Name of the equipment
Carbon Dioxide Incubator
Brand
BINDER C 170
Description
The CO2 incubator C 170 is equipped with a microprocessor controller for temperature and CO2 levels. It also has a water pan to maintain high humidity without condensation on the inner walls of the incubator. At TU307, it is ONLY set to maintain temperature and CO2 level at 37 °C and 5 vol.-%, respectively. These conditions are optimal for the growth and survival of many types of mammalian cells and tissues. CO2 helps to maintain the pH of the culture medium within the physiological range through the CO2-bicarbonate based buffer system. The atmospheric CO2 can dissolve into cell culture medium, and a small portion of it will react with water to form carbonic acid, which, in turn, reacts with the bicarbonate ion. Therefore, the amount of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) in the medium dictates the amount of CO2 that should be used to maintain the pH. As the incubator is used to serve the users of our whole department, it is normally not allowed to change the temperature and CO2 concentration of it.
Specification
The CO2 incubator can be operated in a temperature range from 7 °C / 12.6 °F above ambient temperature up to +50 °C / 122°F and a CO2 range of 0 vol.-% up to 20 vol.-%. The gas enters the chamber via a fine filter (aseptic filter) with a high filtration efficiency that also filters the smallest particles. High humidity is maintained using water pan without condensation.
Applications
It is ONLY used for cell/tissue culture of non-infectious mammalian cells or tissues. Virus packaging or cell/tissue infection experiments, and bacterial culture work are strictly prohibited. Electronic or heat-generating device is NOT allowed to be used in the incubator. The door of the incubator should always be closed except for putting in or taking out cultures of cell/tissue. Non-culturing work is NOT allowed to use the incubator.
Contact information
PIC: Dr. Stanley CHEUNG
Email: kwok-kuen-stanley.cheung@polyu.edu.hk
Office: TU305
