Electron Microscopy

The Electron Microscopy Unit provides instrumentation, training, and services for: immuno electron microscopy, electron tomography, and specimen preparation, including cryo-techniques.

Micro Analytical Immunochemistry

The Micro Analytical Immunochemistry Unit employs a variety of techniques to isolate, identify and quantitate proteins, peptides, lipids, antibodies and other biological molecules of interest. The unit currently has a range of active projects using MALDI-TOF analysis and imaging, single and multiplex ELISA, and ICP-OES spectroscopy.

Microfabrication and Microfluidics

The Microfabrication and Microfluidics Unit specializes in rapid design, fabrication and characterization of microfluidic devices, including single or multilayer templates, microfabrication in silicon/glass, PDMS, thermoplastics, and agarose. Capabilities also include structured surface modification, such as microcontact printing, and plasma treatment of PDMS devices for irreversible bonding or for surface activation, as well as finite element modeling. The unit also houses a 3D extrusion bioprinter and a rheometer for measuring viscoelastic properties of materials from 4 to 50 degrees Celsius.

Quantitative Methods for Macromolecular Interactions

The Quantitative Methods for Macromolecular Interactions (QMMI) Unit specializes in the following: biophysical characterization of individual macromolecules and their interactions, measurement of solution-phase molecular weight, sedimentation coefficients, and translational diffusion coefficients, hydrodynamic radii, and overall asymmetry of macromolecules or their assemblies, establishment of the stoichiometry of complexes, and insight into secondary structure or changes in structure upon ligand binding.

Scanning Probe Microscopy

The Scanning Probe Microscopy Unit specializes in nanoscale imaging of molecular complexes, lipid bilayers, cells and tissues, molecular recognition, protein unfolding, force spectroscopy, high resolution viscoelastic property mapping, correlated AFM and fluorescence microscopy, and mathematical modeling, image analysis, finite element analysis.

Services

• Biological safety compliance including biological pathogen registration and import/export of biological materials
• Chemical safety compliance
• Laboratory decontamination and sterilization consultation
• Ergonomic evaluations (i.e. repetitive pipetting, microscopy, working at biological safety cabinets and lab workbenches, using a microtome, and micro-manipulation techniques)
• Formaldehyde and other chemical surveillance
• Laboratory clearance
• Laboratory safety consultation through your IC Safety and Health Specialist
• Laboratory surveys
• Laser safety consultation
• Nanoparticle monitoring
• Pest management to ensure that the research environment is not compromised
• Quarantine Permit Service Office
• Safety data sheets
• Training including Shipping Biological Materials, Lab Safety and Bloodborne Pathogen Training

Services

Certification and Maintenance

• Biological safety cabinets
• Chemical fume hoods
• Horizontal laminar flow clean benches
• Animal care modules
• Local exhaust ventilation (i.e. downdraft tables and sinks, slot hoods, etc.)
• Other HEPA filtered devices
• Other local exhaust ventilation devices

Evaluation and Risk Assessment

• Non-ionizing radiation sources (i.e. high intensity magnets, including MRI and NMR devices and UV lamps)
• Oxygen monitoring devices
• Lasers
• Ethylene oxide surveillance
• Formaldehyde surveillance
• Waste anesthetic gas surveillance

Personal Protective Equipment

• Hearing protection devices
• Safety eyewear including Prescription safety glasses
• Respiratory protection including respirator fit testing (as applicable)

Established Technologies

In accordance with Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements, all shipments of radioactive material including biological specimens must be packaged by an individual trained in DOT Hazmat requirements before they are offered for transport on public roads.

DRS maintains a roster of DOT-trained individuals who can perform this packaging service and arrange for shipping from Bldg 21.

There is no fee for this service; however there are fines and penalties issued by DOT if inspectors discover shipping violations (in other words, if researchers try to do the packaging and shipping themselves.)