Trägermedium

Trägermedium, often translated as carrier medium, is a material that serves as the medium through which another substance, energy, or signal is transported, delivered, or distributed in a process or experiment. Depending on the discipline, the role of the Trägermedium can vary: in chemistry and analytical techniques it frequently refers to the phase that moves or suspends analytes—such as a liquid solvent or gel that carries solutes through a column or reaction system; in biology and biochemistry it may denote the culture medium or buffer that provides nutrients while enabling diffusion or transport of molecules; in microfluidics or materials science it can describe a liquid or gel matrix that suspends particles or acts as a matrix for active components.

The choice of Trägermedium is governed by compatibility with the carried material, chemical inertness, viscosity, thermal and chemical stability, and the desired transport properties, such as flow, diffusion, or adsorption behavior. The term is used across disciplines, often with specialized terminology that reflects the specific context, such as carrier fluid, mobile phase, supporting matrix, or substrate.

In practice, the Trägermedium is distinguished from the substance being transported or processed; the carrier remains relatively unchanged aside from physical distribution, while the carried material undergoes the intended transport, reaction, or analysis. Understanding its properties is essential for controlling outcomes in experiments, manufacturing, and diagnostics.

See also: carrier fluid, mobile phase, matrix, substrate, culture medium.