Instrumentation

The FluoTime 200 from PicoQuant has the PicoHarp 300E TCSPC module for efficient and fast time-domain life-time measurements. The system is equipped with Glan-Laser polarizers, and has a blue-sensitive fast PMT for efficient detection in the UV range. Our system will have several led or diode lasers for different wavelengths (led 300 nm, led 320 nm, diode 375 nm). The sample compartment has a Peltier temperature control (-50 oC to 100 oC), and data acquisition and analysis is done with the FluoFit Pro software. The system will be optimized for fluorophore life-time and time-resolved anisotropy measurements.

The QuantaMaster™ from Photon Technologies International is an easy-to-use, open architecture spectrofluorometer with high sensitivity.  A continuous high-pressure xenon lamp provides a virtual point source broadband excitation illumination. Excitation and emission wavelengths are selected by means of auto-calibrated, computer-controlled, scanning QuadraScopic™ monochromator with continuously variable slits. Temperature control of the sample is obtained by a Peltier system (-10 to +90 ^oC) and temperature ramping is possible. Each of our three instruments has two separate detection channels, allowing for easy fluorescence anisotropy measurements (with Glan-Thompson polarizes in each excitation and emission channel). Instrument control and data acquisition is completely computer controlled using the Felix32 software.

ISS PC-1 This spectrofluorometer is modular, compact, and has high sensitivity. It operates in T-mode and is equipped with motorized polarizers, and a Peltier Cuvet system allowing for temperature ramping. Instrument operation and data analysis is performed via the Vinci software.

The LaserStrobe ™ from Photon Technologies International is an L-format cuvette-based lifetime spectrofluorometer capable of making fast and simple fluorescence lifetime measurements from the ultraviolet to the visible, from 100 picoseconds to tens of microseconds, with single or multiple exponential decays. The illumination source is a pulsed nitrogen dye laser. The excitation wavelength selection is by means of various dyes used in the dye laser (in addition to the nitrogen line at 337.1 nm). A frequency doubler allows for excitation wavelengths into the UV region. Emission wavelength selection is by means of a ¼ meter type monochromator. The QuadraCentric™ sample compartment comes standard with a 10 x 10 mm cuvette holder and a Peltier element for temperature control. The light paths are supplied with Glan-Thompson polarizers.

The Cary Eclipse is controlled by modular software, which consists of applications tailored to particular tasks. The Cary Eclipse is fitted with manual polarizers (L-format) and a removable plate-reader. The sample compartment has a Peltier temperature controller and stirring.

With the Cary Eclipse one can:

• Choose your collection mode: fluorescence, phosphorescence or chemi/bioluminescence
  
• Collect 80 points/second (good for kinetics)
  
• Sensitivity is high, picomolar fluorescein concentrations can be measured
  

The VP-DSC is a sensitive, easy to use differential scanning calorimeter to study samples in solution. Providing fast, accurate transition midpoint (Tm) determination, the VP-DSC is suitable for the study of aqueous lipid and protein dispersions or solutions. In addition, a complete thermodynamic profile can be generated to understand the factors affecting lipid phase behavior, or conformation and stability of proteins. The VP-DSC is controlled by an intelligent user interface (VPViewer™ software) and data analysis is performed with the Origin® data analysis package.

The Nano II differential scanning calorimeter is a high-sensitivity instrument  from Calorimetry Sciences Corporation (now TA Instruments). The instrument has capillary sample holders for liquid samples. It operates in a fixed-cell power compensation mode, a design giving maximal baseline repeatability. The temperature range is -10^oC to 130^oC.

The Bruker Daltonics HCT-Ultra Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer is equipped with both ESI and Multimode (APCI/ESI) ion sources, and its mass range is m/z 50-6000. Fragmentation (MSn) can be performed automatically up to 5th stage. The sample can be introduced by directly injection (1-2 microL/min) or via the Agilent 1200 Series Rapid Resolution LC System. The responsible person for this instrument is docent Jussi Meriluoto.

The Merck/Hitachi LaChrome HPLC system is equipped with a 4-Ch pump (L7100). Sample loading is via an autosampler (L7200), column temperature is controlled with an oven, detection is accomplished with a diode array UV detector (L7485) or with the fluorescence detector (L7455), or both. The instrument is computer controlled with proprietary control and data analysis software.

 The Malvern Zetasizer Nano S can measure particle  sizes in solution (range 0.6 to 6000 nm) using NIBS  technology and dynamic light scattering. Molecular  weights of macromolecules can be determined in the  range 10,000-2x10⁷ Da. The sample holder has  effective temperature control and is programmable,  which allows for automated size measurements at different temperatures.

Automatic sample application is a key factor for productivity of the TLC laboratory. The Camag TLC Autosampler III offers fully automatic sample application for qualitative and quantitative analyses as well as for preparative separations. It is suited for routine use and high sample throughput in mass analysis.
Key features are:

• Fully automatic sample application, suitable for routine
  
• Application of spots, or bands
  
• Data input and monitoring through software
  
• Application of sample solutions onto any planar medium
  
• Application of sample volumes between 0.1 and 5 microliter by contact transfer
  
• Spray-on application of sample volumes between 0.5 and > 50 microliter
  
• Operation under CATS3 software
  

Gradient elution for Thin-Layer Chromatography

The AMD-2 can be successfully employed for reproducible gradient elution with silica gel as the stationary phase.
 
The principle of the CAMAG AMD procedure

• The HPTLC plate is developed repeatedly in the same direction
  
• Each successive run extends over a longer solvent migration distance than the one before.
  
• Between runs, the solvent is completely removed from the developing chamber and the layer is dried under vacuum.
  
• Each successive run uses a solvent of lower elution strength than that of the one used before. In this way, a stepwise elution gradient is formed.
  
• The combination of focusing effect and gradient elution results in extremely narrow bands. Their typical peak width is about 1 mm. This means that, with the available separation distance of 80 mm, up to 40 components can be completely resolved, i.e. with base line separation.
  

The TLC Scanner 3 is an advanced workstation for densitometric evaluation of Thin-Layer Chromatograms. It can also be used for densitometric measurements of other planar objects, such as electrophoresis gels. All functions of the scanner are controlled by software. Only the positioning of the object to be measured is performed manually.

Key features of the TLC Scanner 3:

• Measurement of reflection, either in absorbance or fluorescence mode, transmission measurement optional
  
• Object formats up to 200 x 200 mm
  
• Spectral range from 190 to 800 nm
  
• Automatic start of all lamps: deuterium, halogen-tungsten, and high pressure mercury lamp
  
• Data step resolution 25-200 µm
  
• Scanning speed 1-100 mm/s
  
• Spectrum recording up to 100 nm/s
  
• Automatic selection of electronic amplification
  
• Rapid data transfer