The core instrumentation facility - A central facility dedicated exclusively for machines. We have wide range of machines in the CIF to facilitate cutting edge research. The facility is designed in a way that anyone from the institute can access these instruments according to their convenience. The Core instrumentation facility will provide required training and support to the machine users. The users from other institutes can also make use of the facilities.

DNA sequencing facility

This facility has 3730XL DNA Analyser which is Gold-standard Sanger sequencing technology for high-throughput genetic analysis. We can run and analyze 96 samples simultaneously using our capillary array system.3730XL DNA Analyser uses integrated plate stacker to enable up to 48-hour uninterrupted instrument operation or add plates while instrument is running. Automation features help decrease risk of human error, including onboard polymer delivery system, washing and rinsing of the capillary tips, automated sample loading etc.

Florescence microscopic facility

We have a CARL ZEISS Axiovert A1 system in our core instrumentation facility. System has 4 different excitation LEDs. With Axio Vert.A1, samples remain safe in gentle with LED light. LED excitation has no unwanted UV component, so you will see a significant increase in the survival rate of the cells. This machine provides extremely long-life time of the light source. LED illumination immediately works with full intensity – Its homogeneous in nature and there is no heating and cooling period required. We have wide range of objectives from 5x, 10x, 20x, 40x, 60x.The ZEN software can be used to capture the image of the specimen and also for the post processing of the captured images. There are specialized filters installed in the condenser for better DIC and bright field images.

Ultra-Centrifugation facility

This is one of the most sophisticated centrifuges used for R&D activities. The machine is from BECKMAN COULTER and the model is OPTIMA XPN 100. The highlight of the machine is it can go up to 1 Lakh RPM with the provided rotor. All the controls can be accessed in Full-color LCD touch screen. Set temperature range can be varied from 0 to 40°C in 1°C increments. Here we have rotors which can go up to an RPM of 1 Lakh.

Florescence assisted cell sorting

Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) is a technique to purify specific cell populations based on phenotypes detected by flow cytometry. This method enables researchers to better understand the characteristics of a single cell population without the influence of other cells. Compared to other methods of cell enrichment, such as magnetic-activated cell sorting (MCS), FACS is more flexible and accurate for cell separation due to the ability of phenotype detection by flow cytometry. In addition, FACS is usually capable of separating multiple cell populations simultaneously, which improves the efficiency and diversity of experiments. it has been broadly used to purify cells for functional studies in both in vitro and in vivo settings.

Bio-layer interferometry

Bio-Layer Interferometry (BLI) is an optical technique for measuring macromolecular interactions by analyzing interference patterns of white light reflected from the surface of a biosensor tip.  BLI experiments are used to determine the kinetics and affinity of molecular interactions. In a BLI experiment, one molecule is immobilized to a  Dip and Read Biosensor and binding to a second molecule is measured. A change in the number of molecules bound to the end of the biosensor tip causes a shift in the interference pattern that is measured in real-time.

Other instruments in the facility includes

Upcoming facilities.

Confocal laser scanning microscopy

Confocal laser scanning microscopy offers several advantages over conventional optical microscopy, including shallow depth of field, elimination of out-of-focus glare, and the ability to collect serial optical sections from thick specimens. In R & D, a major application of confocal microscopy involves imaging either fixed or living cells and tissues that have usually been labeled with one or more fluorescent probes. The light sources used are lasers which provides a monochromatic excitation. Automatic image stitching for large specimens and the live cell imaging also possible with this system.

Fast protein liquid chromatography

Fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) is a form of medium pressure chromatography originally developed for purifying proteins with high resolution and reproducibility. Its distinguishing feature is that the stationary phase is composed of small-diameter beads (generally cross-linked agarose) that are packed in glass or plastic columns and have high loading capacity. Resins for FPLC are available in a wide range of particle sizes and ligand surfaces, which are selected on the basis of their application. The FPLC system allows the use of a wide range of aqueous buffers (the mobile phase) and different stationary phases to perform the main chromatography modes (ion exchange, gel filtration, affinity, chromatofocusing, hydrophobic interaction, reverse phase). However, anion exchange and gel filtration chromatography are the modes most commonly used.