FACILITIES AND OTHER RESOURCES

The  Biomaterials, Drug Delivery and Bionanotechnology Laboratories were established in and occupiy three separate laboratories (BME 5.304, 5.316, 5.334) as well as four dedicated office spaces (BME 5.408, BME 5.410, BME 5.414, BME 5.416) in the Biomedical Engineering Building at the University of Texas at Austin. Total area, including wet labs, analysis labs, and cell culture facilities, is approximately 3,000 square feet and provides extensive researcher desk space; lab bench space, multiple chemical fume hoods, distilled water outlets, gas connections, compressed air, and safety equipment. In addition, extensive resources are available in shared facilities on the University of Texas campus, and at the Pickle Research Campus in North Austin. These facilities, encompassing several institutes, centers, libraries, and shops—all with highly trained administrative, technical, and research staff—provide assistance with experimental planning, data acquisition, analysis, troubleshooting, and training for investigators and their researchers. These facilities are available 24 hours a day in most cases to support the research and education initiatives of university and its laboratories, and have reasonable usage fees given their world-class capabilities.

Biomaterials, Drug Delivery and Bionanotechnology Laboratories:

Resources available in the Biomaterials, Drug Delivery and Bionanotechnology laboratories include all basic laboratory essentials, as well as specialized equipment for polymer and hydrogel synthesis; polymer characterization; drug loading and release studies; and in vitro validation. Basic laboratory essentials includes multiple balances; mixers; micropipettes; pH, temperature, and dissolved O2 probes; lab freezers and refrigerators; ultrapure water (Milli-Q) systems; a chiller; annealing ovens; and vacuum ovens. For polymer and macromolecular synthesis, various glove boxes; reactors; quartz plates for polymer casting; UV flood and point source irradiation systems; homogenizers; bath and probe sonicators; rotary and vacuum distillation systems; a spin coater; desiccators; and a lyophilization system are all available. For in vitro characterization, a dedicated cell culture room is available containing VWR Symphony dual stacked incubators and two class II biological safety cabinets.

Research office space integrated into the laboratory includes work areas for 16 graduate research assistants (GRA) and 2 post-doctoral fellows. Each work area includes a computer with two monitors and a full array of scientific and productivity software, as well as network access to a university-maintained secure file server (>2 TB). Additionally, a shared workstation with a graphics input tablet is available in the laboratory for manuscript preparation and provides additional software resources (Adobe Creative Suite, Corel Draw Graphics Suite, GraphPad Prism, Minitab, SigmaPlot). Dr. Peppas maintains an office in the Biomedical Engineering Building. An administrative assistant dedicated solely to the laboratory is available for any needed administrative tasks.

http://www.che.utexas.edu/research/biomat/index.htm

Institute for Biomaterials, Drug Delivery, and Regenerative Medicine:

http://ibdr.engr.utexas.edu

Texas Materials Institute (TMI) / Center for Nano- and Molecular Science and Technology (CNM):

The Texas Materials Institute and the Center for Nano- and Molecular Science and Technology at University of Texas at Austin were established in 1998 and 2001 respectively to foster research, development, and education in materials and nanotechnology. These centers provide faculty and students on the UT-Austin campus with the instrumentation and associated infrastructure needed to conduct modern materials and nanoscience research, including graduation education, equipment training, equipment maintenance, and research assistance. In addition, these centers promote interdisciplinary research in the areas of materials and nanoscience at UT-Austin and help to coordinate all aspects of materials and nanoscience research and education among the participating departments. Specifically, TMI/CNM centers have advanced facilities for electron microscopy including cyro and environment scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), polymer characterization, X-ray scattering, surface analysis, scanning probe microscopy, clean rooms, wet chemistry, nano fabrication and testing, mechanical testing, and polymer processing for modern materials and nanotechnology research.

(http://www.tmi.utexas.edu)

Institute for Cellular & Molecular Biology (ICMB):

The Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology is a university-wide, multi-disciplinary research unit that began in 1993. The institute is affiliated with 17 departments at the university, engages in numerous interdisciplinary research initiatives, and collaborates in translational medical research with UT Medical Branch and Dell Pediatrics Institute. ICMB core facilities support the cellular and molecular biology components of research initiatives in all affiliated departments. The core facilities are staffed with researchers and technical staff to maintain resources, and provide training and research assistance to UT Austin researchers and students. Core facilities include extensive resources in DNA and genomics research, microscopy and imaging, protein and metabolite analysis, mouse genetic engineering, microarrays, and macromolecular crystallography.

http://www.icmb.utexas.edu/

Microelectronics Research Center (MRC):

The Microelectronics Research Center at The University of Texas at Austin was established in 1983 and is part of the National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NNIN). The center is located in north Austin, about 20 minutes from the main academic campus. The center provides facilities, training, and education for research in integrated circuits, optoelectronics, nanophotonics, electronic devices, and nanostructures. The facilities at MRC include 14,000 square feet of class 100 clean room spaces for crystal-growth and device processing. In addition, MRC has 15,000 square feet of characterization laboratories and 30,000 square feet of office space for 15 faculty members, support staff, and over a 120 graduate students. Specific facilities include fine-line lithography; sputter deposition; reactive-ion etching; rapid thermal processing systems; wet chemistry stations; low pressure CVD for polysilicon, oxides, and nitrides; reactors for Si and III-V epitaxial crystal-growth, including molecular beam epitaxy, metalorganic CVD, remote plasma CVD, rapid thermal CVD, and ultrahigh vacuum CVD. Metrology capabilities include atomic force microscopy, TEM, ellipsometry, profilometry, film analysis, electron microscopy, and x-ray diffraction.

http://www.mrc.utexas.edu/

Animal Resource Center (ARC):

The Animal Resources Center at the University of Texas at Austin provides animal husbandry and veterinary consultation services for all UT Austin research involving laboratory animals. The ARC facility, originally established in 1977, occupies 70,000 square feet and is designed to meet regulatory standards required for the operation of research animal facilities. The facility currently serves as primary quarters for approximately 15,000 laboratory animals yearly. The centralized facility permits efficient and up-to-date environmental control for sanitation and animal health monitoring. It also contains a diagnostic laboratory, a complete animal surgery suite, x-ray facilities, darkroom and necropsy room, IVIS in vivo imaging system with fluorescence and bioluminescence capabilities, and a transgenic mouse facility. The center is staffed by 15 part and full-time animal attendants and technicians, an administrative assistant, an operations manager, a director, and a veterinarian whose specialty is lab animal medicine. Either the veterinarian or a technologist is on call for medical emergencies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Veterinary and technical staff members are available on a scheduled basis, for procedural assistance and training in basic laboratory animal procedures. All animal research and teaching activities carried out on the University of Texas campus must be pre-approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.

http://www.utexas.edu/research/arc

Division of Statistics and Scientific Computing (SSC):

The Division of Statistics and Scientific Computing offers campus-wide training, education, and consulting for the faculty, staff, and students of the University of Texas. Free consulting is provided to help researchers design studies, select appropriate statistical procedures, identify the various parts of outputs, interpret results, and select appropriate software. Contract consulting is available if professional data analysis services are required for complex statistical or data management projects. Contracted services include programming, data management and analysis necessary in processing raw datasets for inclusion in published works.

http://ssc.utexas.edu/

Mass Spec/NMR/X-ray Diffraction Facilities:

The mass spectrometry facility (MSF), nuclear magnetic resonance laboratory (NMR), and X-ray diffraction laboratory of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry are state-of-the-art facilities that provide services to the students and faculty of the University of Texas. These services include equipment training, sample analysis, and collaborative research using mass spec., NMR, and X-ray diffraction. The NMR facility specifically has ten spectrometers, capable of a wide range of spectra from 1H to 15N, with a maximum frequency range of 600 MHz. The facilities are available 24 hours a day to trained users and capabilities include variable temperature control, complete bio package, diffusion NMR, and kinetics studies.

http://www.cm.utexas.edu/department/department-facilities

University of Texas Machine Shops, Stores, and Other Resources:

Multiple shops, stores, and media labs are available to serve the university community in academic and research endeavors. [CMEC1] Machine shops for custom fabrication, prototyping, and/or repair for laboratory equipment and experimental apparatuses are available in the Departments of Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, and Chemistry. Their capabilities include manual milling, casting, welding, CNC machining, and complex assembly of metals, ceramics, woods, polymers, and composites. A glass blower is available in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department for repairs and custom fabrication of laboratory glassware, using a variety of glass types including soda-lime, borosilicate, and quartz. Electric shops and instrument repair facilities are available in the Departments of Chemistry, Physics, Biological Sciences, and Mechanical Engineering for fabrication, repair, and modification to electronic equipment, sensors, and computer-controlled systems. A cryogenic shop is available in the Physics Department to assist with high vacuum system maintenance and repair as well as dispensing high-pressure gases and liquids, such as dry nitrogen, high purity nitrogen, helium, argon, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, oxygen and acetylene. Storerooms are available in the Departments of Chemistry, Biology, and Physics and are well-stocked with chemicals and basic laboratory provisions for immediate replenishment of critical supplies. Media labs and computing services are available in multiple departments across campus, which allow access to specialized scientific and professional software as well as assistance with manuscript production, poster printing, and web-site development.

EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION

Main Center Facilities: Laboratory of Biomaterials, Drug Delivery, Bionanotechnology, and Molecular Recognition (Peppas)

UV-Vis spectrophotometers, freeze-drier, Nicolet 800 FTIR spectrophotometer, Perkin Elmer thermal analysis unit with high and low temperature accessories; thermo-mechanical analyzer, thermogravimetric analyzer; dynamic mechanical analyzer, precision high temperature annealing chambers, two glove boxes, a Wilhelmy apparatus for measurement of surface tension, mercury porosimeter, several HPLC units for analysis, a Nikon fluorescent and optical microscope with accessories and associated equipment. Biotek ELX800 microplate reader, SterilCARD III class II biological safety cabinet, Fisherbrand Isotemp dual stacked incubators, Nikon ECLIPSE T5100 microscope, Nikon ECLIPSE ME600 microscope with fluorescence lamp.

Additional Equipment

• Zeiss Deconvolution Microscope Workstation with full featured KS-400 image processing software

Coupled with the high resolution, low light CCD camera this work station can computationally reassign (deconvolve) the out of focus components of a through focus series of a specimen using either user defined theoretical or measured point spread functions. The KS-400 image processing software has numerous features for both the quantitation of image sets and allows extensive 3D reconstruction and volume rendering capabilities.

• IR-560 FTIR Spectrophotometer

Nicolet Magna IR-560 FTIR Spectrophotometer (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer) with added (AEM) Auxiliary Experimental Module. Used in grazing angle and transmission modes for the characterizations of thin films, and monolayers.

• DU 7400 spectrophotometer

Beckman DU 7400 UV/Visible diode array Spectrophotometer with added peltier temperature controlled cuvette holder. This instrument collects simultaneous wave lengths in either absorbance or transmittance modes. This feature is required when characterizing samples with rapid reaction times or when following enzyme kinetics.

・       PTI fluorometer Photon Technologies International Quanta Master Model C

Cuvette based scanning Spectrofluorometer with an added Laser Fluorescence lifetime module. This fluorometer is used to study a wide variety of liquid and solid samples in both steady state and time resolved fluorescence modes. The intensity based, time domain system accurately measures fluorescence decays over multiple time scales (100 ps - 10 ns) and coupled with the dye laser/frequency doubler allows accurate measurements of solid samples with low quantum yields or turbid liquid samples with high scattering properties.

• Philips EM 208 Transmission Electron Microscope

A 100kv instrument with excellent contrast at medium magnifications and sub-nanometer resolution with the right specimens. Besides data-rich film output, the scope is also fitted with an AMT Advantage HR 1Mb digital camera. This camera is fast enough for smooth stage translations for serial section imaging, is sensitive at low illumination, and has FFT assistance for easier focusing and astigmatism compensation.

• Phillips 515 Scanning Electron Microscope

Large stage with good tilt, rotation, and working distance for quick orientations and large specimens. Images are recorded digitally, or on Polaroid film or video tape. Resolution can be 8nm on appropriate specimens. Limited backscatter-only imaging is also possible. This is an excellent scope for demonstrating generally applicable SEM imaging principles and is used in our traini UCT Ultramicrotome and Cryo-Ultramicrotome Ambient plastic sectioning as thin as 50nm, or semi-thins for clean light microscopy. Good lighting and chuck and knife control enable accurate orientation. We have glass and glass knife-breakers on hand and offer used diamonds for resharpening or trade-in. The UCT can be fitted with the cryochamber for frozen or low temperature wet ultrasectioning. This microtome makes the most difficult part of an EM sectioning project much easier.

• Critical Point Dryer

Critical point drying is still the standard by which other structure preservation techniques are measured. Sample holders for bulk or large specimens, TEM grids, or coverslips.

• Ladd Bench Top Sputter Coater

Low vacuum unit set up for 60/40 Au/Pd. Base holds 6 pin-mount SEM stubs. Our standard sputtering parameters give a 10 to 12nm thickness omni-directionally over intricate surfaces.

• Edwards 306 High Vacuum Evaporator

The Edwards 306 high vacuum evaporator is currently set up for Pt/C low angle and rotary shadowing, carbon evaporation, and glow discharge.

• Leica EM AFS and Leica EM CPC

Freeze Substitution System Available cryo-preparation for TEM (or SEM) by immersion (here typically propane), metal mirror, and other methods, and automated freeze substitution and embedding (here often HM20 and UV low temperature polymerization), especially for enhanced gold-bead ICC work.

• Leica SP2 AOBS Confocal Microscope

Five lasers, DIC optics, and a filterless scan head attached to and an inverted microscope allow three fluorescent channels to be monitored simultaneously at high resolution. The lasers supply the excitation wavelengths Excitation wavelengths available are 350 nm, 365nm, 458 nm, 476 nm, 488 nm, 496 nm, 514nm, 543 nm, 594 nm, and 633 nm. Available objectives: 10x, 20 x, 40x oil immersion, 63x oil immersion, and 63x water immersion. Spectral imaging also available.

• Metamorph Imaging Software

Typical applications are particle counting and measurement from TEM, and fluorescence overlays, projections, and movies. Tutorials are available.

• Becton and Dickinson FACSCalibur Flow Cytometer

The flow cytometer analyzes cells as they pass through a focused laser beam one cell at a time. Relative fluorescence intensity, cell size and internal complexity can be determined. The available lasers excite at 488 nm and 635 nm. A single sub-population from a sample can be identified and sorted.

• Amnis ImageStreamX Imaging Flow Cytometer

The ImageStreamX combines the fluorescence sensitivity of a flow cytometer with the functional insights of high-resolution microscopy. The same flow cytometer principle of flow cytometer, in which cells pass through a focused laser beam analyzing one cell at the time, is applied with the addition of getting single cell images that complete and improve the cell analysis.

・       IVIS in vivo imaging system

      With fluorescence and bioluminescence capabilities, this in vivo imaging system allow for monitoring disease progression, mechanisms, as well as monitoring distribution of drugs and/or biomaterials in vivo in diverse animal models. Drugs or biomaterials will have to be conjugated with fluorescent markers.