BioFrontiers Core Facility Instruments

Fully integrated with a selected energy dispersive X-ray microanalyser (EDX) for chemical and elemental analysis
Technical characteristics:

• Resolution: about 5 nm
• Magnification: up to 300,000x
• Energy Dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDXA) capability.  Can measure elemental surface composition with about 1% accuracy.
• Can change samples in under 1 minute

By Using the SEM Vega/NPGS, -  Can write patterns in photoresist with a resolution of about 40 nm.   Detailed information on the NPGS can be found at http://www.jcnabity.com/

User-Friendly 

 Scanning Near-field Optical Microscopy (SNOM) modes; Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) modes
Standard resolution - less than  90 nm

Research grade optical microscope with 6 x objective turret

·         Video system: eyepiece color video camera
·         LED white-light source for Köhler illumination of tip and sample
·         High sensitivity b/w video camera to view sample and SNOM/AFM tip in transmission
·         Manual sample positioning in x- and y-direction, 25 mm travel
·         Microscope base with active vibration isolation system
·         Piezo-driven scan stage (scan range 100 x 100 x 20 µm; others optional)

Sample Size:
Usually 120 mm in x- and y-direction, 25 mm in height

Scanning Near-field Optical Microscopy (SNOM) mode; Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) mode

Veeco di MultiMode V
A scanning probe system where a sharp tip, attached to a cantilever, is moved across the surface of a sample.

Forces on the tip cause bending of the cantilever which is monitored by a laser beam.

Features:

·         Vertical resolution 1 nm
·         Horizontal resolution 5 nm
·         Imaging modes - Contact mode, tapping mode, non-contact mode
·         Small sample scanning  (less than 15 mm diameter, 8 mm thickness)

Objectives

63x 1.4-0.60 na oil ~ 40x 1.3 na oil ~ 20x 0.70 na air ~ 10x 0.25 na air

Visual Filter

Ex Dm Em A cube BP340-380 400 LP 425

I3 cube BP 450-490 510 LP 515

N2.1 cube BP 515-560 580 LP 590

Lasers

Diode 405 nm ~ Argon 458, 476, 488, 514 nm ~ DPSS 561 nm ~ HeNe 633 nm

A total internal reflection fluorescence microscope (TIRFM) is a type of microscope with which a thin region of a specimen, usually less than 200 nm can be observed. TIRFM is an elegant optical technique utilized to observe single molecule fluorescence at surfaces and interfaces. The technique is commonly employed to investigate the interaction of molecules with surfaces, an area which is of fundamental importance to a wide spectrum of disciplines in cell and molecular biology.

Features:
·         DMI3000 B microscope
·         Objective: Leica HCX PL APO 100x/1.47. An objective heater controller included.
·         Polarization control (Meadowlark optics)
·         16 x16 µm EMCCD Camera

Laser lines:      405 nm (100 mW);

480 nm (50 mW); 560 nm (50 mW)
Requires training and monitoring from BioFrontiers staff

Features

• Frequency range - Visible to near IR
• A complete excitation-emission spectrum scan is taken in seconds
• Excitation wavelengths 250-550 nm
• Emission wavelengths 300-1,300 nm

A double beam (sample + control), double monochromator, ratio recording UV/Vis/NIR.   Good sensitivity, resolution and speed in the NIR range, it simplifies the analysis of difficult samples such as high absorbing glass, optical coatings or thin film filters.

• Spectral range: 175 nm - 3300 nm.

Wavelength Resolution:

• Better than 0.05 nm (UV-Visible);
• Better than 0.20 nm (NIR).

• Low magnetic field  (364 mT) means no cryogenic cooling is necessary for the magnet
• Sample temperatures can be varied from 5 ^oC to 60 ^oC

Flow cytometers are used to rapidly analyze particles one at a time which allows the identification of numerous subpopulations a statistically significant numbers. Flow rates of 3000 particles per second are possible on this instrument. Cells are the usual particles analyzed. Up to 24 parameters can be measured; 16 parameters simultaneously. Particle size range from 0.5 to 40 microns.

These parameters can be measured on either a linear or a 4 decade log scale. Normally the  parameters are forward scatter (FS), side scatter (SS), and five fluorescent wavelengths at 525, 575, 620, 675, and 755 nm. Two laser excitation wavelengths are available 488 nm and 635 nm. The lasers are coaxial. Additional parameters are peak, time, and ratio.  Samples may be run in 12x75 mm tube, 96 well plates or 24 well plates.

The system can be used to detect and quantify DNA and other real-time PCR applications.

This instrument uses a 96 well plate and 4 colors.
The use of this instrument will require the user to provide assays, reagents and other materials for  the test desired - we can assist with the ordering of necessary materials.
Detailed information on the RealTime PCR machine can be found at: http://tools.invitrogen.com/content/sfs/brochures/cms_042763.pdf

The Z2 counts particles passing through an orifice based on the change of electrical resistance in the orifice. This allows not only counting of the particles but also allows sizing based on the resistance change.

Separates liquid-suspended materials having different densities and particle size.

Features

• The maximum speed is 120,000 rpm (649,826 xg)
• S120-AT2 Rotor - capacity: 10x2.0 ml, maximum speed 120,000 rpm
• S50-ST Rotor (capacity: 4x7.0 ml, maximum speed 50,000 rpm

• A refrigerated bench-top centrifuge
• Applications include pelleting, extractions, purifications, phase separations, receptor binding, column centrifugations, cell isolation.
• Rapid sedimentation of protein precipitates, large particles, and cell debris.
• Available rotors: SX4750 swinging bucket rotor (tube-and bottle (50 ml x 5 or 15 ml x 19) buckets and multiwall-plate carriers, maximum speed is 4450 rpm (4060 xg)). 

A source of the ultra-purified water

Features

• 18.2 MΩ·cm at 25 ⁰C
• At the flow rate 1 l/min