LodeStars™ are high performance, superparamagnetic particles with excellent physical and chemical characteristics designed for biomagnetic separations. Based on PL's patented technology and experience, LodeStars is a powerful magnetic platform for bioscience and life science applications. LodeStars are polymer microparticles with a microcrystalline ferric oxide component uniformly dispersed throughout the bead. This provides the beads with their superparamagnetic properties, causing them to move rapidly in an applied magnetic field. Also, because no permanent magnetism is induced, the LodeStars fully disperse once the field is removed.
The beads are coated in a polymer shell which provides two key properties. This design ensures that the iron is protected inside the bead and cannot interfere with biological reagents. In addition, the polymer coating provides chemical groups for covalent attachment of biological molecules, eg antibodies for immunocapture.
LodeStars are used as a solid phase in manual and automated bioassay, and to isolate and manipulate targets in biological samples, eg cells, proteins and other molecules.
The functionality of LodeStars is determined by the coupling of specific biomolecules to the beads' surface, eg antibodies, streptavidin, lectins, DNA binding proteins, etc. In bioassays, this determines which analyte is measured and in isolations, which component of a complex biological mixture will be separated.
Polymer Laboratories (PL), now a part of Varian, Inc., is the largest independent bead developer and manufacturer in the bioscience industry. Founded in 1976, PL has 180 staff serving major markets in bead-based assays, chromatography media, resins for combichem, and supports for peptide and oligonucleotide synthesis.
PL manufactures polymer microparticles and latexes with engineered structure and highly controlled surfaces with batch-to-batch consistency. In response to client partners' needs, PL applies its abilities and technologies to make bead products directed towards specific applications. As a result, PL is a key OEM development partner and supplier of beads to major diagnostic and bioscience companies worldwide. Headquarters and state-of-the-art production and R&D facilities are at Church Stretton, UK, with subsidiary offices located in Amherst MA (USA), Darmstadt (Germany), Marseille (France) and Middelburg (Benelux region). PL's particle technologies are supported by patents, exclusive licenses, non-exclusive licenses, trademarks, and over 30 years of proprietary experience.