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Services: TERC Facilities and Resources
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I. Cell and Tissue Culture
Morphology/Structure
Optical Microscopy:
Make: Olympus
Model: IX71
Use: Inverted microscope for DIC and fluorescence microscopy studies of thin samples, such as cells or optically thin gels and films, equipped with 10X, 20X, 40X, 50X and 60X objectives and an RT Spot Slider camera.
Make: Olympus
Model: BX51
Use: Upright microscope for transmission and fluorescence microscopy measurements of optically thin samples. The objectives, filter and camera are interchangeable with the IX71 microscope above.
Make: Zeiss
Model: Axiovert s100
Use: Standard inverted microscope for transmitted light and incident-light fluorescence, equipped with blue and green filters. Digital image analysis incorporates 3CCD color video camera (DXC-390, Sony, Tokyo, Japan), a frame grabber card (CG-7 RGB, Scion, Frederick, MD) and Scion-Image software version 1.9.1.
Confocal Microscopy:
Make: Leica
Model: TCS SP2
Use: High-resolution, depth resolved imaging of optically thick samples. Equipped with an Ar/Ion a GreNe and HeNe lasers to provide excitation at several wavelengths between 456 and 633 nm, equipped with 10X, 40X and 63X objectives. Confocal fluorescence and reflectance detection can be achieved in spectral imaging mode with a 5 nm resolution.
Molecular
Real Time RT-PCR:
Make: ABI Sequence Detection System
Model: Prism 7000
Use: Molecular biology assays for determining relative quantities of mRNA and DNA in real time by the application of fluorescent probes.
General Operations & Standard Equipment
Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting:
Flow Cytometry uses fluorophor labeling techniques to specifically target and identify cells of interest. Lasers are used to stimulate the fluorophores, and photo-detectors to detect and analyze the resulting sub-populations. In the case of cell sorters, desired cells can be isolated for further cell culture, or for other assays.
The facility provides walk-up (self-service) access to a FACSCalibur analytic flow cytometer. This machine has 2 lasers and detects 4 colors (Training provided if needed). Two MoFlo high speed cell sorters with 2 lasers and can detect up to 5 colors, and sort up to 4 populations simultaneously, or clone into multi well plates. These machines are run by experienced operators, and can process about 100 million cells per hour.
Contact either Allen.parmalee@tufts.edu, or Stephen.kwok@tufts.edu for use of the Laser Cytometry Core Facility.
Web page: http://www.tufts.edu/med/research/TLC.html
Histology:
Contact Annette Shepard-Barry (ashepard-barry@tufts-nemc.org) in the Department of Pathology at Tufts New England Medical Center.
Phone: 617-636-8238
Website: http://www.nemc.org/home/departments/adult/patholog.htm
Incubators:
Forma Scientific water-jacketed CO2 incubators model 3158 or Steri-Cult 200
Forma Scientific water-jacketed CO2 incubators MODEL 3326 S/N 34473-5710
Napco water-jacketed CO2 incubator
VWR Scientific model 1545
Centrifuges (refrigerated):
Beckman GS-6R
Laminar Flow Hoods:
NU AIR Laminar flow hood- MODEL: NU-407 FM600
Baker Laminar flow hood- MODEL: SG-600
Forma Scientific laminar flow hood- MODEL: 1214
Kewaunee laminar flow hoods
Cell Storage:
Thermolyne 8-plus cryostorage systems
Harris cryostorage systems
Lyophilizers:
Labconco 10 and 12 Liter models
II. Biomaterials and Tissue Characterization
Bulk Structure
Transmission Electron Microscopy:
Make: Phillips
Model: 420T
Use: TEM can help with characterization of the internal morphology and structure of materials, either of biological or non-biological origin.
Contact David Lange at Harvard University: lange@cns.fas.harvard.edu
Confocal Microscopy:
Please see confocal microscopy information in Section I.
Polarizing Optical Microscopy:
Make: Nikon
Model: Eclipse E600 POL
Use: Based on the E600 microscope with a 12V/100W internal power supply. Universal type analytical POL scope designed for quantitative polarized light applications, equipped with 10X, 20X, 40X, and 60X objectives.
X-ray Diffraction:
Make: Bruker AXS
Models: 2D gas-filled wire detector; Single crystal with 2D CCD detector
Use: The 2D gas-filled wire detector for analysis of structure oriented and un-oriented films and fibers. The single crystal with 2D CCD detector is used specifically for single crystal analysis.
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometers:
Make: Bruker
Model: Tensor 27
Use: Coupled with BioATR and temperature controllers to study protein structures and other materials at different temperatures.
Make: Bruker
Model: Equinox 55
Use: Coupled with MIRacle ATR to study samples in powder, film, gel, and solution formats to gain insight into structural details.
PE Thermal Gravimetric Analyzer:
Make: TA Instruments
Model: TGA Q500
Use: Weight loss of solid samples during heating to assess thermostability.
HPLC/GPC:
Make: Waters
Model: 2690
Use: High performance liquid chromatograph/Gel permeation chromatography with a UV spectrophotmeter, a fluorescence detector and a refractive index detector, used to separate compounds. Also usable in GPC mode to determine molecular weight distributions of polymers.
GC:
Make: Agilent
Model: 6890 Series
Use: Gas chromatographic system for determination of volatile or low molecular weight compounds.
Differential Scanning Calorimetry:
Make: TA Instruments
Model: DSC Q100
Use: To determine the specific heat capacity of solid samples during heating to assess thermal transitions and structural features of polymers.
Surface Features
Scanning Electron Microscopy:
Make: Phillips
Model: LEO 982
Use: To characterize surface morphology.
Contact David Lange at Harvard University: lange@cns.fas.harvard.edu
Atomic Force Microscopy:
Make: Digital Instruments (Veeco)
Model: Microscope -- Dimension 3100
Controller Nanoscope IV
Use: Atomic Force Microscope for analysis of surface morphology, micro phase-separation domains, macromolecular imaging, nanolithography and characterization of surface properties such as viscoelastic, mechanical, electric, and magnetic properties.
Langmuir.-Blodgett (LB) trough:
Make: Nima Technology Ltd. (England)
Model: 311D
Use: Preparation of thin organic films with thickness of a few nanometers (a monolayer), with precise control of monolayer thickness and molecular orientation.
Quartz Crystal Microbalance:
Make: Maxtek, Inc
Model: RQCM
Use: Sensitive mass sensor based on resonant frequency changes associated with the crystal and deposited mass, capable of measuring sub-nanogram changes at solid-liquid or solid-air interfaces.
Solution Features
Circular Dichroism (CD):
Make: JASCO
Model: J-710
Use: To estimate fractions or changes in protein secondary structure. Differential absorption of left and right hand circularly polarized light, as exhibited by biological molecules that have dextrorotary (e.g. some sugars) and levulorotary (e.g. some amino acids).
Molecular Modeling:
Make: MOE
Model: 2004.3
Use: Molecular Operating Environment (MOETM) is an integrated suite of computational chemistry, molecular modeling, informatics, and drug discovery software that combines visualization and simulation. Supports (1) high throughput discovery for data analysis and combinatorial library design; (2) protein modeling and 3D bioinformatics to identify homologous proteins, determine structural alignments and build high quality 3D atomic models; and (3) molecular modeling and simulation to interpret and predict chemical and biological properties as well as static and dynamic properties from atomic simulation.
Light Scattering (Static Light Scattering [SLS], Dynamic Light Scattering [DLS]):
Make: Brookhaven Instruments
Model: BI-9000AT autocorrelator on BI-200SM goiniometer arm
Use: Static light scattering and DLS (dynamic light scattering). DLS provides information about particle size distributions/radii of gyration for particles under 5 microns, whereas static light scattering provides information about molecule/protein shape and aggregation phenomena along with second virial coefficients for polymer systems.
Rheometric Analysis:
Make: TA Instruments
Model: ARES
Use: Shear modulus of melts, solutions, and gels.
Mechanical Properties
Mechanical Testing Systems:
Make: Instron
Model: 3366
Use: Mechanical properties of soft materials. Blue Hill software provides programming of loading rates, levels and routines, within a wide range of resolution across several force transducers. Testing of fibers, films, and gels yields stress/strain profiles, force at break, elongation at break, and yield strength are common tests performed, both in tensile and compressive loading regimes.
Make: Bose/Enduratec
Model: ELF 3100
Use: ELectroForce (ELF) 3100 Series tabletop testing system compliments the large-scale Instron system in applications of finer and more sensitive material testing. Standard compressive and tensile testing routines, programming versatile tests to measure fatigue and viscoelastic soft material properties, and long-term mechanical properties of soft biomaterials.
Nanoindentation:
(through collaboration with Dr. Kathy Wahl)
Chemistry Division
Naval Research Laboratory
Code 6176
Washington, DC 20375
Phone: 202-767-5419
Fax: 202-767-3321
Email: kathryn.wahl@nrl.navy.mil
Dynamic Mechanical Analysis:
Make: TA Instruments
Model: RSA3
Use: Youngs modulus of solid films and fibers.
Processing
Fiber Formation (Electrospinning):
Make: High voltage power supply (GAMMA High Voltage Research, Ormond Beach, FL), a syringe pump (Thermo Electron corporation), and other accessories such as electrode, metal plate, etc.
Model: HV power supply (ES30p-5w), syringe pump (Orion M362)
Use: High static voltage used to produce an interconnected membrane-like web of polymer nanofibers, typically 50-1000 nm diameter fibers
Contact Xianyan Wang: Xianyan.wang@tufts.edu
Film Formation:
Films of various natural polymers can be formed to investigate 2D cell responses such as differentiation, cell attachment, cell proliferation, and tissue formation.
Contact Hyeon Joo Kim: hj.kim@tufts.edu
3D Scaffold Formation:
Various types of 3D biomaterial scaffolds are processed which are capable of mimicking tissue morphologies (e.g., bone, cartilage, adipose, etc.), useful in studies of cell responses (such as differentiation, cell proliferation, cell attachment, and tissue formation) in 3D culture environments, both in vitro and in vivo.
Contact Akira Matsumoto: akira.matsumoto@tufts.edu
Combinatorial Biomaterial Gradients:
Collaboration with NIST:
Contact: Matthew L. Becker, Ph.D.
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Polymer Division - Biomaterials Group
Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8543
Phone: (301) 975-6842
Fax: (301) 975-4977
Textile Processing:
Collaboration with University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
TERC users contact Paul Calvert, Director/Professor Department of Textile Sciences, UMD:
pcalvert@umassd.edu
Website: http://www.umassd.edu/engineering/textiles/
III. Bioreactors
Commercial Systems
Make: Synthecon
Model: STLV
Use: The lab has twelve STLV (slow turning lateral vessel) bioreactors. The outer cylindrical wall of the bioreactor rotates at a velocity that maintains scaffolds suspended within the medium in continuous free fall. Medium is oxygenated through a permeable membrane that surrounds inner cylinder wall. Bioreactors are used to culture scaffolds seeded with various cell types.
Make: Synthecon
Model: HARV
Use: The lab has two HARV (high aspect-ratio vessel) bioreactors. These bioreactors evolved from the STLV design to provide increased oxygenation. With respect to STLV geometry, the cylinder diameter was increased and cylinder length decreased. Medium is oxygenated through a permeable membrane along the flat face of cylinder.
Make: Bellco
Model: Spinner Flasks
Use: The lab has spinner flasks that range in volume from 250 to 2000 ml, along with several magnetic stir plates. The spinner flasks are primarily used to culture scaffolds that are suspended within the medium via metal wires that extend from the top of the flask.
Custom Systems
Make: In-house design
Model: CardioPerf One
Use: Two bioreactors designed and built in-house to provide continuous electrical stimulation and medium perfusion to scaffolds seeded with cells. Each bioreactor has six wells with independent perfusion loops and carbon rods for electrical stimulation. A custom designed board and computer program allow each well to be independently stimulated over a range of conditions. A unique feature of these bioreactors is that the scaffold contractions can be followed in situ through direct microscope observation.
Make: In-house design
Model: Scaffold Perfusion Dish
Use: Four bioreactors were designed and built in-house to perfuse medium through porous scaffolds seeded with cells. Each bioreactor has one large circular well that serves as a medium reservoir. Scaffolds are press-fit into holes arranged in a circular pattern at the base of this well. Channels beneath each hole direct medium from the scaffolds to a single peristaltic pump and back to the medium reservoir.
Make: In-house design
Model: TBD
Use: TERC provides assistance in customizing or developing new bioreactors for particular applications, incorporating computer-aided design (e.g. SolidWorks) and modeling (e.g., MATLAB, FEMLAB) capability as well as fabrication assistance. Fabrication capabilities include:
- Machine shop access at Tufts and MIT
- Micromachining capability with small CNC mill
- Microfabrication capabilities through MTL lab at MIT (e.g., lithography, sputtering, e-beam)
IV. Additional TERC Resources
Animal Studies:
Animal studies (design and implementation) through the Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine.
Contact: Carl A. Kirker-Head
Associate Professor
Department of Clinical Sciences
Orthopedic Surgery
Phone: 508-839-7926
Fax: 508-839-7922
Email: carl.kirker-head@tufts.edu
Center for Engineering Educational Outreach (CEEO):
The purpose of the CEEO is to improve engineering education, from K-12 students to university engineering and liberal arts students. TERC is working with CEEO to develop bioengineering and tissue engineering modules suitable for K-12 classrooms.
Contact: Chris Rogers
Director of the Center for Engineering Education Outreach
Phone: 617-627-2882
Fax: 617-627-3058
Email: crogers@tufts.edu
CEEO web: http://www.ceeo.tufts.edu
Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development (CSDD):
The mission of CSDD is to develop strategic information to help drug developers, regulators, and policy makers improve the quality and efficiency of pharmaceutical development, review, and utilization.
Contact: Kenneth I. Kaitin, Ph.D.
Director CSDD
Phone: 617-636-2170
Fax: 617-636-2425
Email: csdd@tufts.edu
Web: http://csdd.tufts.edu
Tufts Center for Vision Research (TCVR):
The TCVR comprises more than 30 Tufts faculty members in vision research programs. The Center is a partnership between the New England Eye Center and the New England Medical Center/Tufts University.
Contact: Noorjahan Panjwani, PhD and acting Director
Professor of Ophthalmology and Biochemistry
Email: norjahan.panjwani@tufts.edu
Phone: 617-636-6776
Web: http://tcvr.org
Tufts University Core Facility (DNA and Protein Analysis):
Tufts University Core Facility for services such as DNA synthesis and sequencing, peptide synthesis, protein sequencing, mass spectrometer analysis, and proteomic HPLC/MS with nanospray.
Contact: Michael Berne
Phone: 617-636-2422
Fax: 617-636-6737
Email: Michael.Berne@tufts.edu
Core Facility Website: http://www.tucf.org
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