Tissue Culture Core Facility The tissue culture core is equipped with a fume hood and biosafety level 2 laminar flow hoods for tissue culture, viral and bacterial experiments. Additional equipment include an inverted microscope, countertop centrifuge, refrigerated centrifuge, two CO2 incubators, coulter counter, water purification system, water bath, pH meter, laboratory oven, solvent and acid storage, computers for analysis as well as a variety of standard laboratory glassware and analytical equipment. Molecular Biology Core Unit The molecular biology core is located in the basement of LSB with an approximate 1,000 square feet space. This facility is heavily used for various molecular biology research projects. In addition, undergraduate students use this facility to conduct experiments, and biological techniques course is taught in this lab. The major instruments of this lab include Alpha Innotech 5500 ChemiImager gel documentation system, Bio-Rad gene pulser, dry air floor model incubator, thermocyclers, Applied Biosystems ViiA7 real-time PCR, BioRad Experion, safety hood, countertop centrifuges, vortex, electrophoresis assembly units, gel transfer systems, ABI gene analyzer, SDS-gel systems and many other smaller instruments to support individual research as well as classroom teaching. Genomic Facility Approximately 700 square feet space is dedicated to a microarray facility, located in the basement of LSB. We have started the purchasing process to acquire GenePix® 4000B Microarray Scanner and other accessories such as Bio-Rad DGGE complete system with spot cutter and other accessories to complete the lab. Adjacent to the microarray facility, we have a sequencing facility that is equipped with Applied Biosystems 3730 DNA Analyzer along with other instruments. A Roche/454 Jr. was acquired through NSF-MRI grant and is used by CNBR researchers for sequencing. Immunology Core Facility An immunology core facility is located on third floor of LSB with an approximate 450 square feet space. This lab is equipped with a biosafety level 2 laminar flow hood for tissue culture. A BD FACS Canto II flow cytometer is available for faculty and graduate student research. Additional equipment include a Perkin Elmer Omnifilter 96 Harvester, Perkin Elmer 1450 MicroBeta JET, LI-COR ODYSSEY Infrared Imaging System, Oxford Science-FORCYTETM Hematology Analyzer, Bio-Plex 200, HTF, PC, Pro II Wash, an inverted microscope, countertop centrifuge, ALLEGRA X-15R refrigerated centrifuge, two CO2 incubators, Bio-Rad T-C10 automated cell counter, Amaxa Nucleofector, Chameleon V multilabel microplate reader with 6, measurements including Fluorescence and Luminescence, Miltenyi gentleMACS™ Dissociator, water purification system, water bath as well as a variety of standard laboratory glassware and equipment. Bioimaging Facility The bioimaging facility is located in the basement of LSB with an approximate 1,000 square feet space. This lab was selected for bioimaging to reduce vibration that becomes a major problem during high-resolution imaging. The main component of the imaging core is an Atomic Force Microscope (Pacific Nanotechnology-Nano R2). This will is a multipurpose instrument that is capable of imaging biological, materials and other samples. Likewise, a Scanning Electron microscope (JEOL) was installed in this facility for imagining of biological and non-biological samples at the nanoscale level. A Nikon TI-U Phase Fluorescence microscope and a Laser Confocal microscope is also available in this facility that is used by several investigators for analyzing biological samples. To prepare samples many smaller instruments are available in this facility. A bioimager (BioRad) is also available in the LSB. An iBox Explorer live animal imaging system (HBCU-RISE funded grant) will enable the testing of tissues and scaffolds in mice. Bioengineering Facility This facility includes 3D Printing facility: Biobots 3D printer and Solidworks 3D software are available for 3D printing of tissues and tissue scaffolds. Additional Makerbot Replicator 3D printer and a recent MRI acquisition of a multi-material EnvisionTEC 3-D Bioplotter for generating tissues and tissue scaffolds are available. Electrospinning Facility An electrospinning apparatus to create fibrous tissue scaffolds is available within the bioengineering facility. A polymer-based solution is placed in a syringe, and a high voltage is applied to the solution using a high voltage source. The flow rate of the solution to the syringe tip is controlled using a syringe pump. The collection target can be an electrostatically grounded sheet or rotating cylinder to produce random or aligned fibers, respectively. Tissue Engineering Facility This facility is currently equipped with Biosafety hoods, CO2 incubators, Countess Cell counter, microscopes and other equipment for tissue culture involving cell expansion, storage, and characteristic. It also has a Real-time PCR, FACS cell sorter, etc. More instrumentations are being procured for biomechanical testing, biocompatibility characterization, biophysical characterization, and biomechanical assessments. 3-D Simulation Facility A CAD virtual simulation system is available in LSB to develop 3-D simulation models for nanotechnology applications. Center for NanoBiotechnology Research The Center for Nanobiotechnology Research was established through NSF-CREST (Director, Shree Singh) and has been crucial in establishing many of the above state facilities. Refrigerators, Fume hoods, Water baths, BSL-2 safety cabinets, microscopes, Refrigerated centrifuge, CO2 incubators, Incubator shaker, Ultra-low freezers, High-speed centrifuge, Eppendorf thermal cycler, DNA vacuum evaporator, ELISA plate reader, UV/VIS Spectrophotometer, Universal vacuum system and gel dryer, DNA/Protein Gel Documentation System, Q 2000 DSC, 380 FT-IR Spectroscopy, Quartz Crystal Microbalance (RQCM), Refrigerated ultracentrifuge and other general support equipment (Balances, Freezer, Refrigerator, pH meters, Hot plates/stirrers, Ice machine, water baths, electrophoresis apparatus for protein and DNA gels). A NYD-AG LIBS system that is capable of imaging biological, nanomaterials and other samples. A Bioplex 200, a Zetasizer and various instruments to facilitate testing of materials in cell culture. FT-IR Spectroscope is available for elemental analysis of nanoparticles. It also house Spiral Plater, Bio-Rad Gene Gun, and other smaller instruments. Common Use Facilities Walk-in cold rooms (3); dark rooms and imaging facilities (2); radioactive facility (1); animal room (3,000 square feet); autoclaves (2); automated cage washer; and automated dishwasher.
