Biomedical Technology Service Core Laboratory

Director: Natasha C. Browner, PhD

Summary:

The Biomedical Technology Service Laboratory (BTSL) Core facility has been in existence for more than twenty years. The BTSL operates in multiple locations which house basic, multi-use equipment, available to all researchers, including: autoclaves, centrifuges, incubators for bacteria and cell cultures, spectrophotometers, scintillation counters, plate readers, luminometer, sonicators and microscopes. The BTSL also provides liquid nitrogen, dry and wet ice, glassware washers and laundry facilities.

Affiliations:

• Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI), Morehouse School Of Medicine

People:

• Director: Natasha C. Browner, PhD
  
• PI: Bond, Vincent C., Ph.D.
  

Member: Wright, Bettie G., MS
Role: Research Associate

Resources:

Instruments

• Agilent 8453 UV/Vis spectrophotometer ( UV/vis spectrophotometer )
  

  "The Agilent 8453 UV-Visible spectrophotometer uses a photodiode array (PDA) for simultaneous measurement of the complete ultra-violet to visible light spectrum in less than one second. The PDA technique brings exceptional reliability and repeatability. Using Agilent ChemStation software you get powerful data analysis and data archival to ensure compliance with good laboratory practices (GLP) and pharmacopoeia requirements."

• Baker SterilGARD laminar flow hood ( Laminar flow hood )
  

• Barnstead NANOpure water purification system ( Water purification system )
  

• Beckman Coulter Allegra 6KR centrifuge ( Centrifuge )
  

  "The Allegra 6 Series is designed for high-volume labs requiring a simple, durable solution above all else. Save time with the basic, streamlined user interface that is easy to use and quick to program. Available in refrigerated and ambient benchtop and refrigerated knee-well models."

• Beckman Coulter Avanti J-26XPI Centrifuge ( Centrifuge )
  

• Beckman Coulter J2-21 centrifuge ( Centrifuge )
  

• Beckman Coulter J2-21M centrifuge ( Centrifuge )
  

• Beckman Coulter LS 6500 liquid scintillation counter ( Scintillation counter )
  

• Beckman Coulter Microfuge R microcentrifuge ( Microcentrifuge )
  

• Corning pH meter ( pH meter )
  

• Coulter Z2 counter ( Automatic cytometer )
  

• Electric gravity steam autoclave ( Autoclave )
  

  Two copies of this instrument available.

• Eppendorf AG centrifuge ( Refrigerated centrifuge )
  

• Eppendorf AG VacuFuge Plus concentrator ( Vacuum centrifuge concentrator )
  

• Forma Scientific CO2 incubator ( CO2 incubator )
  

  Two copies of this instrument available.

• FOTODYNE light box ( Light box )
  

• Hoefer Red Rocker ( Rocker )
  

• Labconco biosafety cabinet ( Biological safety cabinet )
  

• Millipore 2D gel electrophoresis system ( Gel electrophoresis system )
  

• Molecular Devices, Inc. SpectraMax 250 Microplate reader ( Microplate reader )
  

  "The Molecular Devices SpectraMax 250 has an optical design that is the only multi-channel system that truly mimics a dual-beam spectrophotometer. Each sample has a discrete sample beam and reference beam so that each well is measured directly. The eight-channel system- consisting of 8 sample beams and 8 reference beams delivers both superior precision and speed of reading across the microplate. Up to 96 assays can be run at one time and users can perform spectral scans from 250 nm to 750 nm."

• Nikon inverted microscope ( Inverted microscope )
  

• Ohaus analytical balance ( Analytical balance )
  

• Ohaus Harvard trip balance ( Balance )
  

• Ohaus top loading balance ( Top loading balance )
  

• Olympus IX50 fluorescent microscope ( Fluorescence microscope )
  

• Perkin Elmer Lambda 3B UV/VIS Spectrophotometer ( Spectrophotometer )
  

• Savant speed vac system ( Vacuum centrifuge concentrator )
  

• Solution 2000 water purification system ( Water purification system )
  

• SP CO2 incubator ( CO2 incubator )
  

• SpectraMax 190 Absorbance microplate reader ( Microplate reader )
  

  "The patented multichannel optical design of the SpectraMax® 190 Absorbance Microplate Reader mimics a dual beam spectrophotometer, measures each sample in the plate directly, and eliminates measurement error due to variations in light output between optical fibers on other instruments for more reliable data reporting. The eight-channel system delivers both high precision and speed when reading 96-well microplates for endpoint measurements, kinetic assays, and spectral scans.
  
  The optical system of the SpectraMax 190 Microplate Reader is built around a monochromator, which allows for selection of up to six wavelengths at a time for absorbance detection in the UV-visible wavelength range (190 nm - 850 nm). Narrow bandwidths deliver increased measurement accuracy and linearity over the widest range of assays, including DNA quantitation in the UV range."

Services

• 1D and 2D gel electrophoresis service ( Material analysis service )
  

• Cell culture service ( Material processing service )
  

• Cryopreservation service ( Material storage service )
  

• Monoclonal/polyclonal antibody production ( Material production service )
  

  Examples of polyclonal/monoclonal antibodies produced in this lab have been antibodies against conjugated synthetic peptides, viral proteins, chemokines, cytokines, cellular antigens, and protein bands excised from polyacrylamide gels.

Web Links:

• http://www.msm.edu/research/clinicalCore_facilities/facilities_biomedicalLab.aspx