WVU NSE Facility Base

Biomolecular Discovery, Design, and Characterization

Biomolecular Core Laboratories

Both shared and core laboratory facilities are available for nanobio-based research, principally located in the Health Sciences Center campus.  The Computational and Structural Biology Laboratory is a shared facility and is described below.

Computational and Structural Biology Laboratory

This laboratory has the facilities for the experimental and computation elucidation of the structure of simple and large biological molecules. 

• NMR.  Available equipment includes a 300 MHz Inova (HSC) and a 600 Inova both with broadband and indirect detection probes, pulse field gradients, and variable temperature controllers.  The 600 is both a liquid and solids instrument, the 300 is only liquid.
• Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectrometer
• Circular Dichroism.  The lab has a JASCO J-810 suitable for a wide range of experimental techniques relevant to protein/DNA conformation, thermodynamics and kinetics investigations.
• DNA synthesis.  An automated DNA synthesizer is available for the synthesis of unmodified and modified DNA (eg for substrate attachment chemistries or modified nucleosides).  Facilities for DNA as well as protein purification are available (HPLC and FPLC).
• Mass Spectrometry.  Mass Spectrometers include Thermo Finnigan LTQ-Fourier Transform Mass Spectrometer suitable for Protein/DNA studies are available.  User training is also available.
• Cell Culture
• Computer.  The computer facilities are located in HSC and CRRB and include personal workstations (unix/linux) and a Beowulf clusters.  Software packages typically used for molecular modeling are available (eg amber, Insight, Gaussian, etc).  Training and technical support are available. 

Health Sciences Core Facilities

Core facilities available for nanobio-related research are given below.  Each core facility has a manager that maintains it, oversees the processing of samples or trains those interested in using particular equipment.  Most core labs have a fee structure that is based on the specific services run.  Samples processed solely by a core lab will be more expensive than if a researcher processes their own samples using supplies and equipment available in the core lab. 

• Office of Laboratory Animal Resources(animal quarters) Animal quarters is a HSC Core facility.  All animals used for research purposes on campus must be ordered through Animal Quarters.  They will house animals and fees are charged based on the size of the animal.  Personnel are available to assist with any procedures.  All users are required to pass a written exam (conducted on-line) and practical training provided by the facility before a user can access the facility.
• Cellular Imaging Analysis Core  Though primarily servicing biological samples, the facility as equipment that may be of use in nanoscale research including Zeiss LSM 510, confocal microscopy (laser excitation, 3 wavelengths),  and Nikon TE2000 Multimode with Metamorph.  Image analysis software is available.
• Flow cytometry  While a flow cytometer was originally designed for sorting cells it can also be used sort nanoparticles.
• WVU Tissue Bank  The Tissue Bank maintains, primarily, samples from tumor tissue (with patient history, de-indentified).  This may be a useful facility for nanobio researcher developing devices for the detection of cancer.
• Proteomics Core  Has capabilities for 2D-electrophoretic separation with spot detection, statistical evaluation, and protein identification by either MALDI-TOF (MicroMass) or RP/LC/MS/MS Quadrapole (ThermoFinnigan).  Facility’s mass spec capabilities have nanobio applications and are a proving ground for nano-based proteomics.
• WVU Recombinant DNA Core Facility  Maintains molecular biology equipment and facilities for DNA manipulation and analysis including X-Ray developers, gel imager and analysis, PCR, DNA chip reader, DNA sequencing.  The facility has discount agreements with several vendors for obtaining unmodified DNA and RNA.

Center for Advanced Imaging.  The facility has a Magnetic Resonance Imager (MRI, 3T) and Positron Electron Transmission (PET) spectrometer.  Provision for both clinical use and research activities has been made.  Nanobioscience applications include imaging of tissue specific, etc. nanoparticles.