Bionanotechnology Facilities
Vision
The vision for the Bionanotechnology Facilities in the Birck Nanotechnology Center is to provide the BNC, Discovery Park, Purdue, collaborating universities, and area companies a modern infrastructure to enable world-class science and engineering in the areas of BioMEMS, BioNEMS, physiological sensing, microfluidics, and nanomedicine.
Mission
To support research activities through the deployment of flexible laboratories and equipment that enable the exploration of the intersection of bioscience and bioengineering at the nanometer scale.
To respond to the changing needs of internal and external researchers through modifications to the equipment set, laboratory classification, and laboratory capabilities in an efficient and timely manner.
Goals
To offer world-class undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate education, research, professional consultancy, outreach, and leadership in the fields of bionanotechnology and nanomedicine.
To be among the best-rated centers in the world in bionanotechnology in terms of teaching quality, research contributions, high-end consultancy, outreach, training and academic leadership in the fields of tissue engineering, bionanoelectronics, BioMEMS and BioNEMS.
Laboratories
The laboratories are organized as shared facilities according to capabilities and function. They are located on the second floor of the east wing of the BNC, which is connected to Bindley Biosciences Center with an enclosed overhead walkway. There are two classifications of bionano labs: Biosafety Level 1 (BSL1) – minimum hazard, and Biosafety Level 2 (BSL2) – moderate hazard.
For policies regarding work in the BNC bionanotechnology labs, access the online version of the Birck Nanotechnology Center Biosafety Manual, or download the document here.
BRK 1031: BioAtomic Force Microscopy I
Rating: BSL1
This laboratory houses several atomic force microscopes (AFM) including one BioAFM. Current research in this laboratory centers around the examination of physical properties of objects in the nanoscale size range including the forces arising between nanoscale objects.
FIC: Prof. Ron Reifenberger
SIC: Dr. Xin Xu, Lisa Reece
BRK 1081: BioAtomic Force Microscopy II
Rating: BSL2
This BSL2 lab enables researchers to study micro/nanomechanics of living cells, mechanical properties of nanostructures, fluid mechanics of live cells as well as dynamics and vibrations at the nanoscale in liquid environments. The lab contains an advanced BioAFM with capabilities of dual AFM and fluorescence imaging of cells and tissue. Users may bring samples for analysis on a fee-for-service based structure.
FIC: Prof. Arvind Raman, Prof. Ron Reifenberger
SIC: Dr. Xin Xu, Lisa Reece
BRK 2031: Nanochemistry/Nanoelectronics
Rating: BSL1
This laboratory enables synthesis, processing, and/or functionalization of carbon nanotubes, iron oxide nanoparticles, and semiconductor nanocrystals. Existing equipment within this lab includes three glove box isolation areas, a UV/ozone etcher, a Chemical Mechanical Polisher (CMP) system which allows users to prepare wafers and subsequently microchips for MEMS devices, and ultracentrifuge for density gradient separations an ultra-high speeds, and a lab autoclave. This lab also houses eight chemical fume hoods (including two walk-in hoods) that provide workspace for KOH etching and acid-bath washing.
FIC: Prof. David Janes, Prof. Donald Bergstrom
SIC: Lisa Reece
BRK 2037: Chemical Nanotechnology/Microfluidics
Rating: BSL1
This lab houses zetapotential, FTIR, DLS, and ellipsometry capabilities, allowing surface analyses of nanoparticles and wafers, such as those made in BRK 2031. There is also a Raman/confocal microscope to visualize Raman spectra of various samples. This lab provides facilities for studying conformational flexibility of DNA nanostructures and other biological molecules, as well as facilities for studying the physics involved in making successful BioMEMS/BioNEMS devices, including some with drug delivery capabilities. Microfluidics devices are coupled with a microscope and laser capabilities for holographic optical trapping studies.
FIC: Prof. Jong Hyun Choi, Prof. Steve Wereley
SIC: Lisa Reece
BRK 2077: Biosensors/Nanomechanical Sensing/Protein Detection
Rating: BSL1
This BSL1 lab houses equipment for studies of biosensor, BioMEMS, and bionanotechnology, protein and cancer marker detection with nanomechanical sensors. There is a laser cutter available as a shared resource to users in the lab as well. Current research utilizes laser-based systems are used to determine biomarker concentrations on cells using microscopic magnetic beads assembled to form a structure called a “diffraction grating.” The laser beam is focused on the grating which yields a pattern that could potentially be used to determine the biomarker concentration and thus the state of tumor growth. There are currently two chemical fume hoods available for standard chemical processes. A Class II biological safety cabinet is due to be installed into this laser lab and eventually, the lab could be upgraded to a BSL-2 facility.
FIC: Prof. Cagri Savran
SIC: Lisa Reece
BRK 2081: Translational BioMEMS
Rating: BSL1
This BSL1 laboratory is centered on BioMEMS and nanotechnology. This research includes biomimetic devices, wireless dosimetry, and ferrofluid platforms. There are two ovens, a probe station, and a wire bonder in place. The lab also houses a spinner which, coupled with the other equipment available, allows users to generate their own wafer designs and make PDMS microfluidic chip devices. These devices could be taken into BRK 2037 for surface analyses and/or into BRK 2043 and/or BRK 2087 for use in cell systems.
FIC: Prof. Babak Ziaie
SIC: Lisa Reece
BRK 2043: Mammalian/Human Culture/Advanced BioMEMS
Rating: BSL2
This lab has CO2 incubators, one Class II biological safety cabinets, electrophoresis equipment, one tissue culture microscope, an inverted fluorescent microscope with a photodocumentation system, and microcentrifuges available for aseptic mammalian and human cell culture work. This BSL2 facility is capable of handling any infectious work within this classification. Users can take nanoparticles, such as those made in BRK 2031 and characterized in BRK 2037, and flow these cell types in lab-on-a-chip devices, such as those designed and manufactured within BRK 2031 (CMP, glove boxes, KOH etching hoods) and BRK 2081 (spinner). There are also two fume hoods that have been capped off from the HVAC supply in order to provide workspace to sustain DNA/RNA/microfluidics testing experiments.
FIC: Prof. James Leary
SIC: Lisa Reece
BRK 2087: Plant/Bacterial Bioprocessing/BioMEMS Device Testing
Rating: BSL2
This BSL2 lab is set up for plant and/or bacterial cell cultures (completely separate from BRK 2043). This lab has equipment for room temperature or higher culture incubation environments for bacterial plates, and two variable temperature/variable speed shaking waterbaths for liquid culturing purposes. This lab contains two separate, lockable rooms - one where pathogenic bacteria may safely be cultured and worked with, and one where plant cells can be separately cultured. The main lab houses one UV/VIS spectrophotometer, microcentrifuges, electrophoresis equipment, one fluorescent microscope with the ability to interchange over 150 different optical filters, two Class II biological safety cabinets (one for pathogenic work), and one capped-off fume hood that is functioning as a workstation for DNA/RNA work.
FIC: Prof. James Leary
SIC: Lisa Reece
Biocleanroom
The BNC biocleanroom is a portion of the Scifres Nanofabrication Laboratory that also contains the nanofabrication cleanroom. It consists of a 2,500 ft2 ISO Class 5 (Class 1000) cleanroom facility using a specially designed ceiling, wall, and floor system to minimize bacterial entrainment and enhance cleanability. Like all BNC laboratories, it is a shared facility that can be customized to the needs of the researchers.
For policies regarding work in the BNC Biocleanroom, access the online version of the Birck Nanotechnology Center Biocleanroom Operations Manual, or download the document here.
BRK 2120: Biocleanroom (BCR) Facility
Rating: BSL1
This biocleanroom is for further cleanroom-level bioprocessing, sterility testing, and testing of BioMEMS devices, BioNEMS devices, and implantable microdevices. This biocleanroom provides capabilities for device development and testing that require a level of cleanliness that is not satisfied by the capabilities of other BNC biological laboratories. It also provides a material pass-through to/from the nanofabrication cleanroom, allowing transport of fabricated devices without breaking cleanliness. It can be configured to BSL-1 and/or BSL-2 capabilities depending on research needs. Currently, the BCR houses the Physiological Sensing Facility that includes the following key technologies: scanning self-referencing electroanalytical sensors, scanning self-referencing optically-coupled biosensors, and microfluidic lab-on-a-chip technology.
FIC: Prof. Marshall Porterfield, Prof. Jenna Rickus
SIC: Guy Telesnicki, Lisa Reece
FIC (Faculty in Charge): In BNC, all laboratory spaces are shared – or have the potential to be shared – and are organized by function. For administrative purposes, each lab has a faculty member or members responsible for approval of access for users, for advising the director on space utilization, and for strategic planning associated with the capabilities of that lab. This faculty member is the FIC for that laboratory.
SIC (Staff in Charge): Each lab has a lab staff member assigned to that lab who is responsible for coordination of equipment installation, layout, and safe operating procedures. S/he also has responsibility to assist in the enforcement of those policies and to assist the FIC in the operation and strategic planning of the laboratory.
Note that major laboratory equipment may have a FIC and SIC designated. These may or may not be the same FIC and SIC responsible for the laboratory.