What’s New in LAB & Life Sciences Dec/Jan 2013

DECEMBER 2012 /JANUARY 2013 VOL.23 NO.5PP247345/00002

What’s lurking in the

interstellar spaces?

http://www.labware.com

lab wha

t’s n

ew in

& LIFE SCIENCES

DEC 2012/JAN 2013

04 Editor’s note

06 There’s something lurking out there

17 Unravelling complex biomolecular structures

20 Quantifying protein-protein binding

34 My Lab

Your copy of What's New in Lab & Life Sciences is now available as an online eMag.

NOW in DIGITAL!

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4 WHAT’S NEW IN LAB & LIFE SCIENCES - December 2012/January 2013 www.LabOnline.com.au

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editor’s note

Janette Woodhouse

Chief Editor

What’s New in Lab & Life Sciences

www.labonline.com.au

© iS

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But wait, there’s moreNo it’s not the steak knives – its Australian Life Scientist.

In the last month the publisher of What’s New in Lab and Life Sciences has purchased Australian Life Scientist (ALS).

This magazine and its website (www.lifescientist.com.au) provide in-depth articles, research news, funding and grant updates relevant to the vibrant biotech and life sciences fields. Its readers are primarily researchers, fellows and senior academics across all universities, medical and other research facilities.

It is very complementary to What’s New which has always concentrated on bringing new product and service information to lab managers, purchasing officers, technical officers and lab staff across all universities, medical and research facilities, and industrial, environmental and testing laboratories.

We had anticipated that the two titles would have about 75% of readers in common. But we were wrong. In fact only 16% of the readers get both magazines so it is quite likely that you don’t already receive ALS. If you are interested in subscribing please visit ALS’s website and subscribe online.

Long term editor of ALS, Tim Dean, is moving to WFM and is continuing in this role. Tim is very partial to showcasing Australian researchers in areas such as biotechnology, health and medical, life sciences and genetics. He also has a particular interest in all the ‘omics and follows an extensive array of local and international conferences and conventions.

Under Tim’s direction ALS will continue to feature its usual array of original articles, inter-views and exposés. The only change to the magazine will be in its legacy Lab News section. This scientific and laboratory product section is a much more comfortable fit in What’s New and so will not be repeated in ALS.

On another note, the Government’s ‘Excellence in Research for Australia’ 2012 report has just been released. The improvements in outcomes and quality across the entire tertiary education spectrum are very nice to see. A 24% increase in the number of research outputs since 2010 is very impressive, especially as number of full-time equivalent salaried research staff only increased 5%!

It’s Christmas party day in my office today and the year is fast winding down to a frenzy of shopping, over-eating and over-drinking. But immediately on the heels of these excesses will be 2013. For many it will start with the traditional Lorne conference season. This year I have not covered the conferences in any detail in this issue of the magazine. If you want some extensive coverage subscribe to Australian Life Scientist and read all about the con-ferences there or visit www.lorneproteins.org, www.lornecancer.org, www.lornegenome.org, www.lorneinfectionimmunity.org and http://mam.asnevents.com.au. The way I see it you can probably spend the whole of February either attending presentations or on the beach at Lorne. Do enjoy.

Happy New Year to all What’s New readers.

http://www.epMotion.com

www.LabOnline.com.au

There’s something lurking out thereDeep in interstellar space there is something lurking. Actually there is lots of something lurking. We know it’s there because of its spectra but we have no idea what it is.

6 WHAT’S NEW IN LAB & LIFE SCIENCES - December 2012/January 2013

www.LabOnline.com.au

As the concentration of matter in the space between star systems in galaxies is lower than can be achieved by the best vacuum

systems on earth, this interstellar space is often considered to be empty. However, this is far from the truth. On average there is about 1 atom per cubic centimetre. (To put this density into perspective, the air we breathe has approximately 30 x 1018 molecules/cm2.)

But astronomical distances are so vast that the total amount of matter out there really adds up. The total material in the interstel-lar space in the Milky Way is estimated at 510 billion solar masses (one solar mass is about 2 x 1030 kg). This is several per cent of the total mass of visible stars in the galaxy. But what is this material?

Most of the interstellar material is gase-ous (99%), and of its mass, about 75% is in the form of hydrogen (either molecular, atomic or ionic), with helium the next most prolific species.

The identity of the chemicals in interstellar space can be determined by examining their spectra. Atomic spectra are characterised by sharp lines and are an effect of the quantised orbits of electrons around the atom. In other words, a single mechanism, electronic transi-tion, produces atomic spectra.The atomic spec-tra of interstellar medium (ISM) components, such as H, Na, K and Ca+, have been easily reproduced and matched in the laboratory.

However, the spectra of molecules are much more complex than atomic spectra. They exhibit electronic transitions similar to those of an atom as well as both vibrational transitions and rotational energy states.

Many small gas-phase molecules including CH, CH+, C2 and CO have been identified in the ISM. The first of these small molecules that were discovered, CH and CH+, were identified by comparison of astronomical spectra with electronic spectra recorded in the laboratory.

The development of radiowave spectroscopy has allowed for the identification of other interstellar molecules, beginning with water and ammonia, through the rotational spectra allowed by their permanent dipole moments. Other species have been identified through their infrared emissions, including C3, C2H and C5.

For the last 90 years, astronomers and spectroscopists have been trying to find out what else is in the ISM. We know there is something there because there is a group of several hundred intriguing broad optical spectra called the diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs).

The DIBs are a set of hundreds of absorption lines that are detected from the near-UV to the near-IR in the spectra of so-called reddened stars - meaning there is a lot of interstellar material between us and the star. The DIBs are known to be interstellar, because they do not suffer the periodic Doppler shifts associ-ated with stellar lines in binary star systems.

The constancy of the absorption wave-lengths implies that the carriers are in the gas phase, and the fact that they are broad implies that their carriers are molecular rather than atomic.

While atomic spectra can undergo a number of weak line broadening processes, the three classes of molecular transitions lead to numer-ous spectral lines superimposed on each other, closely spaced in wavelength and displaying an easily recognisable banded structure. It was the first detection of these substructures in the profiles of several DIBs that pointed to the molecular nature of DIB carriers. The spectra of countless candidate molecules have been measured but so far none of these spectra have matched the astronomical spectra.

Whatever is causing the DIBs must be widespread in our galaxy and beyond and must be very stable to withstand the harsh conditions of the interstellar medium.

Carbon-based molecules are the cur-rent focus of global research, as stellar and galactic chemical evolution models suggest that there is a lot of carbon unaccounted for (~100 carbon atoms per 106 hydrogen atoms). If this ‘missing’ carbon exists in the ISM as molecules which absorb light in the visible region, then carbon-based molecules could be DIB carriers.

Candidate carrier molecules include car-bon chains, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and fullerene-type compounds.

There are about 1.2 million different PAH molecules with less than 100 carbon atoms - recording all their spectra in the gas phase and comparing them to the DIBs would be an onerous task. So researchers try to determine the molecular properties of the DIB carriers from their astronomical observations. This eliminates many molecules as potential carriers.

There remains the interesting possibility that some of these spectral features arise from new forms of matter or dust in the ISM and it is notable that new forms of carbon including fullerenes, nanotubes and graphene have only relatively recently become experimentally ac-cessible. In fact, research attempts to simulate DIBs in the laboratory led to the accidental discovery in 1985 of the Buckminsterfullerene, or the ‘buckyball’ carbon 60 molecule, for which the Nobel Prize was awarded in 1996.

Buckyballs possess unique chemical and physical properties that hold an array of pos-sibilities for all the natural sciences. They are an entirely new material providing scientists with information about allotropes of carbon never before conceived. A few areas where buckyballs are proving valuable to research include drug treatments, medical diagnostics, nano scanning tunnelling microscopy, electri-cal circuitry, lubricants, superconductors and catalysts. But buckyballs aren’t the answer to what makes the diffuse interstellar bands - so far, we are simply unsure.

WHAT’S NEW IN LAB & LIFE SCIENCES - December 2012/January 2013 7

Image: This image from the European Space Agency’s Herschel Space Observatory shows the cloud associated with the Rosette Nebula, a stellar nursery about 5,000 light-years from Earth in the Monoceros, or Unicorn, constellation. Herschel collects the infrared light given out by dust. The bright smudges are dusty cocoons containing massive embryonic stars, which will grow up to 10 times the mass of our sun. The small spots near the centre of the image are lower mass stellar embryos. The Rosette Nebula itself, and its massive cluster of stars, is located to the left of the picture. This image is a three-color composite showing infrared wavelengths of 70 µm blue, 160 µm green, and 250 µm red. It was made with observations from Herschel’s Photoconductor Array Camera and Spectrometer and the Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver instruments. Herschel is an ESA cornerstone mission, with science instruments provided by consortia of European institutes and with participation by NASA. Image credit: ESA/PACS SPIRE Consortium/HOBYS Key Programme Consortia.


Thermal cyclersThe Techne thermal cycler range has been redesigned to provide easier programming and increased

instrument flexibility. All Prime models have an enhanced thermal engine, a colour touch interface and

preprogrammed protocol templates.

The 3Prime personal thermal cycler is packed full of features and claimed to be the only entry-level

instrument to offer programming via a touch interface. Up to 1000 programs can be

stored. With rapid ramp rates and a small footprint, this is a suitable instrument

for both research and teaching labs.3PrimeX and 3PrimeG are mid-sized cyclers that match all the features of the

3Prime instrument alongside expanded sample capacity and gradient cycling

capability.

The Prime and PrimeG instruments are full-sized models with a versatile, fully

interchangeable block system suitable for all routine PCR needs. Both 3PrimeG and

PrimeG have gradient functionality, while the 3PrimeX and Prime units introduce a

facility to add gradient capability through a simple USB upgrade, without the need to

change a block. The product provides good user experience and flexibility right across

the range. The same software, look and feel is offered on each model.

Alphatech Systems

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R750

Spinning disk confocal systemThe Andor Revolution XD spinning disk confocal system is a range of

flexible system solutions focused on live cell high-speed imaging. At the

heart of the system is the CSU-X spinning disk technology from Yokogawa.

Offering a range of upright and inverted microscope alternatives ensures

researchers can get the system that best suits their needs. Thanks to

the extensive Andor portfolio available, the system is very much appli-

cation-focused. In offering the Neo sCMOS, iXon Ultra EMCCD and the

10,000 rpm CSU-X, the company can offer high image capture rates for

high-speed applications such as ion imaging and tracking.

The spinning disk confocal system will be a suitable addition for those

undertaking cell division studies, live cell imaging, calcium imaging, de-

velopmental biology, electrophysiology, homo-FRET, stem cell research,

TIRF, cell motility, neuroscience and more.

SciTech Pty Ltd


Polycarbonate pH/ORP sensorsLaboratory and sampling technicians in search of an alternative

to epoxy body electrodes will find that the S150C and S151C-

ORP Polycarbonate Body 12 mm pH/ORP Electrodes, from

Sensorex, offer a rugged pH and ORP measurement solution.

The electrodes can

be used with any pH or

ORP meter and feature

durable polycarbonate

body construction. Us-

er-friendly and main-

tenance free, they are

shipped in a soaker

bottle for immediate

use and feature a gel-

filled sealed reference.

The electrodes feature

the company’s newly

designed tip, which of-

fers pH bulb and ORP platinum protection while maintaining

optimum flow through the slots in the body.

The highly accurate S150C Electrode features a measure-

ment range of 0-14 pH (0-12.3 pH without Na+ error) and the

S151C-ORP Electrode has a measurement range of ±1999 mV

for ORP. It offers a rapid pH response speed of >90% in 1 s.

The electrode operates up to a maximum temperature of 60°C

and up to a maximum pressure of 50 psig.

Designed for long life, the electrodes offer wetted materials

constructed from polycarbonate, silicone, pH glass or platinum.

The sensors come with a 76.2 cm cable and BNC connector.

Both electrode models are RoHS compliant, built using lead-

free glass and lead-free solder. Standard sensor versions are

supplied in a clear polycarbonate body with black body versions

available upon request in OEM quantities.

Envirosensors Pty Ltd

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/Q417

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Cuvette for microvolume applicationsThe Eppendorf µCuvette G1.0 is designed for the accurate measurement of small volumes

of highly concentrated biomolecules, such as proteins and nucleic acids. Users can work

easily with samples as small as 1.5 µL without the need for a time-consuming dilution step.

The product expands the measuring range of the Eppendorf BioPhotometer and the

Eppendorf BioSpectrometer. Synchronised apertures mean that a closed system is created when

used alongside the company’s detection instruments, providing optimum results and operation.

High sample concentrations require a short optical path length for measurement. The opti-

cal path length of the product is just 1 mm, 10 times shorter than the light path length of

standard cuvettes, which is said to provide a better system for these measurements.

Eppendorf South Pacific Pty Ltd


Microplate washersThe 405 Touch Microplate Washer from BioTek incorporates a high-

resolution LED backlit touch-screen user interface for intuitive and

flexible onboard instrument control of 96- and 384-well microplate

washing. A graphical colour display guides users through protocol

development, instrument maintenance and daily use at the touch of

a finger. USB flash drive ports enable convenient file transfer, storage

and operation.

Along with the 405 Touch (also known as the 405 TS), the 405 LS

Series Washer is available with a 2 x 24-character backlit LCD with

membrane keypad interface for installations such as within a robotic

system, when the instrument will be primarily controlled from a PC.

Both the 405 TS and LS are offered in configurations for a range of

wash requirements, maintaining all the features of the ELx405 Washer,

including high-strength biomagnetic separation, fast and efficient

vacuum filtration, Dual-Action manifold, optimised cell washing and

Ultrasonic Advantage. Key features include automated internal 4-buffer

switching and quick-release manifold designs.

Millennium Science Pty Ltd


Disposable cuvettes for spectrophotometryThe Kartell range of disposable cuvettes is

designed for spectrophotometry application

in the visible spectrum, featuring a clear and

sharp optical path with indication of the optical

path direction.

The Visible Range Cuvettes are made from

high-quality optical polystyrene and feature

optically machined faces to ensure optimal

transparency along the spectral field from 340-

800 nm. The UV Range Cuvettes are made

from UV-grade PMMA and feature optically

machined faces to ensure optimal transpar-

ency along the spectral field from 280-800 nm.

The Disposable Cuvettes are available in three

styles: macro (4.5 mL), low-form semi-micro

(1.5 mL) and high-form semi-micro (2.5 mL)

with two or four optical faces. The two optical-

face version is manufactured with grooves on

two walls, providing a better grip and prevent-

ing positioning errors while still featuring two

optically machined walls. The four-face macro

version, designed for use in the UV field, is

suitable for use in spectrofluorimetry techniques.

It is also recommended for common biological

and biotechnological applications.

Compatible with most spectrophotometers

and photometers on the market, the cuvettes

are packed in practical dust-proof support

containers, made from PE foam and containing

100 cuvettes. As part of the company’s high

level of quality control, absorption changes

are kept within the ±1% interval, an important

factor for analysis in series.

Also available are disposable stirrer bars,

cuvette caps and the cuvette holder.

Sieper & Co Pty Ltd

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S339

http://www.storemasta.com.au

NanoDrop 2000/2000C UV-Visible

Fast and easy micro-volume measurements

NanoDrop 8000 Multi-sample micro-volume UV-Vis spectrophotometer.

NanoDrop 3300 Broad spectrum

fluorescence analysis

• To find out more visit thermofisher.com.au or call 1300-735-292

Meet the newest member of the NanoDrop instrument family. The NanoDrop

Lite is a basic microvolume instrument which uses our patented sample-

retention system to deliver the same exceptional accuracy and reproducibility

as other NanoDrop instruments. Its compact design, with built-in controls

and software, makes the NanoDrop Lite small enough to fit on any benchtop.

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Scientific use for sticky tapeSticky tape, that versatile household staple and a mainstay of gift wrapping, may have a new scientific application as a shape-changing ‘smart material’.

Researchers used a laser to form slender half-centimetre-long fingers out of the tape. When exposed to water, the four wispy fingers morph into a tiny robotic claw that captures water droplets.

The innovation could be used to collect water samples for envi-ronmental testing, said Babak Ziaie, a Purdue University professor of electrical and computer engineering and biomedical engineering.

The sticky tape - made from a cellulose-acetate sheet and an adhesive - is uniquely suited to the purpose.

“It can be micromachined into different shapes and works as an inexpensive smart material that interacts with its environment to perform specific functions,” he said.

Doctoral student Manuel Ochoa came up with the idea. While using tape to collect pollen, he noticed that it curled when exposed to humidity. The cellulose-acetate absorbs water, but the adhesive film repels water.

“So, when one side absorbs water it expands, the other side stays the same, causing it to curl,” Ziaie said. A laser was used to machine the tape to a tenth of its original thickness, enhancing this curling action. The researchers coated the graspers with mag-netic nanoparticles so that they could be collected with a magnet.

“Say you were sampling for certain bacteria in water,” Ziaie said. “You could drop a bunch of these and then come the next day and collect them.”

The grippers close underwater within minutes and can sample one-tenth of a millilitre of liquid.

“Although brittle when dry, the material becomes flexible when immersed in water and is restored to its original shape upon dry-ing, a crucial requirement for an actuator material because you can use it over and over,” Ziaie said. “Various microstructures can be carved out of the tape by using laser machining. This fabrica-tion method offers the capabilities of rapid prototyping and batch processing without the need for complex cleanroom processes.”

The graspers were coated with magnetic particles, which could allow researchers to retrieve the devices in the field by using a magnet. Credit: Manuel Ochoa, Purdue University.

The materials could even be ‘functionalised’ so that they attract specific biochemicals or bacteria in water.

These findings were detailed in a presentation briefly titled ‘Laser-Micromachined Magnetically-Functionalized Hygroscopic Bilayer: A Low-Cost Smart Material’ at the Materials Research Society meeting in Boston (25-30 November). Experiments at Purdue’s Birck Nanotechnology Center were conducted by Ochoa, doctoral student Girish Chitnis and Ziaie.

The researchers used sticky tape to create a tiny grasping claw that collects droplets of water, an innovation that could be used to collect water samples for environmental testing. The material, seen here, becomes flexible when exposed to humidity and returns to its original shape when dry. Credit: Manuel Ochoa, Purdue University.

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What'sNew_LabWater_A4.indd 1 20/11/2012 3:16:35 PM

http://www.merckmillipore.com


Analyser and assaysThe Liaison Iam is a small benchtop unit which is connected

to the Iam Control Unit (ICU) via a USB interface. The ICU

runs proprietary software in which a GUI guides the operator

through a series of simple set-up steps. Up to six instruments

can be connected to a single ICU, making the product suitable

for laboratories that may start with a small number of tests and

add units as their workload or test portfolio grows.

The analyser uses Q-LAMP technology, which offers the benefits

of isothermal LAMP technology while adding the advantages of

real-time, fluorescent, multiplexed amplification as well as single

tube RNA amplification. Analysers running DiaSorin Q-LAMP

assays offer an alternative to PCR in decentralised laboratory

settings. Such assays include Iam BKV, an in vitro diagnostic

assay for the quantification of clinically relevant subtypes of

BK virus in human plasma and urine; and Iam VZV, an in vitro

diagnostic assay for the detection of clinically relevant subtypes

of Varicella zoster virus in human CSF and vesicle swabs.

The benefits of the Q-LAMP approach over conventional

PCR are: speed of reaction and time to result; specificity - up

to six unique recognition events per reaction; less complex

instrumentation - as the Q-LAMP process is isothermal there

is no requirement for rapid thermal cycling and instrumentation

can be designed accordingly; suitable for use in decentralised

facilities where speed of result and turnaround time are impor-

tant; small footprint instrumentation.

DiaSorin


Microtome bladesThe PathoCutter R is a blade from the Erma range of pathology microtome blades. Also known as

the New Pink 35 degree, it combines durability and sharpness. The item has been developed to

highlight the difference in quality for microtome blade users of the Feather brand.

The PathoCutter II has good longevity and cutting performance. It is suitable as a routine histology

blade for use in hospitals, laboratories, schools and various institutes for varying types of samples.

Among options for section cutting, the high-profile blade PathoCutter HP is available. The blades

from this option are wider and thicker than standard. They are suitable for cryostat microtome use,

frozen section histology and industrial use as plant, wood, plastic, rubber, tyre, film companies

and even resin blocks.

Pacific Laboratory Products


System for automated blood fractionation and buffy-coat transfer applicationsHamilton has released the easyBlood system for fully

automated blood fractionation and buffy-coat isolation.

Camera-based fraction identification allows accurate

and reliable recognition of the three fractions RBC, buffy

coat and plasma, with user-definable thresholds and de-

tection limits to meet specific detection requirements and

full sample traceability by storing each image individually.

The system is based on the Microlab Star line in-

struments with air displacement pipetting technology

for cross-contamination-free pipetting. A primary tube

barcode reader allows efficient sample tracking and a

high-resolution industrial camera and LED light source

for reliable imaging conditions gives optimal fraction rec-

ognition. A specific sample carrier for fraction detection

and specially designed tips optimise pipetting accuracy.

Predefined methods are available for short and easy

sample processing. Customisable output files for LIS/

LIMS integration and an optional 2D barcode scanner

make for seamless integration.

Bio-Strategy Pty Ltd


Logic analyserOscium’s iOS test equipment modules take advantage of the

features and touch screen technology of the iPad, iPhone and

iPod Touch, and interface via the iOS family’s 30-pin dock con-

nector to create cutting-edge test equipment called iOS Test. This

iOS test equipment platform is intuitive, portable and modular.

LogiScope is a 100 MHz, 16-channel logic analyser. The touch

screen-based iOS platform means the display is simple and intui-

tive. For example, changing the timescale is as easy as zooming

into a picture on a smartphone or tablet, and adjusting the delay

is as simple as a swipe across the top of the screen.

Emona Instruments Pty Ltd


http://www.lonza.com

http://www.lonza.com

WHAT’S NEW IN LAB & LIFE SCIENCES - December 2012/January 2013 17www.LabOnline.com.au

A new mass spectrometer developed by a Utretch University’s Heck Lab and Thermo Fisher collaboration is offering new insight into molecularly complex biomolecules.

The Heck Lab at Utrecht University, which is more for-mally known as the Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Group, has collaborated with Alexander Makarov of Thermo Fisher, the inventor of the Orbitrap

analyser, to develop a new mass spectrometer. This highly sensi-tive instrument might play a crucial role in the development and use of therapeutic antibodies.

The researchers, led by Albert Heck, have shown that pro-tein assemblies of molecular weights over 1 million Da can be analysed with very high analytical resolving power and exqui-site sensitivity down to detection of single ions. The new mass spectrometer allows the measurement of a range of important proteins and protein assemblies allowing a detailed analytical footprint of these biologically and medically important molecules. Especially in the fast-growing arena of biopharmaceuticals such as therapeutic antibodies, this new instrument will be important both in R&D and in quality control, to enable such molecularly complex biomolecules to be used safely in the clinic.

According to Heck: “The impact of the high mass resolving power at very high sensitivity as achievable with this new mass spectrometer is tremendous; it opens up avenues to measure not

only protein-protein interactions, but also covalent and non-covalent binding of small molecules to protein assemblies. Wide-ranging applications may include the direct analysis of drug molecules binding to their targets, and the investigation of post-translational and chemical modifications (eg, phosphorylation, glycosylation) on intact proteins and protein assemblies. I foresee that this instrument will become instrumental in the development and use of therapeutic antibodies, but also, for instance, in analysing how drug molecules such as proteasome inhibitors do interact with their target, the proteasome.”

Makarov added: “Presently, Orbitrap mass spectrometry is prob-ably the fastest growing mass spectrometric technique. Through this collaboration with Utrecht University we have opened up new avenues for the use of this mass analyser. I always believed in the versatility of the Orbitrap analyser, but am still amazed to see that we can now also mass analyse huge protein complexes, even whole viruses, with substantially improved resolving power and mass accuracy and sensitivity down to individual ions.”

This research was made possible by support of the Neth-erlands Proteomics Centre and the EU-funded large-scale facility PRIME-XS.

Unravelling complex biomolecular structures

biomolecular

biomolecular

biomolecular

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Background on the analyses of therapeutic antibodiesSince the mid-1990s, antibodies have become an important class of drugs, with more than 28 antibodies approved for therapeutic use in the US and Europe. The need to improve clinical efficacy of antibodies further is continuously ongoing. Engineering of an-tibodies has enabled the design of antibody-based formats with tailored pharmacokinetics, avidity, (bi-)specificity and increased tumour penetration. Modification of the N-linked glycosylation of monoclonal antibodies has also received interest as a strategy for improving the efficacy of therapeutic antibodies. Moreover, mixtures of antibodies, bi-specific antibodies and antibody drug conjugates are rapidly entering the therapeutic arena. Antibodies are large and complex glycoproteins (150,000 Da), and their complexity becomes only further enhanced by all the abovementioned new strategies. The essential detailed analytical molecular characterisation of these therapeutics poses enormous challenges to the field of analytical chemistry. The technique of mass spectrometry surfaces as the key technology for such analysis, especially when it allows analysis at very high sensitivity, accuracy, speed and selectivity.

Biosimilar antibodiesSuch analysis also becomes important for the identification and analysis of biosimilar antibodies that are copy versions of the original ones that will be out of patent in the next decade. It is not possible to produce exact molecular copies of antibodies, as they are produced from different cell clones undergoing different manufacturing processes. As a consequence, micro-variations can be introduced that impact safety and potency. Only very small dif-

ferences between biosimilar and reference mAbs, with reassurance that these are not of clinical relevance, may be accepted by health authorities. Copy versions of the original biopharmaceuticals are already available in several countries but no consistent worldwide requirements for their registration are established so far.

Thermo Fisher Scientific


Sterilising-grade filtersSartorius Stedim Biotech has announced the sterilising-grade filters Sartopore

Platinum. The surface of the polyethersulfone filter membrane has been modi-

fied using a hydrophilic and highly thermostable polymer, giving the membrane

good wetting properties and minimising its protein binding. Fewer than 5 L of

water for injection (WFI) are needed to wet a 10″ cartridge fast and reliably

for subsequent integrity testing that provides accurate results.

The membrane’s minimised protein binding increases product yield, thus

augmenting the efficiency of manufacturing processes. The filter cartridges

can be dry-steam sterilised in the forward or the reverse direction, without

altering the properties of their membrane. These sterilising-grade filters can

be used in the entire pH range from 1 to 14 and thus for nearly any filtration

application in biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

The membrane of the filter cartridges has been pleated using the company’s

TwinPleat process. The alternating long and short pleats of the membrane

increase the filter area of a 10″ cartridge by more than 60%. At the same

time, this geometry ensures that liquids flow through the entire filter area so

that the filtration capacity of the cartridge is used to the fullest extent. As a

result, the filter cartridges boost filtration performance and lower filtration costs.

The product is available in a choice of different sizes and constructions, ranging from lab to production scale.

In all sizes, identical materials of construction with consistent performance characteristics are used.

Sartorius Stedim Australia Pty Ltd



MicrocentrifugeThe Mini microcentrifuge from LaboGene

offers biological separation

functionality on the molecular

biology workbench. The

12-place, fixed-angle rotor

accommodates 1.5/2.0 mL

microtubes for handling

cellular materials, RNA/DNA and

peptide samples at up to 13,500 rpm/12,300 x g.

The compact design (208 x 245 mm) allows

the user to make the most of valuable bench

space. The blue LCD provides information such as

speed/rcf and time remaining. With rapid acceleration

and deceleration, the user’s samples are processed

quickly and efficiently with a minimum of noise (only

48 dBA - rotor dependent).

Other features include automatic door release,

‘pulse’ key, alarms for overspeed and overheat, and

optional strip rotor/adaptors are also available.

Bio-Strategy Pty Ltd


Rabbit monoclonal antibodiesRabbit monoclonal antibodies (RabMAbs) provide the combined ben-

efits of good antigen recognition of the rabbit immune system with

the specificity and consistency of a monoclonal antibody.

Produced through a proprietary method, the antibodies have the

following advantages: diverse epitope recognition; improved immune

response to small-size epitopes; high specificity and affinity; improved

response to mouse antigens.

There are currently more than 3600 RabMAbs in the product range.

Each antibody is tested for use in western blot, immunohistochemistry,

immunocytochemistry and ELISA.

Sapphire Bioscience


Cleanroom apparel and accessoriesDuPont single-use cleanroom apparel and accessories

are designed for use in pharmaceutical, medical device,

biotech and electronic settings that require high standards

for particle and microbiological contamination control.

A wide range of garments is available, including coveralls

with or without a hood; hoods and bouffants; shoe and

boot covers; sleeves and cuff tape; frocks and lab coats;

aprons, smocks and gowns; and masks and face veils.

The garments are comfortable, durable and available in

several different fabrics for various cleanroom and controlled

environment applications. These include: Tyvek IsoClean;

Suprel LS; DuPont General Environment; Tyvek Micro-Clean

2-1-2; and ProClean.

DuPont (Aust) Limited


Laboratory glassware catalogueThe Duran Group Laboratory Glassware catalogue Edition

4 is now available online at http://ecom.merck.com.au/

mailouts/DURAN_Laboratory_Glassware_Catalogue_Ger-

man_English_komprimiert.pdf. Printed copies will be

made available in early 2013. To reserve a printed copy,

send an email to [email protected], including

a full postal address.

Merck Pty Limited


http://www.pss.aus.net


Composition-gradient static light scattering can be used to determine the binding affinity and stoichiometry of reversible protein complexes, without tagging, immobilisation or other modifications. The method can distinguish and quantify multiple simultaneous stoichiometries.

The quantitative characterisation of reversible protein-protein interactions is fundamental to the elucidation of basic biological function as well as the development of new biotherapeutics. Composition gradient multiangle

light scattering (CG-MALS) employs static light scattering (SLS) technology to determine stoichiometry and equilibrium association constants of self- and hetero-associations. This is accomplished without recourse to sample modifications such as fluorescent tag-ging or surface immobilisation, and with no restrictions on buffer composition - the experiment may be carried out in native solution or the desired formulation buffer.

The CG-MALS techniqueThe key to understanding how CG-MALS operates lies in the basic premise of SLS: the intensity of light scattered from macromolecules in solution is proportional to the product of the concentration c and the weight-averaged molar mass Mw. As protein complexes form, Mw increases; for example, were all the molecules present to dimerise, the scattered intensity would double. In a reversible association, the ratio of protein complexes to protein monomers reaches an

equilibrium value that depends on the total concentration of each species. By analysing the SLS measurements acquired over a series of compositions it is possible to determine which complexes are being formed and to quantify their respective binding affinities as equilibrium dissociation constants KD. With current instrumenta-tion, CG-MALS accesses protein dissociation constants in the range of 100 picomolars to millimolars. One of the key advantages of CG-MALS is its potential for establishing absolute stoichiometry - eg, distinguishing between 1:1 and 2:2 complexes - even when self- and hetero-association occur simultaneously.

AutomationA CG-MALS procedure consists of:

• preparing solutions of each of the required compositions;• delivering each to an SLS instrument and concentration detector;• recording the scattered intensity and concentration values;• performing a nonlinear least-squares fit of the data to each of the

association models to be tested against the experimental data.For rich interactions, 10 or even 20 individual composi-

tions may be needed to clearly discriminate between models

Quantifying protein-protein binding Daniel Some,

Principal Scientist, Wyatt Technology Corporation


and obtain a reliable set of association constants. Manual preparation and measurement procedures would clearly be tedi-ous, time consuming and prone to operator error. A computer-controlled apparatus such as Wyatt Technology’s Calypso system overcomes the difficulties of manual CG-MALS by automating the entire procedure, integrating sample prep and delivery with data acquisition, analysis and model fitting in one com-prehensive package. The Calypso works in conjunction with a MALS detector and an online concentration detector or UV absorption detector to provide a complete CG-MALS set-up, shown in Figure 1.

AB complex characterisationIn the first heteroassociation example, we examine a well-characterised enzyme/inhibitor system that forms 1:1 complexes: α-chymotrypsin (CHTR) and bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibi-tor (BPTI) in phosphate buffered saline at neutral pH. CHTR and BPTI were dissolved at nominal concentrations of 0.5 and 0.2 mg/mL, respectively, then dialysed against the buffer by means of a Sephadex desalting column.

The CG-MALS method consists of a buffer flush to obtain initial baseline values, then a single-component ascending con-centration series of CHTR, followed by a crossover composition series of CHTR and BPTI varying from 100% CHTR and 0% BPTI to 0% CHTR and 100% BPTI, a descending concentration series of BPTI, and finally a buffer flush for final baseline. The single-component stepwise gradients serve to characterise the monomer and any self-association that may be present, while the crossover gradient probes the entire range of possible het-eroassociation stoichiometries. The timeline graph, reproduced in Figure 2, visualises the method design.

The Calypso II hardware accessory features three computer-controlled syringe pumps. Once the two sample vials and buffer reservoirs are installed, the software automates sample prepara-tion and delivery by combining the output pump streams on the fly in a static mixer as they are injected into the detector flow cells. Different compositions are obtained by varying the rela-tive flow rates of the pumps. After metering out the predefined volume, flow stops and data may be integrated over any time scale. This stop-flow measurement provides for observing the kinetics of any reactions that may be occurring. Data acquisition is automatically synchronised to begin and end with the method. The duration of the measurement is typically 0.5 to 2 hours.

Figure 3 depicts the SLS (coloured) and concentration (black) data after pre-processing, which includes baseline subtraction, applying calibration constants and normalisation corrections. Each plateau corresponds to the signal from a particular sample composition. The vertical grey bars denote the fully equilibrated region of each plateau selected for the modelling analysis.

Finally data modelling is carried out. Figure 4 shows the results of fitting the SLS and concentration plateau data to

Figure 1. CG-MALS experimental set-up combining the Calypso II composition gradient system, a DAWN multiangle static light scattering detector and an Optilab T-rEX concentration detector.

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Figure 3. CG-MALS processed data for a heteroassociation experiment: SLS signal (blue) and concentration signal (black).

Figure 2. Timeline graph showing the method design for characterisation of self- and heteroassociation of two proteins.

Figure 4. Fit of SLS data to model of self-association and 1:1 complex formation. The horizontal axis corresponds to the plateau sequence depicted in Figure 3. Circles: measured; squares: best-fit calculated SLS signals. Other lines: contribution of the various species to the light scattering at each composition. Besides the 1:1 complex, a small amount of CHTR homodimer (orange line) appears.

Figure 5. Top: Unsuccessful attempt to fit the CG-MALS data for chymotrypsin and soybean trypsin inhibitor, with an (incorrect) model of 1:1 association + self-association; Bottom: Fit to a model of two equivalent binding sites on the inhibitor, producing both 1:1 and 2:1 complexes (blue plot combines SLS from the bound complexes) + homodimers of CHTR (orange plot) and STI (black, vanishes in fit). Other plots correspond to unbound monomers.

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ASTM D2887 Reference Oil

LTM Module: 45 ºC to 350 ºC at 150 ºC/min

Faster than conventional GC (75-120 ºC/min max)

Calibration sample C5-C44

LTM Module: 45 ºC to 350 ºC at 150 ºC/min

Fast SIMDIS under 3 minutes using LTM… 6x faster than conventional ASTM D2887 procedure

http://www.agilent.com/chem/TradIn


a simple AB association together with homo-dimerisation of each protein. The blue circles correspond to the measured SLS values, while the red squares and line correspond to the fit. The other plots illustrate the SLS signal contributed by each of the components: unbound monomer of A (CHTR), unbound monomer of B (BPTI), the AB complex, AA and BB dimers. The AB signal peaks when the injected sample comprises the stoichiometric ratio of the complex. This is a general feature of CG-MALS which helps distinguish different stoichiometries.

The dissociat ion constant result ing from this f i t is KD = 90 nM. This value falls within the range determined elsewhere and by other techniques, of 25-200 nM. Under these conditions, chymotrypsin undergoes very weak self-association, barely visible in the fit. Adding other terms to the fitted model, eg, self-association or AAB complexes, does not change the results as the additional complexes end up with negligible affini-ties in the best-fit result. The entire fitting procedure requires only a few seconds on a moderately fast PC.

Characterisation of multivalent proteinsThe second example demonstrates characterisation of a bivalent interaction. When chymotrypsin associates with soybean trypsin inhibitor (STI), STI presents two equivalent binding sites to the enzyme, so that both AB and AAB complexes are present. Here the crossover gradient is divided into finer steps in order to better resolve the two complexes.

The buffer conditions and CHTR preparation were the same as in the previous measurement, while STI was prepared at 0.2 mg/mL and similarly dialysed. The modelling results are shown in Figure 5: in the upper graph, an ill-fated attempt to fit the data to a model that allows for three independent parameters: affini-ties of the AB, AA and BB complexes; in the lower graph, the fit

to a model that provides for AAB complexes as well, under the assumption of two equivalent binding sites (only one independ-ent parameter, the single binding site affinity). Clearly the latter produces an excellent fit (KD = 0.54 µM, comparing well with the literature values of 0.3 to 1.2 µM under similar buffer conditions), validating the stoichiometry model. Weak homo-dimerisation of chymotrypsin is evident and fitted to a KD = 330 µM, in line with known values at this pH. The Calypso software provides plots of the concentrations of each species at each composition step as well as the SLS signals.

These two examples illustrate some common heteroassocia-tions, analysed with relatively simple modelling. More complicated systems that have been addressed include simultaneous self- and heteroassociation, multiple degrees of self-association, multivalent-multivalent systems (both binding partners are multivalent) and incompetent protein fractions (some portion of the monomers are misfolded or aggregated). The Calypso software provides for a large variety of association models as well as simulating experiments in the design stage.

SummaryBiomolecular interactions can be complex and require multiple complementary and orthogonal techniques in order to obtain a full picture. CG-MALS technology fills in many of the gaps, addressing all types of biomacromolecules including proteins, peptides, aptamers and more. With minimal method development and rapid, rigorous, fully quantitative analysis, CG-MALS is an essential biophysical technique.

Shimadzu Scientific Instruments (Oceania) Pty Ltd


ONE OF THE KEY ADVANTAGES OF CG-MALS IS

ITS POTENTIAL FOR ESTABLISHING ABSOLUTE

STOICHIOMETRY - EG, DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN

1:1 AND 2:2 COMPLEXES - EVEN WHEN SELF- AND

HETERO-ASSOCIATION OCCUR SIMULTANEOUSLY.

Light sheet fluorescence microscopeCarl Zeiss’s Lightsheet Z.1 is a multiview light sheet fluores-

cence microscope. The innovative system allows the user to

record the development of large, living samples, delivering

high-information content in a fraction of the time it takes

using other techniques.

Light sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) splits fluorescence excitation and detection into two separate paths, with the axis of

illumination perpendicular to the detection axis. This means the user can illuminate a single thin section of a sample at one time,

generating an inherent optical section by exciting only fluorescence from the in-focus plane. No pinhole or image processing is required.

Light from the in-focus plane is collected on the pixels of a camera. Parallelisation of the image collection on a camera-based

detector allows fast collection of images with very little excitation light, making 3D imaging fast and light-efficient.

Carl Zeiss Pty Ltd


http://www.geneworks.com.au/daretobedifferent


CA

SE

STU

DY

Life Technologies has announced that the New York Genome Center (NYGC) has purchased four Ion Proton Sequencers for its new Innovation Center. The sequencers, which are designed to sequence an entire human genome in a few hours for under $1000, will be housed at IFM Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) and used to accelerate its research on the genetic mechanisms of cancer.

The Ion Proton Sequencer is a complementary platform to the Ion PGM Sequencer, said to be the fastest selling benchtop sequencer with the largest benchtop next-generation sequencing install base in laboratories worldwide. The Ion PGM System is claimed to be the fastest solution to sequence sets of genes, small genomes and small RNA. The new Ion Proton System will deliver rapid, inexpensive sequencing to scientists focused on understanding the function of exomes, transcriptomes and human-scale genomes.

“The Innovation Center is a critical component of the NYGC’s growth strategy and we are pleased to be collaborating on it with Life Technologies, a company that shares our commitment to technology advancement,” said Nancy J Kelley, Founding Executive Director of NYGC. “The Ion Proton Sequencer will enable our network of world-renowned scientists to remain on the leading edge of research and participate in sequencing-based collaborative studies focused on advancing the era of genomic medicine.”

“We are extremely excited to be the first site for NYGC’s Innovation Center, through which we are gaining access to this technology,” said Thomas J Kelly, MD, PhD, Director, Sloan-Kettering Institute. “We believe the system will greatly accelerate the rate at which we can collect information about the molecular changes in DNA that give rise to diseases such as cancer, enabling us to better exploit this information to develop more effective therapeutic strategies in the future.”

Biologist Dr Scott W Lowe, a member in the Cancer Biology & Genetics Program at the Sloan-Kettering Institute and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, is studying difficult-to-treat cancers, including acute myeloid leukemia and hepatocellular carcinoma. Dr Lowe said he believes the technology will enable his team to more quickly examine the genetic changes, or mutations, which occur in these difficult-to-treat cancers, understand how these mutations influence response to therapy and, in the future, identify cancer-specific therapeutic targets.

“We are pleased that the New York Genome Center has joined a growing list of prestigious, research-focused hospitals and institutions around the world that are rapidly adopting our ion semiconductor sequencing technology,” said Mark Stevenson, President and Chief Operating Officer of Life Technologies. “Like our other partners, we believe the NYGC will benefit from this disruptive technology by being able to quickly generate accurate genomic data and apply it to human disease research.”

Life Technologies Australia Pty Ltd


New York Genome Center purchases four Ion Proton Sequencers for cancer research

WDXRF spectrometerRigaku has announced the release of the Supermini200 wave-

length dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) spectrometer, an

enhanced version of the Rigaku Supermini benchtop WDXRF

spectrometer.

Elemental analysis is an important measurement made for

industrial quality control and research and development, and

WDXRF is one of the most powerful and well-established, non-

destructive techniques for elemental analysis. Its advantages

include light element sensitivity, good elemental resolving power

and low limits of detection. The Supermini200 combines all of

the advantages of traditional WDXRF elemental analysis systems

in a smaller package, with a size that is 25% that of traditional

WDXRF units. Unlike other techniques such as ICP and AA, no

chemical preparation step is required, making sample prepara-

tion and clean-up much simpler.

The Supermini200 incorporates a number of advancements from

the original Supermini, including newly designed and simplified

software and an improved footprint. EZ Analysis is a software

feature that simplifies everyday routine operation. A single in-

terface contains comprehensive information about the status of

samples, data measurement and analysis parameters, as well

as a running output of results. The EZ Scan software module

enables analysis of unknown samples with no prior set-up and

with only a few clicks of the mouse to get started.

The product is suitable for labs replacing older WDXRF units

or as a backup WDXRF system for time-sensitive industries.

Australian X-Ray Tubes Pty Ltd


http://www.kartell.com.au

http://www.sartorius.com/picus


Auto analyser helps protect production equipmentC

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An automated segmented flow analyser, the AA3 from Seal Analytical, is being used at BASF’s manufacturing facility at Ludwigshafen in Germany to protect manufacturing equipment from corrosion or chemical attack from potential impurities in demineralised water, boiler feed water and steam condensate.

Roland Bruenn, who has been with BASF since 1986, is responsible for the analysis of process and environmental samples. He says, “We take samples continuously, 24 hours per day, and typically test 30 to 50 samples per day for silica, ammonium and iron. However, the AA3 has the facility to test hundreds of samples per day so we have the ability to increase the work rate if necessary. This work is extremely important for the protection of high-value process equipment.”

BASF is the largest diversified chemical company in the world and the Ludwigshafen facility is the company’s largest site, employing around 30,000 staff and manufacturing a wide range of products including inorganics, nutritional goods, aromatics, plastics and crop protection chemicals. Many of the chemical reactions that take place at the plant are exothermic and water is used for cooling purposes, which produces steam that is utilised in two ways. Firstly, it is used to generate electricity, which improves energy efficiency, lowers the plant’s carbon footprint and saves money. Secondly, the heated water and steam is used as a heat source for other production processes. It is important that the heated water is not contaminated because this could seriously affect both the plant and the production processes. The reliability of the analytical equipment is therefore a high priority.

“This was the reason for choosing the AA3; in 1991, following a trial of several products, we chose a TrAAcs 800 (Technicon/Bran+Luebbe) which performed very well and was upgraded to an AA3 in 2001. Since that time, we have been very happy with the instrument’s performance, the maintenance requirement has been minimal and there have been very few downtimes. We have also benefited from very short response times by SEAL’s service staff at Norderstedt,” said Bruenn. A key feature of the AA3 is a low detection limit for the measured species and the Ludwigshafen laboratory results typically range between 2 and 5000 µg/L. The analyses follow the DIN EN ISO 16264 standard for silica and the DIN EN ISO 11732 standard for ammonium, and accuracy is regularly checked by parallel manual tests.

Looking forward, the AA3 is being replaced by a new QuAAtro, which is the latest segmented flow analyser with ultralow detection limits and high reproducibility. The AA3 will then be moved to a different laboratory

and utilised for testing ammonia in wastewater.

Fluidquip Australia


S.aureus/CNS screenThe hemoFISH S.aureus/CNS Screen from miacom is

based on fluorescence in-situ hybridisation and de-

signed to differentiate Staphylococcus aureus from

coagulase-negative staphylococci in positive blood cultures.

The IVD test supports clinicians to effectively fight and

manage blood stream infections, and also fits into today’s

laboratory routine.

Total turnaround time is set to only 15 min so that

results can be reported together with the Gram stain.

In addition, up to 12 blood cultures can be processed

and analysed simultaneously, which helps microbiologist

to apply this test in a batch mode. The simple and robust

assay procedure that includes intrinsic controls in every

test ensures accurate performance.

Dutec Diagnostics Pty Ltd


Corrosive storage cabinetThe Polystore corrosive storage cabinet

is suitable for containing corrosive chemi-

cals and substances in the laboratory.

Available in a wide range of sizes, the

cabinet offers a safe, stylish storage

option featuring no internal metal parts,

fire-retardant polypropylene construc-

tion, self-closing, lockable doors and a

liquid-tight sump.

The cabinet can be custom-made to the user’s requirements and

dimensions. It is available with adjustable and removable shelving.

The corrosive storage cabinet has undergone many years of development

and testing and is fully compliant to Australian Standard AS/NZS 3780

and AS/NZS 2243.10.

Laboratory Systems Group


http://www.edmundoptics.com/lifesciences


Cytokine assaysThe Bio-Plex Pro Human Th17

Cytokine assays are magnetic bead-

based multiplex assays for the simul-

taneous detection of cytokines in a

single experiment, using as little as

12.5 µL of sample. The assays take

advantage of simplified processing

provided by a magnetic workflow.

The assay has been developed

to deliver accurate, reproducible

measurements with complete flex-

ibility to meet research needs.

It features enhanced productivity,

allowing users to simultaneously

measure up to 16 biomarkers.

It has been tested for robustness

in serum and plasma matrices and

covers broad assay working ranges.

Users can order a premixed kit

or select only desired biomarkers

to multiplex.

Bio-Rad Laboratories Pty Ltd


Digital camera imaging systems for TEMsScientex has acquired exclusive distribution for Advanced

Microscopy Techniques (AMT) digital camera imag-

ing systems for transmission electron microscopes

(TEMs). The cameras offer speed, sensitivity and

dynamic range, which make them suitable for biol-

ogy, pathology, material sciences and advanced

nanotechnology.

AMT provides high-performance optics with

specially designed finite-conjugate lenses for all

products, having pioneered the use of high-resolution

RESTM phosphors, which minimise electron scattering effects

and provide good sensitivity. AMT offers a complete line of digital

imaging capabilities from 1-16 MP formats, with all systems providing sharp images, high dynamic range

and low noise. There are numerous options to fit user TEM configurations and applications for life and

materials sciences and nanotechnology.

Cameras can be grouped into specific areas of the microscope in side-mount/35 mm, mid-mount and

low-mount positions, based on user preference and application. The cameras can also be selected by the

physical nature of chip size/pixel density. Assessment of specific cameras by model provides the user with

the ability to select the best camera over a wide range of requirements. In addition, there is a selection of

lenses engineered to optimise camera sensor performance, regardless of camera location or application.

The imaging software is simple to use by virtue of a modular architecture that intelligently segments

acquisition from analysis. Using user/menu selected TEM conditions and annotations, the CCD camera

systems provide comprehensive operating software packages for seamless digital image acquisition,

processing and storage.

Scientex Pty Ltd


http://au.flukecal.com


AirClean Systems Ductless Fume Cabinets

Powdersafe powder/solid chemical weighing enclosure

Completely Ductless and mobile Microprocessor controlled Fluorescent light Audible and visible alarms for airflow and gases Carbon and HEPA Filters for specific applications Every application is assessed by our qualified in-house chemists and biologists Environmentally Sustainable via HVAC Energy Savings (compared to ducted fume cupboards) Fully Compliant to AS/NZS 2243.9

Solid Polypropylene Construction Effectively weigh to 5 decimal places Electrical cord access ports Continuous HEPA filter monitoring Audible and visible alarms Secondary HEPA for additional safety and filter changing Optional Carbon Filter for odourous powders

All AirClean Systems products are manufactured in Australia by Laboratory Systems Group Pty Ltd

Laboratory Systems Group Pty [email protected]

Protecting your laboratory’s most valuable assets

(03) 8720 9000www.labsystemsgroup.com.au

QCM-D surface analysis systemThe Q-Sense Omega

Auto surface analysis

system is an intuitive

instrument and software

platform that senses mass

change, layer thickness, binding

and molecular orientation at the nanoscale.

The principle is that of quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation

(QCM-D).

Requiring only 30 µL of sample per sensor, the eight sensor module

enables high throughput and good reproducibility. Temperatures can

be set between 4 and 70°C, enabling stable temperature control.

Applications include protein conformational changes, lipids, sur-

factants, nanoparticles, polymers and whole cells. It is possible to

determine the water content of molecular layers and calculate film

viscosity, elasticity, mass, thickness, density, affinity and specificity.

Interactions can be studied on many substrates such as gold, met-

als, polymers and functionalised coatings.

ATA Scientific Pty Ltd


Analyser for pH/total acidityThe TitraLab automatic analyser is specifically designed for pH

and total acidity in food and beverage applications, making it

suitable for routine analysis measurements.

The product delivers fast results due to the optimisation of

applications and an embedded preset algorithm. Accuracy is

provided with the high-resolution, 40,000-step electronic burette.

The preset display offers the instrument operator comfort and

ease of use. The intuitive product interface and ready-to-use,

preprogrammed methods minimise training time.

The instrument, electrode and all accessories are included.

Simply add chemistries and set-up is complete. Maintenance is

easy, with few spare parts needed.

Hach Company


http://www.labsystemsgroup.com.au


Australian Scientific Pty LtdPO Box 335Kotara, NSW 2289

Email: [email protected]

Tel: 1800 021 083Fax: 02 4956 2525

pH

mV(ORP)

ION

Conductivity

Resistivity

Salinity

TDS

F -70 SeriesBenchtop Meters

HORIBA popular ToupH electrode is now tougher and responds faster.Enhanced stability and minimised drift.Intergrating two new technologies for faster response and optimal performance.

01 pH fast response glass membrane

The membrane contains HORIBA’s unique combination of rare earth metals to improve response time and increase durability.

02 Reference electrode with increased stability (patent pending)

Liquid Junction clogging by silver ions and silver complex ions is reduced to 1/1000 of conventional technology. Maintaining internal solution concentration ensures a stable standard electrical potential.

ToupH electrodes are now even stronger HORIBA’s glass membrane moulding technology achieves strengths more than 10 times the Japanese Industrial Standards (stress tests)

NEW TECHNOLOGY

NEW TECHNOLOGY

Hygrometer for climatic chambersThe latest sensor design of Michell Instruments’

S8000 Remote chilled mirror hygrometer com-

bines high-accuracy temperature control with

new materials to improve reliability and avoid

condensation.

The relative humidity in climatic chambers will always devi-

ate from the set point. Even in high-precision chambers this

deviation is typically between 1-3% RH, which can have a

considerable effect on the results of many tests. A calibrated

reference instrument such as a chilled-mirror hygrometer

reduces this uncertainty to just 0.5% RH, but can be difficult

to install and bulky, reducing the amount of usable test space

within the chamber.

To overcome these space issues, the S8000 Remote chilled

mirror hygrometer’s remote sensor head features an open cell

design, removing the need for any complex heated sampling

arrangements or an external pump. Installing the sensor is

simply a matter of placing it in an appropriate position within

the chamber and routing the cable externally to the instrument.

The improved de-

sign has an optional

aluminium sensor head

that provides a swift

response to changes in

temperature, preventing

any risks of condensa-

tion occurring during

rapid transitions be-

tween temperature set

points. The field-proven

sensor boasts upgraded temperature control for extremely ac-

curate dewpoint measurement, and, coupled with the standard

±0.1°C accuracy ambient temperature sensor, it provides

fundamentally derived, high-precision relative humidity readings

necessary for validating the results of environmental tests.

Outside of the chamber, the instrument operation is easy

without user intervention. The S8000 Remote features a highly

visible LCD display that shows any three user-selectable pa-

rameters (typically dewpoint, relative humidity and temperature)

in large clear text. The display also features a stability graph

and displays the operational status of the unit. A powerful and

easy-to-use menu system enables the operating parameters

of the instrument to be quickly customised to suit the target

application. The instrument also comes with three customis-

able analog outputs and one alarm, enabling integration into

an existing automated test or calibration system.

AMS Instrumentation & Calibration Pty Ltd


http://www.austscientific.com.au


return on investment

to configure and install

fully integrated lims solution

local product, service and advice

Rapid

Easy

Complete

Australian

3D cell culture systemThe RAFT system, from TAP Biosystems, comprises

a RAFT plate, reagents, plate heater and protocol for

the production of collagen-based 3D cell cultures in

a simple, consistent and reproducible format. The

system enables production of reproducible 3D cell

cultures in a standard 96-well compound screening plate format.

The simple three-step process of mix, make and measure simplifies the route to improved results from

3D experiments. Scientists simply mix the reagents from the kit with their cells, pipette into 96-well plates

and incubate on the plate heater for 15 min to form a cell-seeded collagen hydrogel. The plate is placed

on the hydrogels and in just 15 min some of the medium is absorbed gently, leaving cells ‘encapsulated’

in physiological strength collagen, suitable for use in cell-based secondary screening.

The benefit of using this process is that it creates a realistic cellular environment to study cells’ complex

behaviour and gives scientists complete control over their experimental parameters. Researchers can choose

cell types and cell seeding densities and create complex co-cultures, including multiple layers if required,

and they can use a range of analytical screening techniques, such as imaging, biochemical, histological

and omics analysis with their 3D cell cultures.

TAP Biosystems

http://www.tapbiosystems.com

Vial closure systemThe Thermo Scientific National

Target DP 9 mm C5000 series

vial closure system for 12 x

32 mm vials is designed to virtu-

ally eliminate septa push-through

while enhancing productivity and

flexibility. The closures are ergo-

nomically efficient and PTFE-free.

The National Target DP 9 mm

closure is based on Thermo

Fisher’s Advance Vial Closure

System (AVCS), designed to

overcome challenges long as-

sociated with 9 mm closures.

The design features a redesigned

septa/cap interface that improves

sealing. The company’s in-house

testing has also shown reduced

evaporation, increased surface

area available for injection and

provides compatibility with a

broader range of autosamplers

than previous designs.

Thermo Fisher Scientific


http://www.lims1.com


my

lab Growing tumours grows hope

for children with cancerDiffuse Pontine Glioma (DIPG) may not be par-ticularly well known, but according to oncologist Dr David Ziegler, it is “one of the most common and the most aggressive brain tumours we see in kids”. Because the tumour is located in the most sensitive part of the brain, it has been impossible to study and therefore impossible to cure. Most children with a DIPG die within 12 months.

Now, Dr Ziegler and colleagues from the Children’s Cancer Institute of Australia (CCIA) have set out to grow their own tumours in the institute’s ACRF Drug Discovery Centre. The cells were harvested from tumours donated by the parents of children who had died from the disease.

“We thought, ‘Well, if we can harvest these tumours after a donation, maybe we can actually get the cells to grow’,” explained Dr Ziegler. “If we can get them to grow in the lab, maybe we can start a screening program and see if we can find any new and exciting treatments.”

Achieving funding for the project was initially difficult because growing cells from tumours taken after death was thought to be impossible. But the team was supported by researchers at Stanford University in the US, who were able to grow their own cells and share them with the CCIA, as well as fundraising efforts by parents.

The drug screening program is conducted by a multimillion-dollar robotic machine - one of only two in Australia. The machine is automated to place the cells in 96-well plates, then add a different drug to each plate.

“Within a day, you can literally test thousands of different drugs,” said Dr Ziegler. “In the first batch we tested about 1200 drugs; that literally took just a few hours.”

Excitedly, Dr Ziegler states that some of the drugs which have been tested, which have already been approved for other conditions, ap-pear to be killing the tumour cells.

“Our next step is that we need to confirm that, so we need to repeat those tests, take the ones that seem most active, try and see that it’s reproducible, and test that extensively across the different cell lines and in different models. If we are able to prove that some of these drugs are effective, then ultimately our aim would be to take them to do a clinical trial.”

The research is thus extremely important for treating DIPGs, with Dr Ziegler admitting that up until recently, there had been no advances for the past 50 years.

“There’s no more difficult conversation you can have with a parent than to tell them that their child has a DIPG and that there’s no treatment that we have,” said Dr Ziegler. “The aim of

this research is to make sure that we don’t have to have those conversations anymore.”

By Lauren Davis

PRIVACY INFORMATION: www.westwick-farrow.com.au/pages/privacy.asp

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What’s New in LAB & Life Sciences Dec/Jan 2013