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Overview
 BioNanotechnology lies at the interface of recent advancements in Nanoscale science & technology and Biotechnology (i.e. modern biology). The biological, biomedical, and medical applications of nano technology are some of the most promising and exciting and potentially most
rewarding. Sensing and therapeutics using tools from micro and nano technology, the use of nano-scale drug delivery devices for targeted therapy, micro and nano-structured surfaces and tissue engineering, development of artificial organs and devices using micro-nano fabrication
and scaffolding techniques, bio-mimitic surfaces and materials, miniature drug screening and discovery, etc. are only some of the possibilities.
The BioNanotechnology Research Core is a primary link between the Bindley Bioscience Center and the Birck Nanotechnology Center. The following laboratories and facilities will comprise the BioNanotechnology Research Core:
Key Research Areas |
- Biological nanomotors for drug and gene delivery.
- Nucleic acid-based assembly and functional nanomachines.
- Biological patterning, biomimitics and biological nanotechnology.
- Nanoparticle-mediated targeting in cells.
- Nanostructured surfaces for tissue engineering.
- Biochips and nanointegrated systems for single molecule detection & analysis.
- Nanomechanical sensors for detection of biological targets.
- Electronic components based on DNA and proteins.
- Imaging and characterization.
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Biopolymer Synthesis Lab - Bindley Bioscience Center
Donald Bergstrom bersgtrom@purdue.edu
The facility provides an interface between biology and nanotechnology by developing and providing the tools for integration of biopolymers into nano- and micro-scale devices. In addition to providing modified biopolymers for these applications, the facility works with investigators
who have developed new biopolymer technology, to provide the routine production of biopolymers stemming from the technology. This includes the development and optimization of new biopolymers modification strategies and their translation to commercial products.
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BioSensors Lab II Physiological Sensing Facility - Bindley Bioscience Center
D. Marshall Porterfield porterf@purdue.edu
The Physiological Sensing Facility (PSF) organizes intellectual exchange and fosters direct engagement with interdisciplinary scientists and engineers. To that end, the facility cultivates a broad understanding of both engineering/technology and biosciences research as a prerequisite
to drive both sensor development and sensor application. The PSF seeks researchers from engineering, agriculture, biology, biomedical, and other life sciences areas to approach the PSF with ideas, needs, and capabilities that can adapted and applied to the development of new
technologies.
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Biological Atomic Force Microscopy Lab - Bindley Bioscience Center Room 122
Prof. Helen A McNally PhD; 494-7491; mcnallyh@purdue.edu, Charles Buck; 494-2208; cbuck@purdue.edu
The Biological Atomic Force Microscopy (Bio AFM) Laboratory is a multiuser facility aimed at bringing the premiere tool of nanotechnology to the life sciences community.
The Bio AFM lab is designed to provide AFM capabilities to the life sciences community. A variety of AFMs and associated equipment meet the wide range of anticipated users. Technical consultation is available for experimental design and unique experimental requirements.
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Center for Analytical Instrumentation Development (CAID) – Bindley Bioscience Center Room B019
Prof. Robert Cooks cooks@purdue.edu,
Prof. Fred Regnier fregnier@purdue.edu
CAID brings together chemists, physicist, engineers, biologist, and physicians from multiple Schools at Purdue University and other institutions in the region. The center develops innovative “machine-tools of science” that enable discoveries across a broad spectrum of life science. These activities will lead to routing, point-of-need devices for use in drug discovery, clinical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and the fight against chemical and biological terrorism.
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Nanochemistry/Nanoelectronics – Birck Nanotechnology Center Room 2031
Prof. David Janes david.b.janes.1@purdue.edu,
Prof. Donald Bergstrom bergstrom@purdue.edu
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, and a Chemical Mechanical Polisher (CMP) system which allows users to prepare wafers and subsequently microchips for MEMS devices. This lab also houses eight chemical fume hoods (including two walk-in hoods) that provide workspace for KOH etching and acid-bath washing.
Chemical Nanotechnology/Microfluidics - Birck Nanotechnology Center Room 2037
Prof. Alex Ribbe ribbe@purdue.edu, Prof. Steve Wereley wereley@purdue.edu
his lab houses FTIR, DLS, and ellipsometry capabilities, allowing surface analyses of nanoparticles and wafers, such as those made in BRK 2031. This lab also 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.
Biosensors/Nanomechanical Sensing/Protein Detection - Birck Nanotechnology Center Room 2077
Prof. Cagri Savran savran@purdue.edu
This BSL1 lab houses equipment for studies of biosensor, BioMEMS, and bionanotechnology, protein and cancer marker detection with nanomechanical sensors. 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.
Translational BioMEMS – Birck Nanotechnology Center Room 2081 - BSL-1
Prof. Babak Ziaie bziaie@purdue.edu
This BSL-1 laboratory is centered on BioMEMS and nanotechnology. This research includes biomimetic devices, wireless dosimetry, and ferrofluid platforms. The lab houses a new spinner which, coupled with the equipment available in BRK 2031, 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.
Mammalian/Human Culture/Advanced BioMEMS – Birck Nanotechnology Center Room 2043 - BSL-2
Prof. James Leary jfleary@purdue.edu
This lab has CO2 incubators, Class II biological safety cabinets (one for infectious work), electrophoresis equipment, one tissue culture microscope, and microcentrifuges available for aseptic mammalian and human cell culture work. This is a BSL-2 facility 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.
BRK 2087: Plant/Bacterial Bioprocessing/BioMEMS Device Testing – Birck Nanotechnology Center Room 2087 - BSL-2
Prof. James Leary jfleary@purdue.edu
This BSL-2 lab is set up for plant and/or bacterial cell cultures (completely separate from BRK 2043). This lab has equipment for CO2 incubation, room temperature or higher culture incubation environments for bacterial plates, and two variable temperature/variable speed shaking waterbaths for 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 Nikon Eclipse E600 fluorescent microscope, 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.
Biocleanroom
The BNC biocleanroom is a portion of the Scifres Nanofabrication Laboratory that also contains the nanofabrication cleanroom. It consists of a 2500 ft2 ISO Class 5 (Class 1,000) 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.
Biocleanroom (BCR) Facility – Birck Nanotechnology Center Room 2120 - TBE
Prof. James Leary jfleary@purdue.edu
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.
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Bipolymer Synthesis & Fabrication
Preparation of modified nucleic acids, peptides and related biopolymers. The facility is responsible for the synthesis of novel biopolymers including nucleic acids and nucleic acid analogs, novel peptides, peptide linked oligonucleotides and peptide nucleic acids. This includes
the design and synthesis of unusual linkers, probes, and signaling molecules and their conjugation to oligonucleotides or peptides and related analogs. The objective is to provide a service that goes beyond that available from commercial services.
Vision statement:
Based on the capabilities outlined above, personnel in the facility work directly with Purdue researchers to prepare molecular tools useful in biological applications ranging from basic studies in plant genetics to therapeutics for cancer and viral diseases. The facility provides
an interface between biology and nanotechnology by developing and providing the tools for integration of biopolymers into nano- and micro-scale devices. In addition to providing modified biopolymers for these applications, the facility works with investigators who have developed
new biopolymer technology, to provide the routine production of biopolymers stemming from the technology. This includes the development and optimization of new biopolymers modification strategies and their translation to commercial products.
Laboratory Capabilities:
Preparation of modified nucleic acids, peptides and related biopolymers. The facility is responsible for the synthesis of novel biopolymers including nucleic acids and nucleic acid analogs, novel peptides, peptide linked oligonucleotides and peptide nucleic acids. This includes
the design and synthesis of unusual linkers, probes, and signaling molecules and their conjugation to oligonucleotides or peptides and related analogs. The objective of the lab is to provide a service that goes beyond that available from commercial services.
Examples include nucleic acid analogs conjugated to linkers for attachment to surfaces or devices. Linkers could be custom designed that terminate in functional groups specific for attachment to silicon, silicon dioxide, gold, platinum, or carbon (nanotubes).
Instrumentation:
The facility would contain an automated DNA, PNA, RNA synthesizer, HPLC, LC, gel electrophoresis equipment, and equipment for small molecule organic synthesis. A itemized equipment list along with an analysis of supply cost is attached.
Laboratory services:
- Provide consultation and guidance in developing specifications for applications requiring biopolymer components or interfaces.
- Design modified biopolymers for specific applications.
- Synthesize biopolymer components, including linker molecules, modified nucleosides, phosphoramidites, nucleoside triphosphates, and modified peptides and PNA components.
- Synthesize modified biopolymers (DNA, RNA, PNA, peptides).
- Provide gel and/or HPLC purified products.
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Biological Atomic Force Microscopy Laboratory
The Bio AFM lab is designed to provide AFM capabilities to the life sciences community. A variety of AFMs and associated equipment will be available to meet the wide range of anticipated users. Technical consultation will be available for experimental design and unique experimental
requirements.
The use of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) in fluids has immense potential in the biological and medical fields. AFM provides unparalleled resolution on living systems or molecules in their native environments while also allowing the user to physically contact the sample of interest
with extreme precision. AFM imaging in fluids provides the opportunity to visualize dynamic processes with previously unavailable resolutions in time and space. Using the AFM as a probe to interact with the sample, physical parameters such as sample surface pressure and fluidity
can be measured, or the tip can be modified for a whole range of interaction experiments including measurement of binding forces or ionic conduction.
The Bio AFM lab systems have been developed primarily for biological and medical experiments maintaining current optical capabilities and sample configurations. Optical techniques such as bright field, phase contrast, differential interference contrast (DIC), fluorescence and confocal imaging can be combined with these AFM systems. Heating and cooling sample stages are available as well as flow through systems allowing the user to change the experimental conditions. There are no restrictions on sample size; biologics ranging from molecules to whole
cells and even tissues have been investigated. These capabilities provide unfettered experimental design and tremendous opportunity for new discovery.
Equipment and Capabilities
In connection with the Bindley Bioscience Center and the Birck Nanotechnology Center, a suite of AFMs will be available with various capabilities, enabling examination of single atoms and molecules as well as whole cell and tissue samples.
- Veeco (DI) Bioscope II Preproduction instrument. This is the first placement of this latest technology in the US to support life science applications.
- Optical capabilities include bright field, phase contrast, DIC, fluorescence and confocal imaging.
- Heating and cooling stages
- Flow through systems, surface modifications, and specialized cleaning techniques.
- Training of research students at all levels with individual instruction on specific equipment as necessary
- Training session via short courses.
- Specific consultation is provided for experimental design and unique requirements.
For further information please contact:
Charles Buck, Ph.D.
cbuck@purdue.edu
Office: BIND 207
(765) 494-2208
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