteins and DNA, are recycled between abiotic and biotic components of the ecosystem. However, the primary form of nitrogen on Earth is nitrogen gas, which cannot be used by most animals and plants. Thus, nitrogen gas must first be converted into a usable form by nitrogen-fixing bacteria before it can be cycled through other living organisms. The use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers and animal waste products in human agriculture has greatly influenced the...
11:22
Automated Robotic Liquid Handling Assembly of Modular DNA Devices
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Cited by 19 •
2017
Here, an automated workflow to perform modular DNA "device" assembly using a modular cloning DNA assembly method on liquid-handling robots is presented. The protocol uses an intuitive software tool for generating liquid handler picklists for combinatorial DNA device library generation, which we demonstrate using two liquid handling platforms.
FAQs
Liquid nitrogen rapidly absorbs heat from surrounding materials, causing it to vaporize. This heat transfer creates extreme cooling that can damage exposed tissue and affect biological specimens during handling. Vaporization also produces nitrogen gas that expands into the surrounding environment, so the same physical process responsible for cooling can increase atmospheric and oxygen-displacement hazards, particularly in enclosed spaces.
As liquid nitrogen vaporizes, the resulting nitrogen gas can accumulate in an enclosed area and displace oxygen. This creates a hazard even when direct skin contact does not occur. Adequate ventilation is therefore a central control measure, helping prevent nitrogen buildup and supporting safer storage, transfer, and use in biological laboratories and cryogenic storage areas.
Handling conditions influence whether biological samples remain suitable for later research. Maintaining appropriate cryogenic conditions supports long-term preservation, while careless storage or transfer can compromise sample integrity. This is especially relevant for cells, tissues, embryos, microorganisms, and other specimens whose preservation enables reliable work in cell biology, genetics, reproductive science, and biobanking.
Safe work requires cryogenic gloves and face protection to reduce the risk of cold-related injury during contact or transfer. These protective measures should be used together with appropriate ventilation and containers compatible with cryogenic conditions. The combination addresses both major exposure pathways: intense cold at the point of handling and nitrogen gas released into the workspace.
Storage and transfer should use containers compatible with liquid nitrogen and take place under conditions that address both extreme cold and vaporization. Researchers must also provide adequate ventilation because released nitrogen gas can displace oxygen. These precautions help protect personnel while supporting consistent access to cryogenic conditions needed to preserve biological materials.
Careful handling supports the long-term preservation of diverse biological materials, including cells, tissues, embryos, microorganisms, and other specimens. Reliable cryogenic storage helps maintain sample integrity for later investigation or use. Consequently, liquid nitrogen handling is relevant across cell biology, genetics, reproductive science, and biobanking, where preserved materials serve as important research resources.