The first phase of the AUHS research laboratory is nearing completion. The laboratory is fully capable of supporting the synthesis of new drug entities and testing new potential drugs for their activity in cell culture. Notable capital equipment and the faculty who have taken primary responsibility for the setup and training of faculty on these instruments include: a Nanalysis tabletop nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR – 1H and 13C spectra with 1D, T1, T2, COSY, JRES, and HSQC pulse sequences), Dr. Kumar, a Biotage Selekt preparative chromatography system, Dr. Yang, and a Molecular Devices SpectraMax iD3 plate reader with absorbance, fluorescence, and injection-chemiluminescence, Dr. Zeiler.
Other equipment which has been purchased to support the nascent drug design and testing efforts includes: a Fisher Isotemp – a refrigerated chromatography cabinet (chemistry/biochemistry), a -80oC ultra-low freezer (cell storage and long-term storage of sensitive chemicals/biochemicals), a CO2 incubator (for cell culture), a NuWind Multi-Application benchtop centrifuge (for blood cell collection/separation), a Terra Universal laminar-flow hood (for sterile cell handling), Olympus and AMG microscopes (for cell culture/inspection), an Ohaus Frontier 5513 microcentrifuge (for analytical chemistry), a Labconco – filter fume hood and Protector chemical fume hood (for drug synthesis), an Across International rotary evaporator (also for drug synthesis), an Ohaus Frontier 5513 microcentrifuge (for analytical chemistry/biochemistry), a Sartorius Max 6200 g top-loading balance (for the preparative weighing of chemical/biochemical and cell culture media preparation), an Afon DMP 100 Melting Point Device (for drug synthesis), a Torbal 0.0001 g Class Analytical Balance (for weighing small amounts of chemicals for analytical/biochemistry and cell culture media preparation), a Thermo Banstead Smart 2 Pure Pro 18.2 MΩ ultrapure water system (to prepare research grade water required for cell culture, biochemistry, and analytical chemistry), and a flammable liquid storage cabinet (required to store organic solvents for synthetic and analytical chemistry).
Our autoclave (for media sterilization necessary for cell culture) is scheduled to arrive in November 2021 and several instruments still require setup: Surveyor HPLC with UV-Vis scanning detection, OLIS open-bench spectrophotometer with 3D-scanning capability, and a Berthold Lumat LB 9501 chemiluminometer. Special recognition is due to Drs. Zeiler and Sheng for their efforts in arranging equipment in the laboratory and working with vendors to facilitate delivery and setup of numerous items. All analytical instruments will be computer controlled and accessible from faculty offices via our internal Internet. Each member of the SOP (School of Pharmacy) has been assigned specific items of capital equipment to ensure proper use and maintenance. The overall coordination of the research laboratory is currently being handled by Dr. Zeiler. Anyone planning to use the research laboratory is asked to keep Dr. Zeiler informed of their plans and the faculty who will be responsible for the capital equipment needed for their research projects. The laboratory is currently capable of providing support for ongoing funded- and submitted-research projects, except for those projects requiring animal research, high-field NMR (400-600 MHz), or state-of-the art mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). For these latter needs, arrangements have been made for faculty access to facilities at other institutions. All grant applications submitted to support basic research efforts (e.g., NIH, NSF, ONR, or CDMRP) require a list of all necessary equipment to be submitted as part of the application process. A list of AUHS equipment, including available capital items which are not present in the AUHS research lab, can be obtained from Dr. Schloss.
Nanalysis Tabletop Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
Molecular Devices SpectraMax iD3 plate reader
John V. Schloss, Ph.D.
Chair of Pharmaceutical Science and Associate Dean of Research