Microspheres (also called latex beads or latex particles) are spherical particles in the colloidal size range that are formed from an amorphous polymer such as polystyrene. Because of the way that the polystyrene chains arrange themselves in the bead, the surface is very hydrophobic in character, making these ideal materials for the adsorption of materials such as proteins.

These sulfate latex microspheres are stabilized by sulfate charges. In some cases, hydroxyl and carboxyl groups are also present in small amounts bound to the polymer chains. The pKa of the sulfate group is <2 and consequently the particles are stable in acidic media. Suspensions of the particles are stable up to almost 0.30 M univalent electrolyte concentrations and therefore may be used in media of physiological ionic strength. However they are hydrophobic particles and will undergo aggregation in the presence of low concentrations of divalent or trivalent cations unless stabilized by a hydrophilic coating. Sulfate latex is suitable for calibration of particle size analysis equipment and are also appropriate for use in diagnostic test systems which rely upon physical adsorption of antigens or antibodies.

Microspheres Are Available in Many Sizes and Surface Functionalities
• 25 sizes to choose from—0.02 microns to 16 microns
• 20 different surface—for ready conjugation to virtually any material
• Surfactant free—ultraclean
• Various quantities—from milliliter to 500-liter amounts

Key Applications of Microspheres
• Instrument calibration (flow cytometry, microscopy, HTS, HCS)
• Flow testing (microfluidics, blood flow, water flow, and air flow)
• Cell biology tracers (cell differentiation and cell tracing)
• Immunoassays (agglutination tests, ELISA, particle capture, and contrast reagents)

Get More Information
Read a technical overview of microspheres and find out about high activity beads, super active beads, specialty beads, and review bead-coupling protocols on the IDC Surfactant-free Latex Beads application page.

We’ll Make a Custom Microsphere Product for You
If you don’t see the microsphere you’re looking for in our stocked list, we’ll make a custom microsphere for you. Our custom conjugation service is efficient and confidential, and we guarantee the quality of our work. We are ISO 13485:2000 certified.

For Research Use Only. Not intended for animal or human therapeutic or diagnostic use.