A Simple Pluronic F-127 Pretreatment Enables Near-Complete Recovery of C. elegans from Plastic Pipette Tips and Microcentrifuge Tubes
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Adhesion of Caenorhabditis elegans to plastic pipette tips and microcentrifuge tubes is a common source of sample loss and variability in experimental workflows. Here, we describe a simple consumable-preparation method using 0.5% Pluronic F-127 to reduce worm sticking and improve recovery from plastic surfaces. As a less hazardous alternative to traditional siliconization procedures, Pluronic-treated tips and tubes enabled consistent worm release, while increasing the concentration to 1% provided no additional benefit. Recovery efficiency was not retained following autoclaving of treated consumables. This protocol offers a practical and accessible approach to improving reproducibility in C. elegans handling and sample-processing workflows.(B) Recovery of worms using untreated and Pluronic F-127-treated consumables at a final concentration of 1.0%.Percent recovery was lower than that observed with the 0.5% Pluronic F-127 treatment, indicating increased worm retention compared with the 0.5% treatment condition.(C) Recovery of worms using 0.5% Pluronic F-127-treated consumables with post-treatment autoclaving.Recovery rates were lower than for nonautoclaved Pluronic F-127-treated tubes and tips, suggesting that autoclaving reduces treatment effectiveness.(D) Recovery of worms using untreated and Pluronic F-127-treated consumables at a final concentration of 0.5% with 200 µL tips.There was significance different in recovery from the total to the plate 10/22/2026 -Open Access
Source: microPublication biology
Authors: Crystal A. Shults, Jacob Manjarrez
Institution: Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences
Language: English
Subfield: Biomedical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7223246572