Resources

The Biological and Nanoscale Systems group maintains “wet” laboratory space suitable for biochemistry, molecular biology and synthetic organic chemistry. Necessary small equipment for for such experiments include air shakers, waterbath shakers, plate incubators, electrophoresis equipment, autoclave, centrifuges, cell culture hood, a Perkin Elmer HTS 7000 plus microplate reader, a Cary 1E spectrophotometer and specialized equipment for physical biochemistry, and DNA microarray construction and analysis are in place. Also, wet laboratory space is available for performing soft lithography. Additionally, the laboratory is equipped with optical benches and various electronic and optical equipment. A description of major instrumentation that the group maintains is described below.

More extensive capabilities for the fabrication and characterization of micro- and nano-fabricated structures are available at the CNMS and related resources. The CNMS will ultimately have a complete suite of dedicated facilities housed in a new 80,000-ft2 building adjacent to the Spallation Neutron Source at ORNL. The facility will open in the fall of 2005. A complete listing of capabilities at the CNMS can be found at the website. In the mean time, an interim “jump-start” program is in place. A listing of relevant equipment can be found here.

Confocal microscopy

A Leica TCS SP2 MP scanning laser confocal sytem is available. The system is equipped with an IR MaiTai laser system for multiphoton excitation and Red (HeNe, 633 nm/10mW),Green (HeNe, 543/1.2mW) and Blue (Ar 458/5mW;476nm/5 mW; 488nm/20mW;514nm/20mW) laser systems and a 6-channel Acousto Optical Tunable Filter for laser line selection and attenuation. Further, the optical system is uv compatible.

The inverted stage system is equipped with transmitted light detection for recording bright field images and a 50W mercury arc lamp for epifluorescent illumination. Heated sample holders and perfusion systems are in hand. The entire system is mounted on a vibration isolation optical table.

Fluorescence microscopy

A Zeiss Axioskop 2 FS plus fluorescence microscope is available. The system is equipped with epifluorescent illumination using 100 W Hg arc lamp (from the top), Nomarski phase contrast optics (bottom illumination) and either top or bottom illumination using 12W halogen lamps. A 12 bit Retiga color CCD camera is mounted on the microscope for image collection. The system is mounted on a Burleigh Gibraltar™ Platform and X-Y stage, contains a Burleigh PCS-5000 Series Patch Clamp Micromanipulator and ceramic objectives for electrophysiology measurements. The entire system is mounted on a vibration isolation optical table.

Combination SPM / Fluorescnce imaging system

A Molecular Imaging PicoPlus scanning probe microscope system is available. This system contains small (10 µm) and large (100 µm) closed-loop multipurpose scanners with low-coherence lasers and a Picoscan 3000 controller. The closed loop motion control allows for reproducible positioning and lithography on the nanometer scale. Liquid cells, flow cells and temperature control equipment are included.

Addditonally, the system contains magnetic (MacMode) and acoustical cantilever oscillation modes. It also contains the PicoTrec system that allows for simultaneous topography and chemical recognition. A video imaging system allows for sample viewing from above and through the scan head. Alternatively, the system is mountable onto a Zeiss Axiovert 135 epifluorescent microscope. The Zeiss contains a 100W Hg arc lamp source and a Princeton Instruments cooled CCD (RTE/CCD-1317-K/1 camera) imaging system. The entire system is mounted on a vibration isolation optical table.

Sample preparation / Liquid handling and patterning

Various instrumentation for automated sample preparation and handling are available. These include two Packard MultiPROBE II HT Ex automated liquid handling systems. One is a 4-tip system, the second is an 8-tip system. Both are equipped with vacuum manifolds and the 8-tip system possesses a plate-handling gantry. Additionally, a Hamilton 2200 liquid handling robot is used for nanoliter dispensing.

This system is customized with high-resolution sub-stages and custom electronics for dispensing using solenoid-based ink-jet valves. Volume metering from nanoliters to microliters is possible. Lower volume dispensing and patterning is available using a piezo ink-jetting system. A MicroFab piezo controller is integrated with a customized Nikon 7000Z stereoscope with a strobe illumination and video imaging system. Additionally, conventional microarray equipment including a Virtek Chipwriter Pro and a Perkin Elmer Scannarray 4000 confocal laser chip scanner are located in these laboratories.