Gas Mixer for Hemoglobin Study

The use of gas mixtures dynamically created in the hemoglobin study.

Over the last century, the hemoglobin study has been, and it still is, the keystone in our understanding of human physiology. The importance of the role of hemoglobin and the studies undertaken over this molecule have allowed, starting from the pioneering works of enlightened minds such as Linus Pauling, Max Perutz, and many others until today’s worldwide research, the birth, and maturation of a new scientific branch: molecular medicine.

Being a fundamental component of the complex respiratory system of all vertebrates, hemoglobin has always been a highly interesting scientific subject, widely researched by using physical, chemical, physiological, and genetic methods. All these intense efforts allow modern medicine to have an unparalleled knowledge of hemoglobin molecular basis, DNA relations, structure-related functions, and more importantly its related diseases and their treatment.

Nevertheless, hemoglobin study constantly proves new and deeper connections between this molecule and other complex biological systems that then require new experimental approaches to be developed.

The Role of Hemoglobin.

Hemoglobin is a macromolecule made up of four protein molecules, the globulin chains called myoglobin, connected together. The normal adult hemoglobin molecule contains 2 alpha-globulin chains and 2 beta-globulin chains. The dry content of the red blood cells, the most abundant cells in vertebrate blood, is composed of up to 97% of hemoglobin. Its main function is to transport oxygen (O2) from the lungs to tissues (taking the role of oxygen binding protein, the hemoglobin increases the total blood oxygen capacity seventyfold) and to return carbon dioxide (CO2) from the tissues to the lungs or gills.

Each globulin chain contains an iron ion embedded in a porphyrin molecule called heme, which directly binds the oxygen molecule and which is also responsible for the red color of blood. The heme also specifically interacts with the two other gases, carbon monoxide (CO) and nitric oxide (NO), both with important biological roles. The interaction between carbon dioxide and hemoglobin is instead carried out by the amino-terminal residues of the protein.

Hemoglobin branches of study.

Even if hemoglobin is perhaps the best studied of all macromolecules, it has not revealed all its secrets yet, leading to a need for deeper research to be undertaken. Since hemoglobin takes a crucial role in the complex systems at the base of life itself, its related diseases are well-known and well-studied.

Moreover, the presence of hemoglobin in all the vertebrates, with slight differences that distinguish them from each other, offers the possibility to undertake both animal and human blood experimentation. Sickle cell disease and thalassemia are two of the major examples of hemoglobin research applications. Sickle cell disease, a syndrome connected with a hemoglobin gene mutation, has been studied since the early years of the past century but an efficient cure is still far from being discovered (patients affected by this disease still have an average life expectancy of 45 years).

Thalassemia, a disease connected to an incorrect hemoglobin rate of synthesis, causes the underproduction of normal globin proteins leading to the accumulation of abnormal hemoglobin molecules (with less oxygen binding capacity) inside the bloodstream. Either or both of these syndromes may cause anemia, which is another common topic of hemoglobin research. Other common applications range over the tumor research field, the study of cardiovascular disease, diabetes cure development, carbon monoxide poisoning, and many more.

The MCQ Instruments solution.

The common hemoglobin experimental hardware configuration required a controlled atmosphere chamber in which a proper gas mixture is flown. The components of this mixture are usually O2 and CO2 with N2 as the balance gas. The rate of O2 and/or CO2 in the mixture may vary depending on the experiment but a fine control that allows to monitor and adjust the rate during the procedure, i.e. dynamic mixture management, is always required.

For these applications, MCQ instruments suggest the use of the MCQ Gas Blender Series, high precision Gas Mixers designed to work with up to 6 components of dynamic gas mixtures. Each gas media is connected to a dedicated instrument channel and for each channel, MCQ guarantees high accuracy (1.0% of setpoint), high repeatability (0.16% of reading value), and a fast response time for set point change.

The MCQ Gas Blender Series are versatile instruments, easy to configure, and adaptable to many different laboratory applications. The gas mixers work with dry, non-aggressive gas media, and the channels are always calibrated with native gases following the customer’s request.

MCQ Instruments also provide the SOFTWARE for gas mixture management, the MCQ Gas Mixture Creator Software. Easy to use, and compatible with any common desktop or laptop pc, MCQ Gas Mixture Creator Software allows taking complete control over the instrument and its functions with automation, letting the user start working with dynamic gas mixtures immediately.

• Hardware Configuration

A simple example of MCQ Gas Blender Series hardware configuration is represented in the image below. The Gas Mixer works with dry, non-aggressive gases. The gas sources can be both pure or mixtures (in our example pure gases have been chosen for simplicity).

The gas cylinders are connected to the gas mixer through 6 mm diameter tubes and a check valve is installed on each line as a back-flow prevention device. Each gas media is connected and controlled by a dedicated channel of the Gas Blender. Another 6 mm tube finally connects the Gas Mixer to the working system in which the experiment takes place. The relative amount of O2 and CO2 in the coming out mixture can be adjusted with ease, monitored, and modified by the user via the MCQ Gas Mixture Creator Software.

In the diagram shown below the working system is a controlled atmosphere chamber. These kinds of chambers control internal humidity and temperature and allow the user to handle the system with apposite gloves. Even if this configuration is an optimal experimental choice, the MCQ Gas Blenders can adapt efficiently to a wide range of other working set-ups.

Choose your Gas Mixer.

Easy to Use, automated, flexible, multi-gas types. Start creating your dynamic Gas Mixtures by just using pure gases.

GB100

Total Flow Rate: Up to 1,5 L/min

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