VueLife^® FEP Bag - AC series 

Afc AC bags are unique in that the interior of the bags has been treated with electronic corona discharge in the same manner that is used for other tissue culture flasks. This permits reversible adherence of cells and proteins.

Adherence can be reversed by infusing air into the bag and permitting the interior surface to dry. Drying takes less than one minute and is readily apparent by visual observation. To release all cells, it is necessary to dry both sides of the bag by turning the bag over to allow the air to dry the opposite side.

The bag is not coated; corona discharge does not add any coating to the bag. Corona discharge rearranges chemical bonds on the surface of the bag to produce higher surface energy that is evident by being “wettable”. The surface energy exceeds 40 dynes per square centimeter.

These bags are folded near the port.  The fold functions to contain the air pocket to ensure that the bonds between the interior sides of the bag are maintained.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE

1. The surface of the inside of these bags has been modified to permit adherence.

2. The bags are supplied with the inside surfaces adhered together. If the bag is not stuck together, do not use it.

3. Do not permit air to contact the inside surface of the bag.

4. Do not flush the bag before use. There are no foreign materials in the bag.

5. Do not add anything to the bag before adding the materials that are to be adhered to the surface.

6. The first protein based material, such as a matrix or cell suspension, in the bag will adhere.

7. Fill with the bag hanging down so that any air stays at the top and does not contact the surface of the bag. If air makes contacts, the ability to adhere will be lost.

8. It may be necessary to squeeze the materials into the bag by “rolling” the bag.

9. Add the desired materials to the bag at temperatures ≥ 25°C. Stronger adherence is obtained at higher temperatures. Adherence is complete within 10 minutes.

10. Do not permit the inside of the bag to dry after coating.

11. If an intermediate protein is used such as retronectin or fibronectin, add the next phase as soon as possible after adhering the nectin.

12. Materials can be removed from the surfaces of the bag by permitting air to contact the surface. Air is added by syringe and permitted to cover each surface by turning the bag over. As soon as the surface is dry, usually less than one minute, adherence is reversed. The formerly adhered materials will be in solution, not on the surfaces. 

Some AC bags are packaged and shipped with the port(s) folded to contain the air pocket that forms when the port is welded to the bag.  It is important to maintain the bond between the interior walls of the bag due to the surface treatment.  If the bond is disturbed prior to the addition of matrix or cells, the surface energy of the bag is reduced.  The reduction in surface energy adversely affects the bonding of the matrices and cells.


If the matrix media or the cell suspension does not fill the bag easily, Afc recommends loosening the bond between the interior walls of the bag by adding media to the bag and “rolling” the media in the bag towards the opposite end of the bag.

1. Remove the bag from the autoclave pouch and unfold the bag.

                                


2. Load the bag with matrix media or cell suspension.

                      


3. If the matrix media or the cell suspension pools at the top of the bag, “roll” the matrix media or cell suspension towards the opposite end of the bag.

   
   

   1. Lay the loaded bag on a clean horizontal surface.

   
   

   2. Place the palm of your hand on top of the pooled matrix media or the cell suspension with your fingers pointed towards the opposite end of the bag.      

            
   

   3. Gently “roll” your palm over the pooled matrix media or the cell suspension, applying gentle pressure to the media, directing the media flow in to the rest of the bag.

              
   

    

4. Repeat this “rolling” step 2 or 3 times, until the matrix media or the cell suspension is dispersed throughout the bag.




5. Load the bag with the remainder of your matrix media or cell suspension.