Overview
Tween 80 Nutrient Agar is a specialized growth medium combining the emulsifier polysorbate 80 (Tween 80) with nutrient-rich components. Developed for microbiological applications, it serves as both a culture base and indicator medium for organisms capable of lipid metabolism. The formulation typically includes pancreatic digest of casein (peptone), yeast extract, agar, and 1% Tween 80 as the key differentiating component. This medium gained prominence in mid-20th century microbiology when the need arose for detecting lipase-producing microorganisms in industrial and clinical samples. Its standardized composition allows for reproducible results across laboratories, making it a staple in quality control protocols for products containing oils or fats.
Physical and Chemical Properties
The dry powder form exhibits hygroscopic properties and must be protected from moisture. When prepared according to manufacturer instructions, it yields a translucent gel with slight opalescence due to the dispersed Tween 80 micelles. The pH is carefully buffered to neutral (6.8-7.2) to accommodate most mesophilic microorganisms. Key chemical interactions occur between the nonionic surfactant (Tween 80) and microbial lipases, which hydrolyze the surfactant to release oleic acid. This creates visible precipitation zones around positive colonies. The agar component provides structural support at concentrations typically between 1.2-1.5%, forming a stable gel below 40°C that remains solid at incubation temperatures.
Main Applications
Primary applications focus on detecting lipolytic activity in microorganisms. In pharmaceutical manufacturing, it's used for microbial limit testing of ointments and creams. Food laboratories employ it for dairy product analysis, particularly for identifying spoilage organisms in butter and oils. The cosmetic industry utilizes it in preservative efficacy testing for products containing emulsifiers. Environmental monitoring programs incorporate Tween 80 Nutrient Agar for assessing microbial contamination in production facilities handling lipid-based materials. Clinical applications include isolation of Corynebacterium species and other lipase-producing pathogens. Recent adaptations incorporate selective agents for specific sectors, such as cycloheximide for fungal selection in cosmetic testing.
Safety and Storage
While non-toxic, prepared plates should be treated as potential biohazards after inoculation. Dry powder has indefinite stability when stored in sealed containers below 30°C with desiccants. Prepared media in bottles or tubes maintain quality for 3-4 weeks at 2-8°C if properly sealed to prevent dehydration. Autoclaving at 121°C for 15 minutes ensures sterility but may darken the medium slightly. Quality control measures include testing each batch with known lipase-positive (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus) and negative controls. Discard any medium showing signs of contamination, discoloration, or premature gel weakening. Personal protective equipment (gloves, lab coat) is recommended during preparation to maintain aseptic conditions.
B2B Procurement Guide
When sourcing Tween 80 Nutrient Agar, prioritize suppliers with ISO 13485 or cGMP certification for microbiological media. Key specifications to verify include: peptone source consistency (typically casein-based), Tween 80 concentration (1.0±0.1%), and absence of selective inhibitors unless specifically required. Bulk purchases (5kg+) typically offer 20-30% cost savings but require proper storage facilities. For regulated industries, request certificates of analysis including pH, gel strength, and growth promotion test results. Consider ready-poured plates for high-throughput operations, though these command a 40-60% price premium over bulk powder. Lead times vary from 2 weeks (standard formulations) to 6 weeks for custom modifications. Establish quality agreements specifying acceptable performance criteria and replacement policies for non-conforming batches.
Related Manufacturers
- 主营：试剂盒、增菌液、平板9cm、营养琼脂、m17琼脂、化妆品、blb琼脂、培养皿、肠球菌、mrs琼脂、gam琼脂、bhi琼脂、肉汤lb2、培养基、厌氧产、菌落计数、采样管、采样袋、水样采集袋、菌片、分离培养、琼脂平板、食品检验、药典、鉴定条
- 主营：培养基、培养皿、菌检测、吐温80营养琼脂、菌落计数器、水质检测、ms培养基、微生物检测仪器设备、接种环、微生物检验、微生物检测、程控定量封口机、支原体培养基、路桥培养基、马铃薯葡萄糖琼脂培养基、三药培养基、海博培养基、菌种鉴定
- 主营：折射仪、钼酸铵、弹簧钢、分装瓶、指示剂、水分仪、方钢坯、合金钢、容器板、离子计、测定仪、容器钢、六角钢、测试片、样品瓶、浊度计、穿线管、齿轮钢、测试笔、切定尺、样品杯、清洗液、比色皿、排型钢、移液管
- 主营：研突破、转座酶、重组酶、连接酶、研试剂、(5×)(with、recombinant、结合蛋白、胶体染料、核酸染料、助力科研、大肠杆菌、泛素蛋白、实验室用品、重组肠激酶、电泳缓冲液、拓扑异构酶、热敏磷酸酶、检测试剂盒、全能核酸酶、核酸外切酶、核酸内切酶、连接试剂盒、碱性磷酸酶、微球菌核酸酶
- 主营：科研试剂、高效试剂
- 主营：琼脂培养基
- 主营：微生物菌种、标准菌株、益生菌、食用菌
- 主营：培养基、成品培养基、细胞培养基、营养琼脂、平板计数琼脂、沙氏琼脂、胰蛋白胨大豆琼脂、哥伦比亚血琼脂、显色培养基
- 主营：抗体、感受态、培养基、试剂盒、层析柱、填料、生物试剂、化学试剂
- 主营：化学试剂、生物生化试剂、标准物质、实验耗材、仪器、实验室化玻、电子化学品
- 主营：生化试剂、蛋白与免疫、ELISA、生化试剂盒、染色试剂、微生物培养、磁珠、纳米材料、抗体
- 主营：微生物培养基、培养基
- 主营：钢丝管、冲水阀、减压阀、充电器、污水泵、吸顶灯、密封带、波纹管、防爆灯、清水泵、橡胶管、搬运车、减压器、物料盒、感应门、截止阀、小推车、抽水机、洗车机、电压表、耐油管、周转箱、数显表、安全阀、探照灯
- 主营：感受态、扁桃体、淋巴管、吐温80、干细胞、狗血浆、羊血浆、导管癌、原细胞、青霉素、营养液、无酚红、癌细胞、小细胞、胰腺癌、输尿管、抗凝鸡、缓冲液、鸭血清、猪血清、人韧带、培养基、肝素钠、牛血浆、马血清、白细胞
- 主营：7h9肉汤、肉汤管、大肠杆菌、吐温80、琼脂培养基、磷酸盐缓冲液、胰蛋白胨胆盐