Preventing Cell Culture Contaminationwith Copper CO2 Incubators

In that study, CAMR showed thatcopper piping reduces the growthof Legionella pneumophila,causitive agent of Legionaire’sDisease. This is the same testingfacility that certifies many ThermoScientific centrifuge rotors forbiocontainment. CAMR alsoclearly documented that theThermo Scientific HeracellContraCon heat cycle effectivelykills fungus and bacteria2.

There are many examples of copperacting as a microcide in everydayproducts, for example:• Incorporated into cement or

paint, it prevents bacterial andfungal growth (for example, inhumid basements)

• It reduces bacteria and algae incooling sytems and towers

• Copper plumbing pipes reducethe threat from the bacteriaLegionella pneumophila

• Brass (copper/zinc alloy) used inmachining coolant filtersremoves bacteria and algae

• Copper-sulfate and -chelateaquacides control aquatic pestsin ponds and municipal watersupplies

• Copper-based pesticides controlnematodes and fungi

IntroductionA CO2 incubator provides anexcellent growth environment forcell cultures. However, the samewarm, humid conditions can alsosustain the growth of contaminatingmicroorganisms. From easy-to-clean design to external waterreservoirs and heat decontaminationcycles, Thermo ScientificHeracell® CO2 incubators areproven to prevent and eliminatecontamination1-3.

AAnnttiimmiiccrroobbiiaall aaccttiioonn ooff ccooppppeerrRecords from early civilizationsdemonstrate that copper caninhibit the growth of many differentmicroorganisms. Reviews of modern literature4 indicate thatcopper slows or stops growth ofmany organisms, including bacteria,fungi, algae and yeast. Copperions bond to contaminants and thendisrupt key proteins and processesthat are critical to microbial life.For instance, the suppression ofbacterial colonization by solidcopper was recently demonstratedin Porton Down, England by theCentre for Applied Microbiologyand Research (CAMR)5.

Our Heracell® CO2 Incubator, availablewith a microcidal solid copper interior

Application Note: ANCO2PRECON 0809

Preventing Cell CultureContaminationCopper CO2 Incubators

Copper in incubatorsCopper reduces microbes in awide variety of equipment, including medical and scientificdevices such as incubators.

Years of experience show thatcopper wire, copper sulfate or evenpennies added to water reservoirsof CO2 incubators significantlyinhibit microbial growth. Evenbetter, solid copper surfaces clearlyreduce the proliferation of contaminants4.

Thermo Scientific Heraeus CO2incubators are available with interiors made from solid copper.Copper, in scientific instruments,has proven antimicrobial properties.

Because the copper ions do notbecome airborne, they pose nothreat to precious cells incubatedin culture flasks on coppershelves.

Imam El-Danasouri, DVM, Ph.D., HCLD. Director, California Reproductive Laboratories,1700 California Street #570, San Francisco CA 94109Daniel Schroen, Ph.D. Senior Application Scientist, Thermo Fisher Scientific

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Dr. Imam El-Danasouri, a long-time user of copper incubatorswas recently interviewed:

“In addition to your position at California ReproductiveLaboratories, what other positionshave you held?”

Dr. Danasouri “Professor ofOB/GYN, Chieti University, Italy,Scientific Director of the EuropeanInstitute of ReproductiveEndocrinology and Infertility,Chieti, Italy, and ScientificDirector at the Institute ofReproductive Endocrinology, Ulm, Germany.”

“Please describe your experiencewith CO2 incubators”

Dr. Danasouri “I have used CO2incubators for research as well asfor the culture of cells from different species for more than 25 years.”

“What is your experience of usingHeracell Copper incubators?”

Dr. Danasouri “I first used copperCO2 incubators in 1989 atStanford University MedicalSchool. Since then, I have beenusing only copper incubators inall the laboratories I supervise inthe USA, Germany and Italy.

Recently, I ordered two new copper incubators for the EgyptAir Hospital in Cairo, Egypt.”

“Why did you choose copperincubators?”

Dr. Danasouri “Infection withinthe incubator is detrimental to thecells. Since copper inhibits bacteriaor fungus growth on copper surfaces, copper incubators reducethe possibility for infection in thehumidification water or on the incubator walls. Studies on thecontamination of cell culturemedia with heavy metals haveshown that there are no traces ofcopper in media from the copperincubator.”

“What types of cells have youused with copper incubators?”

Dr. Danasouri “I have used copper incubators for human andmouse cultures. I have also cultured many other cell types inthe copper incubators, such asendometrial, epithelial and stromal cells, and tubal epithelialcells from monkeys, cows andhumans. Many other cell lineshave been cultured successfully inthe incubators.”

References1) Incubators with Thermal

Disinfection Cycles (2000).Genetic Engineering News.20:37.

2) Eliminate IncubatorContamination with ThermoScientific Heracell. ApplicationNote AN-LECO2ELIMCON-1107

3) Decontamination Cycles inHeraeus BBD 6220 andHeracell Incubators CompletelyEliminate Mycoplasma.Application Note AN-LECO2DECONCYC-1107

4) Copper DevelopmentAssociation, 260 MadisonAvenue, New York, NY 10016, 212-251-7200 Ph,212-251-7234 Fax,Staff@cda.copper.org,www.copper.org

5) The Influence of PlumbingMaterial, Water Chemistry andTemperature on Biofouling ofPlumbing Circuits withParticular Reference to theColonization ofLegionellaPneumophila (1993).ICA Project 437B

4-cell animal embryo (x 200) Endrometrial epithelial cell culture(x 200)

www.thermo.com/incubators