Automated iBind Western Systems

Two devices, one simple technology for automated western blot processing

Invitrogen iBind Western Systems—no shakers, no trays, no timers. Set up in minutes and walk away. The Invitrogen iBind Western Systems are western blot processing benchtop devices that utilize sequential lateral flow (SLF) to perform hands-free blocking, antibody binding, and washes. In less than 3 hours, blots are processed and ready for final detection. You can continue to use your existing chromogenic, chemiluminescent, or fluorescent western blotting protocols, along with your choice of primary antibody or secondary antibody conjugates of HRP, AP, or fluorescent dyes.

Request a demo  View virtual tour

Register your device

What are the iBind Western Systems?

iBind Western Systems are small benchtop devices that automate the western blot processing (immunodetection) steps. The iBind Western Systems rely on mechanical pressure generated by the device on a specialized glass fiber matrix iBind Card to generate the sequential lateral flow (SLF) of immunodetection reagents for the blocking, antibody binding, and wash steps involved in the western blot immunodetection workflow.

Streamlined workflow – load and go

iBind Western Systems allow all solutions to be prepared and loaded in the device at the start of the procedure, from which all subsequent steps proceed automatically and uninterrupted by sequential lateral flow technology (SLF), i.e., simple capillary action—no electricity or batteries are required.

iBind Western Systems vs Traditional Western blot detection

Which iBind system is right for you?

Two iBind Western Systems are available: the original iBind Western Device, which accommodates the processing of one mini blot, and the iBind Flex Western Device, which accommodates the processing of up to two mini blots, one midi blot, or up to six vertically cut membrane strips at a time. Setup requires only approximately 15 minutes, with no additional hands-on steps until the blot has been processed and ready for the final detection steps.

 iBind Western DeviceiBind Flex Western Device
 Invitrogen iBind Western DeviceInvitrogen iBind Flex Western Device
Mini blot (single)YesYes
Mini blot (dual)NoYes
Midi blotNoYes
Vertically cut stripsNoYes

Flexible formats

The iBind Flex system comes with interchangeable wells, which allows you to run multiple membrane formats and even run different primary and secondary antibody conditions in the same device at the same time.

Invitrogen iBind Flex Midi well

Midi blots

Using the same antibody conditions

Invitrogen iBind Flex Mini well

Mini blots

Using the same or different antibody conditions

Invitrogen iBind Flex Strip well

Vertically cut strips

Using the same or different antibody conditions

Sequential lateral flow technology explained

Learn how the application of sequential lateral flow technology allows automated western blot processing with the iBind Western System.

How to use iBind Western Systems

Learn how to process midi, mini or strip blots using the iBind Flex and process mini blots using the iBind with this detailed step by step video.

Results are as good as or better than manually processed western blots

  • Automated processing enables improved blot-to-blot consistency with CVs typically less than 5% (compared to manual processing that can have CVs of 13%).
  • The iBind Systems offer greater sensitivity compared to manual methods for many monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies.
  • Combine the iBind Western Systems with highly specific primary and secondary antibodies to achieve cleaner western blots.

Robust results with less primary antibody

One of the key reagents of a western blot is the primary antibody; however, this reagent also contributes to over 90% of the total cost of the blot. Because the iBind Western Systems can be more sensitive than manual processing methods, you can use up to 80% less primary antibody and achieve similar results.

Invitrogen iBind Western Systems can be used with 80% less primary antibody than traditional processing

Using chemiluminescent or fluorescence-based detection methods, you can use up to 80% less primary antibody than manual methods, saving you significant cost per blot.
A 2-fold dilution series of EGF receptor control cell lysate (30 µg, 15 µg, 7.5 µg, 3.75 µg, and 1.875 µg) was used. Proteins were separated using Bolt Bis-Tris Plus gels on the Mini Gel Tank and transferred to PVDF membranes using the iBlot 2 Dry Blotting System. The blots were probed with an anti–phospho-EGF receptor [Tyr1068] (1H12) mouse monoclonal antibody (1:1,000 dilution, equated to 2 µL antibody for the iBind device method and 10 µL antibody for the manual method) followed by a goat anti–mouse IgG (H+L) peroxidase-conjugated antibody (1:360 for iBind device processing (5.55 µL); 1:1,800 for manual method (5.55 µL)). The standard iBind solution kit was used for the chemiluminescence blot (panel C, manual processing and panel D, iBind system processing); the fluorescence detection (panel A, manual processing and panel B, iBind processing) kit was used for fluorescence detection. These results demonstrate that western blots processed on the iBind device show comparable results to those obtained when western blots are processed manually, with lower overall primary antibody requirements for the iBind device.

Comparable results without the hands-on steps for midi, mini and strip blots

Comparison of manually processed midi blots vs iBind Flex western processed midi western blots

Comparison of manually processed midi blots vs. midi blots processed with the iBind Flex Western System.
Samples containing GST-tagged recombinant proteins were separated and then transferred to nitrocellulose membranes using the Invitrogen iBlot 2 Dry Blotting System. Blots were probed with identical concentrations of the same pair of primary and secondary antibodies. The primary antibody was rabbit anti-GST diluted 1:500 (8 µL in 4 mL iBind Flex Solution for the iBind system, 40 µL in 20 mL for manual tray incubation). The secondary antibody was goat anti-rabbit HRP diluted 1:600 (6.7 µL in 4 mL iBind Flex Solution for the iBind system, 33.3 µL in 20 mL for manual tray incubation). For final detection, blots were incubated for 5 minutes in Thermo Scientific SuperSignal West Dura Substrate for visualization with an imaging system.

Comparison of manually processed mini blots vs iBind Flex processed mini western blots

Comparison of manually processed mini blots vs. mini blots processed with the iBind Flex Western System.
Blots were produced by separating samples and then transferred to nitrocellulose membranes using the iBlot 2 Dry Blotting System. Each gel contained 10 lanes loaded with two-fold dilution series of 293 cell extracts (30 µg to 0.06 µg). After immunodetection using the conditions described below, blots were incubated for 5 minutes in Thermo Scientific SuperSignal West Dura Substrate and the signal documented with an imager.

  • MEK2 (45 kDa) – rabbit anti-MEK2 antibody applied at 1:1000 for iBind blot processing (= 2 µL in 2 mL of iBind Solution), and 1:1000 for manual blot processing (= 10 µL in 10 mL buffer).
  • Securin(~28  kDa) – rabbit anti-Securin antibody applied at 1:1000 for iBind blot processing (= 2 µL in 2 mL of iBind Solution), and 1:1000 for manual blot processing (= 10 µL in 10 mL buffer).
  • Secondary Antibody (both targets): goat anti-rabbit IgG at 1:600 for iBind blot processing (3.33 µL in 2 mL of iBind Solution), and at 1:1800 for manual blot processing (5.55 µL in 10 mL).
iBind Flex processed strip western blots

Comparison of 6 manually processed vertically cut blot strips vs. strips processed with the iBind Flex Western System.
Process up to 6 strips with 6 different antibodies combinations at a single time. Blots were produced by separating samples and transferring to nitrocellulose membranes using the iBlot 2 Dry Blotting System.

Get a jumpstart and save with our starter kits!

Our starter kits include everything you need to start processing your western blots using the iBind Western Systems.

iBind Western Device Starter kits

iBind Flex Western Device Starter kits

What are the iBind Western Systems?

iBind Western Systems are small benchtop devices that automate the western blot processing (immunodetection) steps. The iBind Western Systems rely on mechanical pressure generated by the device on a specialized glass fiber matrix iBind Card to generate the sequential lateral flow (SLF) of immunodetection reagents for the blocking, antibody binding, and wash steps involved in the western blot immunodetection workflow.

Streamlined workflow – load and go

iBind Western Systems allow all solutions to be prepared and loaded in the device at the start of the procedure, from which all subsequent steps proceed automatically and uninterrupted by sequential lateral flow technology (SLF), i.e., simple capillary action—no electricity or batteries are required.

iBind Western Systems vs Traditional Western blot detection

Which iBind system is right for you?

Two iBind Western Systems are available: the original iBind Western Device, which accommodates the processing of one mini blot, and the iBind Flex Western Device, which accommodates the processing of up to two mini blots, one midi blot, or up to six vertically cut membrane strips at a time. Setup requires only approximately 15 minutes, with no additional hands-on steps until the blot has been processed and ready for the final detection steps.

 iBind Western DeviceiBind Flex Western Device
 Invitrogen iBind Western DeviceInvitrogen iBind Flex Western Device
Mini blot (single)YesYes
Mini blot (dual)NoYes
Midi blotNoYes
Vertically cut stripsNoYes

Flexible formats

The iBind Flex system comes with interchangeable wells, which allows you to run multiple membrane formats and even run different primary and secondary antibody conditions in the same device at the same time.

Invitrogen iBind Flex Midi well

Midi blots

Using the same antibody conditions

Invitrogen iBind Flex Mini well

Mini blots

Using the same or different antibody conditions

Invitrogen iBind Flex Strip well

Vertically cut strips

Using the same or different antibody conditions

Sequential lateral flow technology explained

Learn how the application of sequential lateral flow technology allows automated western blot processing with the iBind Western System.

How to use iBind Western Systems

Learn how to process midi, mini or strip blots using the iBind Flex and process mini blots using the iBind with this detailed step by step video.

Results are as good as or better than manually processed western blots

  • Automated processing enables improved blot-to-blot consistency with CVs typically less than 5% (compared to manual processing that can have CVs of 13%).
  • The iBind Systems offer greater sensitivity compared to manual methods for many monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies.
  • Combine the iBind Western Systems with highly specific primary and secondary antibodies to achieve cleaner western blots.

Robust results with less primary antibody

One of the key reagents of a western blot is the primary antibody; however, this reagent also contributes to over 90% of the total cost of the blot. Because the iBind Western Systems can be more sensitive than manual processing methods, you can use up to 80% less primary antibody and achieve similar results.

Invitrogen iBind Western Systems can be used with 80% less primary antibody than traditional processing

Using chemiluminescent or fluorescence-based detection methods, you can use up to 80% less primary antibody than manual methods, saving you significant cost per blot.
A 2-fold dilution series of EGF receptor control cell lysate (30 µg, 15 µg, 7.5 µg, 3.75 µg, and 1.875 µg) was used. Proteins were separated using Bolt Bis-Tris Plus gels on the Mini Gel Tank and transferred to PVDF membranes using the iBlot 2 Dry Blotting System. The blots were probed with an anti–phospho-EGF receptor [Tyr1068] (1H12) mouse monoclonal antibody (1:1,000 dilution, equated to 2 µL antibody for the iBind device method and 10 µL antibody for the manual method) followed by a goat anti–mouse IgG (H+L) peroxidase-conjugated antibody (1:360 for iBind device processing (5.55 µL); 1:1,800 for manual method (5.55 µL)). The standard iBind solution kit was used for the chemiluminescence blot (panel C, manual processing and panel D, iBind system processing); the fluorescence detection (panel A, manual processing and panel B, iBind processing) kit was used for fluorescence detection. These results demonstrate that western blots processed on the iBind device show comparable results to those obtained when western blots are processed manually, with lower overall primary antibody requirements for the iBind device.

Comparable results without the hands-on steps for midi, mini and strip blots

Comparison of manually processed midi blots vs iBind Flex western processed midi western blots

Comparison of manually processed midi blots vs. midi blots processed with the iBind Flex Western System.
Samples containing GST-tagged recombinant proteins were separated and then transferred to nitrocellulose membranes using the Invitrogen iBlot 2 Dry Blotting System. Blots were probed with identical concentrations of the same pair of primary and secondary antibodies. The primary antibody was rabbit anti-GST diluted 1:500 (8 µL in 4 mL iBind Flex Solution for the iBind system, 40 µL in 20 mL for manual tray incubation). The secondary antibody was goat anti-rabbit HRP diluted 1:600 (6.7 µL in 4 mL iBind Flex Solution for the iBind system, 33.3 µL in 20 mL for manual tray incubation). For final detection, blots were incubated for 5 minutes in Thermo Scientific SuperSignal West Dura Substrate for visualization with an imaging system.

Comparison of manually processed mini blots vs iBind Flex processed mini western blots

Comparison of manually processed mini blots vs. mini blots processed with the iBind Flex Western System.
Blots were produced by separating samples and then transferred to nitrocellulose membranes using the iBlot 2 Dry Blotting System. Each gel contained 10 lanes loaded with two-fold dilution series of 293 cell extracts (30 µg to 0.06 µg). After immunodetection using the conditions described below, blots were incubated for 5 minutes in Thermo Scientific SuperSignal West Dura Substrate and the signal documented with an imager.

  • MEK2 (45 kDa) – rabbit anti-MEK2 antibody applied at 1:1000 for iBind blot processing (= 2 µL in 2 mL of iBind Solution), and 1:1000 for manual blot processing (= 10 µL in 10 mL buffer).
  • Securin(~28  kDa) – rabbit anti-Securin antibody applied at 1:1000 for iBind blot processing (= 2 µL in 2 mL of iBind Solution), and 1:1000 for manual blot processing (= 10 µL in 10 mL buffer).
  • Secondary Antibody (both targets): goat anti-rabbit IgG at 1:600 for iBind blot processing (3.33 µL in 2 mL of iBind Solution), and at 1:1800 for manual blot processing (5.55 µL in 10 mL).
iBind Flex processed strip western blots

Comparison of 6 manually processed vertically cut blot strips vs. strips processed with the iBind Flex Western System.
Process up to 6 strips with 6 different antibodies combinations at a single time. Blots were produced by separating samples and transferring to nitrocellulose membranes using the iBlot 2 Dry Blotting System.

Get a jumpstart and save with our starter kits!

Our starter kits include everything you need to start processing your western blots using the iBind Western Systems.

iBind Western Device Starter kits

iBind Flex Western Device Starter kits


See what our customers are saying about iBind

iBind Western Device is easy to use

iBind Western Device saves time and is consistent

Use less primary antibody with iBind Western Device

Resources

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.