What is the impact of the pore size selection of Filtered Pipette Tips on experimental samples?

Filtered Pipette Tips play a critical role in many experimental fields such as modern biology, chemistry and medicine. The selection of its pore size is directly related to the quality of experimental samples, the accuracy of experimental results and the repeatability of experiments.
First of all, the size of the pore size will affect the filtering effect of impurities in the sample. If the pore size is too large, some tiny impurity particles, such as cell debris, dust particles or undissolved substances, may enter the sample during the pipetting process. These impurities may interfere with the experimental reaction. For example, in cell culture experiments, impurities may adhere to the cell surface, affect the normal growth and metabolism of cells, and cause deviations in experimental data. On the contrary, if the pore size is too small, although it can intercept impurities more effectively, it may adsorb the target components in the sample, especially some macromolecules, such as proteins, nucleic acids, etc. This will lead to a decrease in sample concentration and also make the experimental results inaccurate.
For different types of experimental samples, the appropriate pore size is also different. When dealing with cell suspensions, it is usually necessary to select a pore size that can effectively filter out cell debris without causing damage to the cells. Generally speaking, a pore size of 0.2 - 0.45 microns is more commonly used. This pore size range can block most impurities such as cell debris and bacteria, ensuring the purity and activity of cells during pipetting. When conducting nucleic acid extraction experiments, in order to avoid the breakage of genomic DNA and ensure the integrity of RNA, the selection of the filter pore size should be more cautious. Usually, a pore size of about 0.2 microns is selected, which can not only remove possible impurities, but also minimize the shear force on nucleic acid molecules.
In addition, the filter pore size will also affect the accuracy and smoothness of pipetting. Too small a pore size may increase the resistance of the liquid when it passes through, resulting in a slower pipetting speed and even liquid residue. This will not only reduce the efficiency of the experiment, but may also affect the experimental results due to inaccurate pipetting volume. The appropriate filter pore size can ensure that the liquid passes smoothly through the pipette tip during the pipetting process, improving the accuracy and repeatability of the pipetting.