Center for Molecular Engineering (CME)

Instrumentation

AVANCE III 400 MHZ NMR

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) technology is a powerful analytical technique used in chemistry, physics, and biology to study the properties of atomic nuclei in molecules. It relies on the inherent magnetic properties of certain atomic nuclei, such as hydrogen, to provide detailed information about the structure, composition, and dynamics of molecules. By subjecting a sample to a strong magnetic field and applying radiofrequency pulses, NMR spectroscopy detects the energy absorbed and emitted by nuclei as they transition between different energy states. This data is then transformed into spectra, providing insights into chemical bonding, molecular conformation, and interactions. NMR is essential in fields like structural biology, drug discovery, and materials science, offering non-destructive, non-invasive, and highly precise methods for unraveling the mysteries of matter at the molecular level. Here are some possible applications:

  1. Chemical Structure Elucidation.
  2. Metabolomics.
  3. Drug Discovery.
  4. Materials Characterization.
  5. Food Science and Quality Control.
  6. Environmental Analysis.
  7. Clinical Diagnostics.
  8. Pharmaceutical Quality Control.
AVANCE III 400 MHZ NMR
QTRAP 4500 Mass Spectrometer

QTRAP 4500 Mass Spectrometer

The SCIEX QTRAP 4500 is an advanced mass spectrometer instrument renowned for its exceptional versatility and precision in the field of analytical chemistry and mass spectrometry. Combining triple quadrupole and linear ion trap technologies, the QTRAP 4500 offers a unique hybrid platform that enables not only highly sensitive quantification of molecules but also in-depth structural analysis. Its capabilities extend to various applications, including drug discovery, metabolomics, proteomics, and environmental analysis. This instrument’s exceptional sensitivity allows for the detection and quantification of trace-level compounds in complex samples, while its MS/MS functionality permits detailed characterization of molecular structures, making it an indispensable tool for researchers and analysts in both academic and industrial settings.  It has a broad array of applications in targeted qualitative and quantitative analysis of small molecules, metabolites, and lipids.

Waters Prep LC-150

High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is a powerful and widely used analytical technique in chemistry and biochemistry. It operates on the principles of chromatography, where a liquid sample is separated into its individual components for analysis. In HPLC, a liquid mobile phase is pumped through a column filled with a stationary phase, and the sample is introduced into this flow. The components in the sample interact differently with the stationary phase, leading to separation based on factors like size, polarity, and chemical affinity. HPLC is valued for its precision, speed, and versatility, making it indispensable in various applications, including pharmaceutical quality control, environmental monitoring, food analysis, and biomolecule characterization. Our uses a UV detector and is supplemented with a fraction collector for enrichment of minor components. Also, we support purification of molecules on a semi-prep level for large scale production of compounds.

HPLC with UV detector and a fraction collector
Advion TLC-MS

Advion TLC-MS

Thin Layer Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (TLC-MS) is an analytical technique that combines the principles of thin layer chromatography and mass spectrometry to separate and identify chemical compounds within a sample. In TLC, a mixture of compounds is spotted onto a thin layer of adsorbent material, and as a solvent travels up the TLC plate, the components in the mixture move at different rates, separating based on their chemical properties. Subsequently, the separated compounds are subjected to mass spectrometry, a technique that ionizes the molecules and measures their mass-to-charge ratios. By coupling these two techniques, TLC-MS offers a powerful approach for the rapid qualitative and quantitative analysis of complex mixtures. It finds applications in drug discovery, natural product analysis, and forensic science, providing valuable information about the composition and identity of compounds present in a sample.

TA Instruments ITC and DSC

Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry are highly valuable analytical instruments used in the fields of chemistry, biochemistry, and biophysics. This sophisticated tool allows researchers to investigate the thermodynamic properties of molecular interactions in a solution. ITC measures the heat exchange during a titration process, where one reactant is incrementally added to another while maintaining a constant temperature. By observing these heat changes, scientists can determine crucial information about the binding affinity, stoichiometry, enthalpy, and entropy of biomolecular interactions, such as protein-ligand binding, enzyme-substrate interactions, or DNA-protein interactions. ITC provides invaluable insights into the energetics of molecular processes, aiding in the design of new drugs, understanding biological mechanisms, and characterizing the binding interactions that underpin various chemical and biological processes. Its ability to quantify the thermodynamics of molecular interactions makes it an indispensable tool for researchers seeking a deeper understanding of the molecular world.

Thermo ITC

AKTA Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography (FPLC)

The AKTA Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography (FPLC) system is a highly versatile and indispensable tool in the field of biochemistry and biotechnology. It is designed for the purification, separation, and analysis of proteins, peptides, nucleic acids, and other biomolecules. AKTA FPLC streamlines the chromatographic processes, offering precise control over flow rates, sample injection, and gradient formation, ensuring efficient and reproducible results. Its user-friendly interface allows researchers to easily design and execute purification protocols, making it a vital instrument in protein purification, antibody production, and biomolecular analysis. Whether in academic laboratories or industrial settings, the AKTA FPLC system empowers scientists to achieve high-resolution separations, yielding pure and well-characterized biomolecules, which are essential for research, biopharmaceutical development, and bioprocessing applications.