Ultrasonicators for Life Science
Ultrasonicators play a critical role in the extraction and processing of biological samples for genomics, proteomics, and diagnostic applications. By effectively disrupting a wide range of cell and tissue types, ultrasonicators facilitate the isolation and analysis of DNA, RNA, and proteins, thereby advancing research in molecular biology and biotechnology. Whether working with bacterial cells or human tissues, researchers rely on the precision and efficiency of ultrasonicators to obtain high-quality biological extracts for their studies.

Hielscher Ultrasonics supplies powerful non-contact sonicators for sample preparation and clinical analysis. The Multi-well plate sonicator UIP400MTP, the VialTweeter, the CupHorn and the GDmini2 flow sonicator process the samples without touching them.

High-throughput sonicator UIP400MTP for lysis, protein and DNA / RNA purification and nucleic acid shearing.
High-Throughput Sonicators for Lysis and DNA Shearing
For the processing of high sample sample numbers, Hielscher Ultrasonics offers state-of-the-art non-contact ultrasonicators, which allow the simultaneous sonication of numerous samples in 96-well, multi-well and microtiter plates, test tubes and vials or small vessels.
Depending on your sample number and your preferred sample container, you can choose between the Multi-well Plate Sonicator UIP400MTP, the VialTweeter or the CupHorn. If you want to sonicate smaller volume streams inline, the GDmini2 inline reactor is the ideal ultrasonic setup for you.
A major advantage of all Hielscher multi-sample sonicators is the fact that you can use the sample container of your choice! No need to buy expensive proprietary plates or tubes! Select the usual standard multi-well plates and test vials that are ideal for your experiments.
Read more about Hielscher non-contact sonicators for sample preparation!
High-throughput sonicators are powerful tools in biomarker analysis and life science for several reasons:
Efficient Cell Lysis and Tissue Disruption | Hielscher high-throughput, non-contact sonicators effectively lyse cell suspensions and tissues, ensuring comprehensive release of intracellular components, which is critical for accurate biomarker analysis. |
Scalability and Throughput | By accommodating 96-well and multiwell plates or multiple test tubes, high-throughput sonicators enable the processing of numerous samples simultaneously. This scalability is essential for large-scale studies and high-throughput screening applications. |
Uniform Sample Processing | Ensuring consistency across multiple samples is crucial for reliable biomarker quantification. Sonication provides uniform lysis conditions, reducing variability between samples. |
Non-Contact Sonication | With Hielscher non-contact sonicators, you can process high sample number in sealed containers without adding or inserting anything into the sample. This provides any cross-contamination and sample loss. |
Versatile Applications | Multi-sample sonicators can extract a wide range of biomolecules, including proteins, DNA, RNA, and metabolites, from various sample types. Nucleic acid shearing is another power application of ultrasonicators. By adjusting sonication intensity, DNA and RNA can be fragmented to a target basepair length. This versatility makes them indispensable in life science, genomic and proteomic studies as well as for diagnostic screenings. |
Reduced Processing Time | The ability to process many samples in parallel significantly reduces the time required for sample preparation, facilitating faster experimental workflows and data acquisition. |
Ultrasonic Applications in Life Sciences
High-throughput, multi-sample sonicators are indispensable lab equipment since sonication can fulfill various tasks.
- Cell Disruption and Lysis: Ultrasonicators are highly effective in breaking open cell membranes to release cellular contents, such as proteins, DNA, and RNA. This is crucial for downstream applications like PCR, Western blotting, and enzymatic assays. Read more about sonication for lysis!
- Shearing of Nucleic Acids: High-throughput sonicators are used to shear DNA and RNA into fragments of desired lengths, which is essential for next-generation sequencing and other genomic applications. In chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays, ultrasonication is employed to shear chromatin, enabling the study of protein-DNA interactions and epigenetic modifications. Read more about ultrasonic shearing of nucleic acids!
- Homogenization: Homogenization and cell solubilization involves the uniform mixing of samples. Ultrasonication ensures that cells, tissues, and other biological materials are evenly dispersed, enhancing the consistency and reproducibility of experiments.
- Extraction: Ultrasonicators facilitate the extraction of bioactive compounds from cell suspensions, tissues, plant materials, microorganisms, and other biological sources. High-throughput ultrasonicators are capable to sonify fresh, frozen and fixed tissues.
- Deparaffinization: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues require a deparaffinization step before proteins or nucleic acids can be extracted and purified. Ultrasonication helps to remove the paraffin quickly without using toxic chemicals such as xylene or xylol. Read more about sonication of FFPE tissue!
- Biofilm Dislodging / Removal: Microtiter plates are one of the most commonly used scaffolds for biofilm cultivation. Other solid substrates include Petri dishes, pins, pegs or small metal rods. After cultivation, the biofilm must be gently removed for subsequent analysis such as assays. Sonication is a highly efficient technique to remove biofilms from scaffolds.
Read more about biofilm dislodging using the microtiter plate sonicator UIP400MTP!

Multi-Sample Sonicator “VialTweeter” for the simultaneous sample preparation of multiple sealed vials and test tubes
Join the global community of scientists and industry leaders who trust Hielscher Ultrasonics to deliver cutting-edge ultrasonic solutions that drive progress and innovation in life sciences. For more information on selecting the right ultrasonicator and exploring its applications in life science, feel free to contact our team of experts. We are here to help you achieve and facilitate your research goals with the best ultrasonication solutions. Whether you are looking for high-throughput sonication or a customized solution, we have the right sonicator for your life science experiments.
The table below gives you an indication of the approximate processing capacity of our lab-size ultrasonicators used in life science, genomics, proteomics and diagnostics:
Recommended Devices | Batch Volume | Flow Rate |
---|---|---|
UIP400MTP 96-Well Plate Sonicator | multi-well / microtiter plates | n.a. |
Ultrasonic CupHorn | CupHorn for vials or beaker | n.a. |
GDmini2 | ultrasonic micro-flow reactor | n.a. |
VialTweeter | 0.5 to 1.5mL | n.a. |
UP100H | 1 to 500mL | 10 to 200mL/min |
UP200Ht, UP200St | 10 to 1000mL | 20 to 200mL/min |
UP400St | 10 to 2000mL | 20 to 400mL/min |
Ultrasonic Sieve Shaker | n.a. | n.a. |
Contact Us! / Ask Us!
Literature / References
- FactSheet UIP400MTP Plate-Sonicator for High-Throughput Sample Preparation – English version – Hielscher Ultrasonics
- FactSheet VialTweeter – Sonicator for Simultaneous Sample Preparation
- FactSheet UIP400MTP Plate-Sonicator für die High-Throughput Probenvorbereitung in 96-Well-Platten – deutsch – Hielscher Ultrasonics
- Jorge S., Pereira K., López-Fernández H., LaFramboise W., Dhir R., Fernández-Lodeiro J., Lodeiro C., Santos H.M., Capelo-Martínez J.L. (2020): Ultrasonic-assisted extraction and digestion of proteins from solid biopsies followed by peptide sequential extraction hyphenated to MALDI-based profiling holds the promise of distinguishing renal oncocytoma from chromophobe renal cell carcinoma. Talanta, 2020.
- Nordenfelt P, Waldemarson S, Linder A, Mörgelin M, Karlsson C, Malmström J, Björck L. (2012): Antibody orientation at bacterial surfaces is related to invasive infection. Journal of Experimental Medicine 17;209(13), 2012. 2367-81.
- Giricz Z., Varga Z.V., Koncsos G., Nagy C.T., Görbe A., Mentzer R.M. Jr, Gottlieb R.A., Ferdinandy P. (2017): Autophagosome formation is required for cardioprotection by chloramphenicol. Life Science Oct 2017. 11-16.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Classified as Life Science?
Life science is a broad and multidisciplinary field that encompasses the study of living organisms and life processes. It integrates various scientific disciplines to explore the structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, and distribution of living entities. Life sciences play a crucial role in understanding the complex mechanisms of life, which has profound implications for health, environmental conservation, agriculture, and biotechnology. Advances in life sciences lead to the development of new medical treatments, sustainable agricultural practices, and solutions to environmental challenges.
What are the 3 Major Categories of Life Sciences?
The research field of Life Science can be broadly categorized into three major areas: basic life science, applied life science, and translational research. Each of these categories plays a crucial role in advancing our understanding of living organisms and applying that knowledge to address real-world problems.
Basic life science lays the groundwork by uncovering fundamental biological principles. Applied life science takes these discoveries and turns them into practical solutions. Translational research ensures that these solutions reach the people who need them, bridging the gap between the lab and real-world applications. Together, these categories of research drive innovation and progress in the life sciences.
What are the Key Research Methods in Life Science?
The diverse research methods in life science enable scientists to explore and understand the complexities of living organisms from multiple perspectives. By employing a combination of experimental, observational, molecular, computational, and field-based approaches, researchers can uncover the fundamental principles of life, develop new technologies, and address pressing challenges in health, agriculture, and the environment.
Life science employs various research methods to explore biological phenomena. The following list categorizes the key methods:
- Experimental research involves manipulating variables to observe effects and establish cause-and-effect relationships. It is conducted under controlled conditions with systematic manipulation and replication. Examples include cell culture experiments, animal models, and clinical trials.
- Observational studies focus on observing and recording behavior or characteristics without manipulation. These studies are conducted in natural settings, identifying correlations without establishing causation. Common examples are epidemiological studies, behavioral studies, and longitudinal studies.
- Molecular and genetic techniques study biomolecules and genes to understand their structure, function, and interactions. These techniques are precise and involve manipulation and analysis. Examples include PCR, CRISPR-Cas9, and sequencing.
- Microscopy uses microscopes to visualize small structures, providing high-resolution images. Different types of microscopy include light microscopy, electron microscopy, and fluorescence microscopy.
- Bioinformatics and computational biology utilize computational tools to analyze biological data. They handle large data sets and involve data analysis. Examples include genome assembly, protein structure prediction, and systems biology.
- Field studies collect data from natural environments, focusing on biodiversity and ecology. Examples include ecological surveys, conservation biology, and environmental monitoring.
- Biochemical assays measure the concentration or activity of biomolecules, providing quantitative and specific data. Common examples are enzyme activity assays, Western blotting, and ELISA.
These methods enable scientists to investigate the complexities of life from multiple perspectives, driving advancements in health, agriculture, and environmental sciences.

Hielscher Ultrasonics manufactures high-performance ultrasonic homogenizers from lab to industrial size.