Planet-Safe® microplates from Diversified Biotech are made from polylactic acid (PLA), abiodegradable and compostable thermoplastic resin derived from a variety of non-GMO renewable resources such as sugar beets, sugarcane and corn.
Performance
PLA is a performance bioresin that is considerably morehydrophilic than petrochemical resins such as polystyrene. This beneficial property allows a variety of anchorage-dependent eukaryotic cell species to grow inliquid culture on the surface without added coatings suchas extracellular matrix (ECM), proteins, collagen, fibronectin, poly-D-lysine, or specialty plasma gas treatments. Test cultures with Planet-Safe® Cell Culture dishes show normal growth and support of adherent Human Embryonic Kidney-derived cells (HEK293) and Monkey Kidney Fibroblast-derived cells (COS). Observed growth rate and confluence results were comparable to leading tissue-culture treated polystyrene Petri dishes.
Furthermore, Petri dishes and microplates may be filled with gelled culture media for growing bacteria, yeasts and molds. Planet-Safe® labware has excellent optical transparency for microscopic examination of cells and outstanding resistance to many organic solvents including alcohols, ketones and hydrocarbons.
Disposal
Disposing of Planet-Safe® labware is convenient and environmentally sustainable. All Planet-Safe® labware is commercially compostable where available. When required, biohazardous Petri dishes may be incinerated releasing a neutral amount of carbon dioxide and water. Planet-Safe® may also be disposed of in a landfill providing a carbon sequestration benefit three times greater than that of polystyrene-based Petri dishes.
Temperature
PLA has a softening temperature which is lower than that of polystyrene. Accordingly, autoclave-sterilized agar-containing culture medium should be cooled to no morethan 65°C before pouring. In most applications, the optimum pouring temperature for agar-containing culture media is 50- 55°C as this temperature limits the amount of undesirable moisture condensation. Applications pouring above 65°C should test Planet-Safe® Petri dishes prior touse. Additionally, after pouring media, dishes should remain undisturbed for 2-3 minutes before moving to prevent warping
