PIXUL™ MULTI-SAMPLE SONICATOR
Extremely Consistent High-Throughput Shearing for Multi-Omics Applications
ChIP-Seq

Epigenomics

Genomics
NGS

Mass SpecProteomics

Without Consistent Sonication, Nothing Else Matters
PIXUL (short for PIXelated ULtrasound) offers an affordable, simple, rapid, and extremely consistentsolution to high-throughput chromatin, DNA, RNA, and protein shearing.

To request a quote or schedule a
PIXUL evaluation in your lab, visit
activemotif.com/pixul-info.

Everything required for consistent sonication is included in a small benchtop footprint,making powerful shearing and sample preparation accessible to all researchers.

PIXUL Multi-Sample Sonicator Highlights:
Consistent: Process 1-96 samples simultaneously withextremely high reproducibility.
Simple: Fast setup, short learning curve, and easy
operation with intuitive touchscreen.
Fast: Arrayed transducers and no degassing
required saves time.
Flexible: Use up to 12 different sonication conditions per
run in 96-well plates for simultaneous processing of multiple
sample types and rapid optimization for difficult samples.
Affordable: No requirement for buying accessories or
expensive proprietary plates or tubes.

2

activemotif.com/pixul

Enabling Epigenetics Research

The Future of Sonication is Here
Upgrade to PIXUL to achieve truly reproducible shearing.

Sonication Has Finally Been Upgraded!
Sonication is required for many experimental workflows, including genomics,epigenomics, and proteomics, as part of the sample preparation protocol.
However, this critical step in the experiments has not evolved as fast
as the experimental technology itself.
Until now. The PIXUL™ Multi-Sample Sonicator from Active Motif combines the benefitsof the existing sonication technologies, while also eliminating the drawbacks, resulting in a
powerful and disruptive new approach to sonication that is changing the way researchers areable to perform sample preparation for modern multi-omics studies.

Compatible applications:•

Processing samples directly from cells or tissue•

Shearing purified genomic DNA (gDNA) for NGS assays•

Shearing chromatin for ChIP assays•

Shearing RNA for transcriptomics assays•

Sample preparation for proteomics studies•

Easily process the most difficult samples types, including
neurons, FFPE tissue, macrophages, fatty tissue, planttissue, and more.

Limitations of Older Sonication Technology
Probe sonicators can get the job done for small experiments, andare cheap, but are plagued by issues with inconsistent sonication andvariability between samples.
Water bath sonicators started to address the throughput problems,
but have issues with inconsistency and inefficient sonication,
especially for difficult sample types.
Focused ultrasonicators have made strides in increasing throughput
and sonication quality, but are expensive, require costly proprietaryconsumables, take up a lot of space, and are difficult and timeconsuming to operate.

PIXUL

3

Enabling Epigene

Plug and Play Sonication. Taken to the Next Level.
Powerful sonication doesn’t need to be expensive or complicated.

Start sonicating in minutes.

1Start Cooling. Tap a single button to start cooling theCoupling Fluid and PIXUL will be ready to sonicate within
6 minutes. No other setup or maintenance required.

2

Program Sonication Conditions. Intuitive touchscreen
allows up to 12 different sonication conditions per run to
be programmed in seconds.

3Sonicate. Process 1-96 samples in standard, affordable
96-well cell culture plates in only 30 minutes. No need
to wait longer for larger experiments. Now you can domore, faster.

4

activemotif.com/pixul

Enabling Epigenetics ResearchThe PIXUL Difference
The PIXUL Multi-Sample Sonicator is not just another sonicator. It was completely redesigned from the ground up by a collaborative team ofultrasonication experts, software and hardware engineers, and leading epigenetics and multi-omics researchers.

It’s all about the transducers.
Transducers generate the ultrasonic energy required forsonication. Their nature and position create the difference
between inefficient and unpredictable sonication andconsistent sonication you can trust.
What sets PIXUL apart from all other sonication instruments
is its array of transducers. This unique transducer array allows
rapid high-throughput sonication of up to 96 samples and up
to 12 different sonication conditions in single run.
The focused ultrasound that PIXUL delivers to the sample,
along with the novel formulation of the Coupling Fluid,
facilitate efficient transfer of the ultrasonic energy every time.
There’s no water bath between the transducer and your sample
to cause inefficient and inconsistent sonication.

PIXUL5Enabling Epigene

Extremely Consistent Shearing of Genomic DNA with PIXULHighly efficient reproducible shearing of genomic DNA to an appropriate size for NGS library preparationis required for generation of high-quality sequencing data. Manual shearing with a probe sonicator orinconsistent shearing with other high-throughput sonicators can lead to sample-to-sample variability andunpredictable results.

Sample compatibility: Shearing
genomic DNA with PIXUL iscompatible with a wide range of
purified gDNA (500 ng -20 µg) andcell number (100K - 5M).

Consistent Shearing of Purified Genomic DNA with PIXULThe PIXUL Multi-Sample Sonicator consistently sonicates purified
genomic DNA samples to an optimal fragmentation profile for NGS library
preparation. 10 µg of salmon sperm DNA was loaded into each well of thePIXUL 96-well plate. The samples were processed for 36 minutes using thePIXUL gDNA Shearing Kit. Fragmentation profiles were examined using anAgilent Fragment Analyzer. Highly consistent average fragment lengths wereobserved across the entire plate.

Consistent Shearing of Genomic DNA Directly From Cells with PIXULThe PIXUL Multi-Sample Sonicator consistently sonicates genomic DNA directlyfrom cell or tissue samples. This experiment shows sonication of samples containing 100,000 or 1,000,000 cells grown directly in 96-well PIXUL plates. No cell
harvesting or transfer to different plates is required.

Expected values

6

activemotif.com/pixul

Enabling Epigenetics Research

PIXUL Delivers Consistent Chromatin Shearing for ChIP-Seq
ChIP-Seq studies benefit from relatively narrow and consistent chromatin shearing profiles, as this canimprove the resolution of transcription factor binding sites or the locations of histone post-translational
modifications and ensure that ChIP-Seq data is reproducible.

Sample compatibility: Shearing
chromatin with PIXUL is compatible
with a wide range of cell numbers(100K – 5M) and tissue amounts (50– 200 mg) per well.

Sonication of Chromatin Directlyfrom Cells Grown in PIXUL Plates
The PIXUL Multi-Sample Sonicatorconsistently sonicates chromatin to an
optimal fragmentation profile for ChIP-Seq.
200,000 HCT116 cells were grown in eachwell of the PIXUL 96-well plate. Sonicationof these samples was performed andfragmentation profiles were examined byagarose gel electrophoresis. PIXUL samples
have a tight size distribution and extremely
consistent shearing across the entire plate.
Nucleic Acids Res. 2019 Jul 9; 47(12):e69.

PIXUL

7

Enabling Epigene

Removing the Bottleneck in High-Throughput ChIP-Seq
Advances in next-generation sequencing technology have facilitated breakthroughs in many research areas, including epigenomics. Although thesequencing and bioinformatics improvements have theoretically enabled high-throughout ChIP-Seq assays to become more feasible, the sample
preparation bottleneck has prevented their wide adoption. That’s changed with PIXUL. With the ability to process up to 12 different sonication
conditions and 96 samples in a single run, the sonication step is no longer limiting.

PIXUL Enables High-Throughput ChIP-Seq Assays
ChIP-Seq was performed for 8 marks in 3 lymphoblastoid cell lines using chromatin
generated by PIXUL using the PIXUL Chromatin Shearing Kit (cat. no. 53132), enablinghigh-quality, high-throughput ChIP-Seq assays.

8activemotif.com/pixul

Enabling Epigenetics ResearchHigh-Quality High-Throughput ChIP-Seq Data fromMouse Tissues
H3K27ac ChIP-Seq assays were performed using sonicatedchromatin generated by PIXUL from the indicated amounts ofmouse tissue samples. Consistent results were observed froma wide range of tissue amounts and tissue-specific epigenetic
modification patterns were identified.

PIXUL Chromatin Shearing is More Efficient and Consistent than Other Sonicators
Different sonication technologies have different advantages and limitations. PIXUL improves chromatin shearing by offering all the benefits of competingsonication methods, without the drawbacks. To evaluate chromatin sonication consistency between different multi-sample sonicators, we compared chromatin
shearing performed with the PIXUL to leading focused ultrasonication and water bath sonication systems. PIXUL demonstrated more consistency in chromatin
shearing than both competitors.

PIXUL Delivers Higher Yield & More Consistent Chromatin Shearing
than Water Bath Sonicators
Chromatin Shearing with PIXUL is More Efficient and Consistent than
Focused Ultrasonication
The PIXUL Multi-Sample Sonicator consistently sonicates chromatin to an optimal
fragmentation profile. 200,000 HCT116 cells were loaded into either a proprietaryfocused ultrasonication plate of another multi-sample sonicator or wells of thePIXUL 96-well plate. Sonication of these samples was performed and fragmentation
profiles were examined by agarose gel electrophoresis. PIXUL samples have a tighter
size distribution and increased consistency across the plate than samples processedwith the focused ultrasonicator. Nucleic Acids Res. 2019 Jul 9; 47(12):e69.

The PIXUL Multi-Sample Sonicator consistently sonicates chromatin to an optimal
fragmentation profile. HEK293 cells were loaded into each well of the PIXUL 96-wellplate. They were cultured, fixed, and chromatin fragmented in the same plate without
any sample transfers. Sonication with a water bath sonicator exhibits less consistent
fragmentation and lower chromatin yield than sonication with PIXUL. Nucleic Acids Res.
2019 Jul 9; 47(12):e69.

PIXUL9Enabling Epigene

Epigenetics and Multi-Omics Applications Will Never Be the Same Again!
The PIXUL Multi-Sample Sonicator delivers powerful and consistent next-generation sonication in a fast,simple, affordable to operate, and flexible instrument. Upgrade to PIXUL to achieve truly consistentshearing of DNA, RNA, chromatin, and protein.

Additional ProductsComparison of Leading Multi-Sample Sonicators
PIXUL™ Multi-Sample Sonicator

Leading Water Bath Sonicator

Leading Focused-ultrasonicator

Everything Included?

YesNo, requires chiller, tubeholders

No, requires chiller, UV lamp,
laptopConsumable CostLowLow

High

1 to 96 in ~30 minutes

1 to 12 or 16

1 to 96, but runs take longer
with more samples (hours)High

Variable

Good, but potential for edge
effects due to transducer bar

Yes, up to 12 per run in ~30
minutesNo

Yes, but runs take longer withmore samples (hours)NoNo, but requires DI waterYes# Samples Processed
Consistency Between Samples
Multiple Conditions/Run?
Degassing Required?

~15 minutes

20-30 minutes~1.5 hours

Maintenance Required

Minimal, just top off
Coupling Fluid as needed

Water tank maintenance

Water tank maintenance

Problems with Algae/
Microorganism Growth?

NoYes

Yes

Transducer Layout

Array of transducers

Single static transducer

Single mobile transducer

Temperature Control

Set Up TimeInternal chiller

External chiller

External chiller

Noise Level

LowHighLow

User Interface

Touchscreen

Knobs or Touchscreen

Computer (purchase separately)

10To request a quote or schedule a
PIXUL evaluation in your lab, visit
activemotif.com/pixul-info.

Product
PIXUL™ 96-well Plate with Sealer
PIXUL™ Coupling Fluid
PIXUL™ Chromatin Shearing Kit
PIXUL™ Chromatin Input Prep Kit
PIXUL™ gDNA Shearing Kit
High Throughput ChIP-IT® Kit

Cat. No.
53139
53136
53132
53134
53131
53146

Our Quality Guarantee:
The PIXUL™ Multi-Sample Sonicator comeswith a standard 1 year warranty with the option
to upgrade and extend the plan within the first year.
Our standard warranty covers you against manufacturing
defects for one year from the date of purchase.

activemotif.com/pixulEnabling Epigene

NORTH AMERICA

JAPANEUROPE

CHINA

Toll Free: 877 222 9543
Direct: 760 431 1263
Fax: 760 431 1351
sales@activemotif.com
tech_service@activemotif.com

Direct: +81 (0)3 5225 3638
Fax: +81 (0)3 5261 8733
japantech@activemotif.com

GERMANY 0800/181 99 10
UNITED KINGDOM 0800/169 31 47
FRANCE 0800/90 99 79
OTHER COUNTRIES, DIRECT +32 (0)2 653 0001
Fax: +32 (0)2 653 0050
eurotech@activemotif.com

Hotline: 400 018 8123
Direct: +86 21 2092 6090
techchina@activemotif.com

Customer Service:orders@activemotif.com

PIXUL

activemotif.com/pixul
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
© 2020 Active Motif, Inc. All rights reserved. Active Motif, PIXUL and the helix design are trademarks of Active Motif, Inc.