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Duetz-System

Overview

Microplates

Sandwich covers

Clamp systems

Replacement parts

Science

Duetz-System

In the dynamic field of bioprocess development, early-stage research relies heavily on efficient, miniaturized cultivation systems like microplates (MTPs). While MTPs offer benefits such as high-throughput capabilities and cost-effectiveness, they often present challenges, including inconsistent aeration, significant evaporation, and the risk of cross-contamination.

Introducing the Duetz System – a revolutionary solution designed to overcome these hurdles. This system was originally developed and validated at the Institute of Biotechnology of ETH Zurich by W. A. Duetz et al. (2000) and comprises three essential components:

Further information

Microplate (MTP)

The system is compatible to a wide range of commercially available MTPs. Also dedicated MTPs tailored for the Duetz system are available. Refer to the “Microplates” tab

Sandwich cover

This specialized, multi-layered, and reusable cover is central to the Duetz System's functionality. It typically features a silicone layer with small perforations (e.g., 1.5 mm diameter) precisely aligned over each well. Filter layers are incorporated to maintain sterility. The cover is crucial for regulating gas exchange and mitigating evaporation and cross contaminations.

Clamp System

For optimal performance, a robust clamping system is used to firmly secure the sandwich cover onto the microtiter plate. This system applies a vertical force (e.g., approximately 500 N) that uniformly compresses the silicone layer of the cover. This clamping is essential to prevent cross-contamination and to ensure stability of the cover during vigorous shaking.

By integrating these components, the Duetz System delivers significant advantages:

Equalized cultivation conditions and homogeneous aeration

The Duetz System is engineered to provide homogeneous cultivation conditions across all wells. Its unique cover design facilitates optimized and intense aeration, ensuring a consistent oxygen supply critical for aerobic organisms and high cell densities. This enables reproducible cell growth and expression.

Minimized evaporation

Evaporation from MTP wells can significantly alter liquid culture concentrations, impacting experimental results. The Duetz System's specialized cover substantially reduces evaporation, thereby maintaining consistent liquid volumes and concentrations throughout extended cultivations. Reported evaporation rates are very low, such as less than 10 µL per well per day at 25°C in 96-deepwell MTPs. This minimal liquid loss allows for cultivation times of 5-14 days without excessive evaporation.

Prevention of cross-contamination

The system's precisely perforated and clamped cover serves as a physical barrier that effectively prevents aerosol-mediated cross-contamination between adjacent wells, even during vigorous shaking. This design safeguards the integrity of each individual experiment, as confirmed by studies showing no contamination in uninoculated wells flanked by actively growing cultures.

By effectively addressing these critical challenges, the Duetz System empowers researchers to conduct high-throughput, reliable, and reproducible cultivations, making it an indispensable tool for early-stage bioprocess development and screening.

Example and try out setup

Example and try out setup for cells with lower oxygen demand (e.g. CHO, HEK, plant cells,…) and longer cultivation durations (+4 days) in a detoxified and autoclavable 96-deepwell MTP:

Order number	Description
104099	Detoxified and flattened polypropylene squared 96-deepwell MTP, round bottom
104118	Sandwich cover for all types of 96-deepwell MTPs, low oxygen demand (Ø 0.8 mm), no side pins
104968	Clamp for a single set of deepwell MTP and sandwich cover. Can be screwed on Kuhner standard trays or clamped in Kuhner MPT trays

For other examples and try-out setups, please use the following banner to contact us.

Microplates

Single-Use: Polystyrene microplates

Choose the medical-grade polystyrene plates for superior clarity and purity, making them the ultimate solution for sensitive cultures like CHO and HEK cells. These plates are exceptionally transparent and free from interfering leachables, ensuring optimal observation and cell safety. The surface is naturally hydrophilic, promoting a uniform culture film that enhances gas-liquid transfer rates significantly better than standard polypropylene. Delivered sterile via state-of-the-art gamma irradiation, these plates offer immediate and reliable high-throughput workflows.

Microplates Options

• Single-Use: Polystyrene microplates

• Reusable (autoclavable): Polypropylene microplates

Reusable (autoclavable): Polypropylene microplates

Choose Polypropylene plates for durability, versatility, and long-term value. Unlike standard options, these plates arrive fully detoxified through acid/alkaline treatment, guaranteeing a contaminant-free environment that supports reliable growth even for small inocula. They are robust and fully autoclavable. To ensure zero cross-contamination, the top surface of every plate is precision-flatten, correcting the natural irregularities of the material to provide a perfect seal. These labor-intensive enhancements deliver a reusable plate that offers the highest level of reproducibility and safety.

Single-Use: Polystyrene microplates

Order number	Description
104162	Pure polystyrene squared 96-half-deepwell MTP, sterilized by gamma irradiation, with cavities for cover side pins (e.g. cover 104120 and 104119). Pack of 16

Order number	Description
104186	Pure polystyrene squared 24-deepwell MTP, sterilized by gamma irradiation, with cavities for cover side pins (e.g. cover 104117 and 104116). Pack of 8

Order number	Description
104178	Pure polystyrene squared 6-extra-high-deepwell MTP, sterilized by gamma irradiation, pack of 4

Order number	Description
109722	Pure polystyrene squared 2-extra-high-deepwell MTP, sterilized by gamma irradiation, pack of 4

Reusable (autoclavable): Polypropylene microplates

Order number	Description
104110	Detoxified and flattened polypropylene squared 96-deepwell MTP, round bottom, with cavities for cover side pins. (e.g. cover 104120 and 104119)

Order number	Description
104099	Detoxified and flattened polypropylene squared 96-deepwell MTP, round bottom

Order number	Description
104111	Detoxified and flattened polypropylene squared 24-deepwell MTP, pyramid, bottom, with cavities for cover side pins (e.g. cover 104117 and 104116).

Order number	Description
104100	Detoxified and flattened polypropylene squared 24-deepwell MTP, pyramid bottom

Order number	Description
104188	Detoxified and flattened polypropylene squared 24-extra-high-deepwell MTP, pyramid bottom

If you have specific requirements or further questions, please use the following banner to contact us.

Sandwich covers – Explanation of the most important distinguishing features and properties

Sandwich covers for cultures with high oxygen demand and/ or feeding applications

Covers designed for cultures with high oxygen demand, such as fast-growing organisms like E. coli or yeast. The sandwich covers feature hole diameters optimized to support their increased oxygen requirements, ensuring sufficient gas exchange while minimizing evaporation during shorter cultivation periods of 1–4 days.

Sandwich covers for cultures with low oxygen demand

Covers designed for cultures with low oxygen demand, such as slow-growing organisms like mammalian or plant cells. The sandwich covers feature hole diameters optimized to meet their low oxygen needs, ensuring sufficient gas exchange while minimizing evaporation during longer cultivation periods of +4 days.

Side pins

Side pins made of metal are integrated into the inside of the cover to securely fix the layered system in place. Please note that covers with side pins are not compatible with all microtiter plates — the plates must have corresponding recesses at these positions.

Robot-friendly

Optimized for automated environments. These reusable and autoclavable covers feature a light weight (~80 g) and stiff carbon-epoxy design with rough sides to ensure secure gripper handling. The flared stainless steel walls accommodate robotic arm misalignment of up to 1 mm, while the angled seal rests securely to prevent rattling during shaking without the strict need for clamps. However, clamps are recommended.

Sandwich Cover Options by Well Plate Format & Oxygen Demand

• Sandwich covers for 96-well plates and cultures with low oxygen demand

• Sandwich covers for 96-well plates and cultures with high oxygen demand

• Sandwich covers for 24-well plates and cultures with low oxygen demand

• Sandwich covers for 24-well plates and cultures with high oxygen demand

• Sandwich covers for 6-well plates and cultures with low oxygen demand

• Sandwich covers for 6-well plates and cultures with high oxygen demand

• Sandwich cover for 2-well plates and cultures with low oxygen demand

• Sandwich cover for 2-well plates and cultures with high oxygen demand

Disposable (robot friendly) sandwich covers

Supplied gamma-irradiated for immediate single-use. Their ultra-lightweight design (~23 g) significantly reduces waste and allows for higher shaker loads, though their flexible structure requires the use of clamps to ensure uniform vertical pressure. Engineered for automation, they feature flared sides to accommodate approximately 1 mm of robotic misalignment and support vertical stacking on deepwell plates while maintaining full airflow.

Sandwich covers for 96-well plates and cultures with low oxygen demand

Order number	Description
104118	Sandwich cover for all types of 96-deepwell MTPs, low oxygen demand (Ø 0.8 mm), no side pins

Order number	Description
104120	Sandwich cover for 96-deepwell MTPs 104110/ 104162/ Greiner MTPs, low oxygen demand (Ø 0.8 mm), with side pins

Order number	Description
109738	Robot friendly sandwich cover for all types of 96-deepwell MTPs, low oxygen demand (Ø 0.8 mm)

Sandwich covers for 96-well plates and cultures with high oxygen demand

Order number	Description
104106	Sandwich cover for all types of 96-deepwell MTPs, high oxygen demand (Ø 1.5 mm), no side pins

Order number	Description
104119	Sandwich cover for 96-deepwell MTPs 104110/ 104162/ Greiner MTPs, high oxygen demand (Ø 1.5 mm), with side pins

Order number	Description
109737	Robot friendly sandwich cover for all types of 96-deepwell MTPs, high oxygen demand (Ø 1.5 mm), clamp not strictly needed

Sandwich covers for 24-well plates and cultures with low oxygen demand

Order number	Description
104115	Sandwich cover for all types of 24-deepwell MTPs, low oxygen demand (Ø 1.2 mm), no side pins

Order number	Description
104117	Sandwich cover for 24-deepwell MTPs 104111/ 104186, low oxygen demand (Ø 1.2 mm), with side pins

Order number	Description
109043	Robot friendly sandwich cover for all types of 24-deepwell MTPs, low oxygen demand (Ø 1.2 mm)

Order number	Description
110674	Sterile single-use set including microplate and robot friendly cover: 24-deepwell microplate, low oxygen demand (Ø 1.2 mm), pack of 8

Sandwich covers for 24-well plates and cultures with high oxygen demand

Order number	Description
104098	Sandwich cover for all types of 24-deepwell MTPs, high oxygen demand (Ø 2.5 mm), no side pins

Order number	Description
104116	Sandwich cover for 24-deepwell MTPs 104111/ 104186, high oxygen demand (Ø 2.5 mm), with side pins

Order number	Description
109042	Robot friendly sandwich cover for all types of 24-deepwell MTPs, high oxygen demand (Ø 2.5 mm)

Sandwich covers for 6-well plates and cultures with low oxygen demand

Order number	Description
104183	Sandwich cover for 6-deepwell MTP 104178, low oxygen demand (Ø 4 mm), with side pins

Order number	Description
109041	Robot friendly sandwich cover for 6-deepwell MTP 104178, low oxygen demand (Ø 4 mm)

Order number	Description
110683	Sterile single-use set including microplate and robot friendly cover: 6-extra-deepwell microplate, low oxygen demand (Ø 4 mm), pack of 4

Sandwich covers for 6-well plates and cultures with high oxygen demand

Order number	Description
104177	Sandwich cover for 6-deepwell MTP 104178, high oxygen demand (Ø 7 mm), with no side pins

Order number	Description
109040	Robot friendly sandwich cover for 6-deepwell MTP 104178, high oxygen demand (Ø 7 mm)

Sandwich cover for 2-well plates and cultures with low oxygen demand

Order number	Description
109719	Sandwich cover for 2-deepwell MTP 109722, low oxygen demand (Ø 7 mm), with side pins

Sandwich cover for 2-well plates and cultures with high oxygen demand

Order number	Description
109718	Sandwich cover for 6-deepwell MTP 109722, high oxygen demand (Ø 12 mm), with no side pins

If you have specific requirements or further questions, please use the following banner to contact us.

Clamp systems

We offer a variety of different clamps compatible with our trays. We sort the clamps by compatibility to either our standard trays (EU, EXU, FU) or our EPFL-tray/table.

Clamp systems Options

• Clamps compatible to our Kuhner standard trays (EU, EXU, FU)

• Clamps compatible to our Kuhner EPFL-tray/ table

Clamps compatible to our Kuhner standard trays (EU, EXU, FU)

Order number	Description
104968	Clamp for a single set of deepwell MTP and sandwich cover. Can be screwed on Kuhner standard trays or clamped in Kuhner MPT trays

Order number	Description
104168	Clamp for two sets of deepwell MTP and sandwich cover. Can be screwed on Kuhner standard trays.

Order number	Description
104196	Universal clamp for up to 2 sets of (extra-high) deepwell MTPs and sandwich cover. For staking of plates, please contact us. Can be screwed on Kuhner standard trays.

Order number	Description
106208	Universal clamp for two sets of deepwell MTP and sandwich cover in a gastight box to control air supply. Can be screwed on Kuhner standard trays.

Order number	Description
104167	Clamp for up to 4 sets of deepwell MTP and sandwich cover. Can be screwed on Kuhner standard trays.

Order number	Description
104194	Clamp for up to 4 sets of extra-high-deepwell MTP and sandwich cover. Can be screwed on Kuhner standard trays.

Order number	Description
104170	Universal clamp for up to 4 sets of (extra-high) deepwell MTPs and sandwich cover. For staking of plates, please contact us. Can be screwed on Kuhner standard trays.

Order number	Description
110675	Universal clamp for up to 12 sets of single-use deepwell MTP and sandwich cover. Can be screwed on Kuhner standard trays.

Clamps compatible to our Kuhner EPFL-tray/ table

Order number	Description
104173	Clamp for up to 4 sets of deepwell MTP and sandwich cover. Can be screwed on Kuhner EPFL-tray/ table.

Order number	Description
104195	Clamp for up to 4 sets of extra-high-deepwell MTP and sandwich cover. Can be screwed on Kuhner EPFL-tray/ table.

Order number	Description
104197	Clamp for up to 4 sets of extra-high-deepwell MTPs and sandwich cover. For staking of plates, please contact us. Can be screwed on Kuhner EPFL-tray/ table.

Order number	Description
110684	Clamp for up to 12 sets of single-use deepwell MTP and sandwich cover. Can be screwed on Kuhner EPFL-tray/ table.

If you have specific requirements (e.g. you want to stake multiple plates) or further questions, please use the following banner to contact us.

Replacement parts

Order number	Description
104107	20x blue microfiber filter inlay for all types of deepwell covers and universal covers
104108	20x green ePTFE filter inlay for all types of deepwell covers and universal covers
104132	20x blue microfiber filter inlay for 104102 and 104129 covers for Corning MTPs
104133	20x green ePTFE filter inlay for 104102 and 104129 covers for Corning MTPs
104113	20x blue microfiber filter inlay for 104101
104109	20x green ePTFE filter inlay for 104101
104134	5x Replacement spongy silicone seal, 2.5 mm holes for sandwich cover for 24 deepwell MTP (104098, 104116)
104135	5x Replacement spongy silicone seal, 1.2 mm holes for sandwich cover 24 well MTP (104115, 104117, 104150)
104136	5x Replacement solid silicone seal, 2.5 mm holes, for universal cover 24-well MTPs, 19.5 mm hole distance (104121)
104137	5x Replacement solid silicone seal, 1.2 mm holes, for universal cover 24-well MTPs, 19.5 mm hole distance (104122)
104138	5x Replacement solid silicone seal, 2.5 mm holes, for universal cover 24-well MTPs, 18 mm hole distance (104123)
104139	5x Replacement solid silicone seal, 1.2 mm holes, for universal cover 24-well MTPs, 18 mm hole distance (104124)
104140	5x Replacement spongy silicone seal, 1.2 mm holes, for universal cover 24-well MTPs, 19.5 mm hole distance (104156)
104141	5x Replacement spongy silicone seal for sandwich cover for 24 lowwell MTP (104102)
104142	5x Replacement solid silicone seal for sandwich cover for 24 lowwell MTP, low evap. (104129)
104143	Stainless steel foil with pinholes for sandwich cover for 24 lowwell MTP (104129)
104144	5x Replacement spongy silicone seal for sandwich cover for 96 well MTP (104106, 104119, 104127, 1.5 mm holes)
104145	5x Replacement solid silicone seal for sandwich cover for 96 well MTP (104118, 104120, 104126, 0.8 mm holes)
104146	5x Replacement silicone seal for sandwich cover for 96 low roundwell MTP (104101)
104147	Stainless steel foil with pinholes for sandwich cover for 96 low roundwell MTP (104101)
104148	5x Replacement spongy silicone seal for universal sandwich cover for 6 lowwell MTP
104149	5x Replacement spongy silicone seal, 1.2 mm holes for sandwich cover 48 well MTP