Instruments & Capabilities

Hang Ta Lab hosts a wide range of state-of-the-art instruments and research capabilities with regard to nanotechnology and nanomedicine. Generally, Ta Lab is capable to synthesise and characterise nanomaterials, investigate interactions of nanomaterials and cells under flow, perform flow-based assays and an extensive range of bioassays including cell-based assays, and conduct tissue and cell-based in vitro fluorescence imaging. With access to Centre of Advanced Imaging and Translational Research Institute, Ta group is also capable to perform in vitro and in vivo fluorescence imaging, magnetic resonance imaging and photoacoustic imaging.

Ta lab has a range of basic instruments including pH meter, balance, shaking incubator, rotator, Eppendorf thermomixer, orbital shaker, rotator, rocker, microcentrifuge and multi-position stirrers.

Ta lab hosts and has access to a range of instruments for nanomaterial synthesis including heating mantle, stirring hotplates, homogeniser (emulsifier), overhead mechanical stirrer, ultrasonic water bath, ultrasonic homogeniser (probe sonicator), high-speed centrifuge, and ultracentrifuge.

Litesizer 500 is capable to characterize nano- and microparticles at the touch of a button. Particles in dispersion as well as peptides or macromolecules in solution can be determined over a broad concentration range, limiting the time for sample preparation. Litesizer 500 includes three measurement angles for particle size determination as well as patented cmPALS technology, which enables zeta potential measurements at low voltages with the highest repeatability and accuracy.

• Particle characterization from the nano- to the micrometer range
• Particle size measurements via dynamic light scattering at three different measurement angles
• Determination of zeta potential using cmPALS
• Molecular mass and refractive index measurements

AccuTemp-26L digital desktop vacuum oven features a 26 litres easy-to-clean stainless steel chamber with a large dual-layer tempered glass safety window and small footprint. This oven can greatly reduce drying time by maintaining a consistent vacuum level within the chamber.

The latest Ai AccuTemp 26 litres vacuum oven comes standard with 5 sided pad heating technology that covers left, right, top, bottom and back of the chamber and heats 25% faster. Together with aluminum shelves, they provide great temperature uniformity inside the oven chamber. Also come standard is the adjustable gas back fill capability with needle valve and vent port, while the low proportional gain temperature controller keeps your oven temperature within +/- 1°C accuracy.

CKX53 microscope: This is a compact, ergonomic inverted microscope with integrated phase contrast (iPC) system for cell culture, and is equipped with a DP74 colour camera for imaging purposes. It provides tissue imaging and supports a variety of cell culture needs, including live cell observation, cell sampling and handling, image capture and fluorescence observation. The CKX53 microscope fits on a clean lab bench and can be remain there during the UV sterilization process thanks to its UV-resistant coating.

Kern stereozoom microscope: This microscope is equipped with a colour camera allowing imaging. The zoom objective offers continuous magnification from 7x to 45x. It can be used for mouse surgery, tissue preparation, section, tissue imaging, etc.

Sapphire imager – Azure 600: It can image Western Blots, gels, Petri dishes, tissue sections, small animal models, plants and more. It captures images of NIR and visible fluorescence western blotting (WB) in multiplex, enhanced chemiluminescence (ECL) WB, biomolecules tagged with fluorescent labels in gels, fluorescent and colorimetric stains in gels, Petri dishes, TLC, etc. It offers True Color Imaging of translucent and opaque samples. western blotting imaging capability including chemiluminescence detection, multiplex fluorescence detection capabilities.

• Two Near-Infrared fluorescence channels. Laser diodes at 685nm and 785nm offer better sensitivity than LEDs or white light sources for Western Blots.
• Three RGB fluorescence channels for applications detecting fluorescent biomolecules in the visible range, Cy2/Cy3/Cy5 or similar fluorochromes. Green Channel for Total Protein Normalization of Near-Infrared WB using TotalStain Q.
• Fast and Sensitive Chemiluminescent Detection.

Ta lab has multiple syringe pumps and peristatic pump capable to run different flow-based assays and experiments.

Ta lab has an 808 nm laser system capable to perform a range of photothermal therapies. It includes a MDL-III-808 2.5W output power laser, PSU-III-LED adjustable power supply, 400 um fibre coupling 2W in the end of fibre coupling, fibre collimators bean diameter of 1 cm in distance of 10 cm, and a protective housing.

ClotPro is a diagnostic instrument for the functional analysis of blood coagulation using Elastic Motion Thrombelastography. It is a 6-channel viscoelastometry analyzer, designed for the rapid analysis of whole blood coagulation. It offers a unique combination of ease of use, flexibility, and throughput (6 channels for parallel testing). The system provides excellent correlation to conventional viscoelastometry analyzers.

Transonic One-channel Flowmeter can be used to measure perivascular blood flow in a single blood vessel from a range of animal species as well as measuring tubing fluid flow. It provides a complete flow analysis with high accurate volume flow measurement. It is suitable for acute or chronic studies, any vessel type, and for a range of animal species from mice through to pigs and sheep and even fish. It is used to measure blood flow in a single vessel as well as measuring tubing fluid flow. Fluid flow is the quantification of bulk fluid movement, which is important to many discovery, evaluative and monitoring studies. It supports blood flow studies such as myocardial function, coronary circulation, renal physiology, circulatory models (thrombosis), isolated heart and organ perfusion, medical device testing. It also support tubing flow studies such as isolated perfused organ studies, artificial valve studies, fluid flow studies.

Laser Doppler Blood FLowMeter is used with a specialized fiber optic probe  to measure blood cell perfusion in the microvasculature of tissues and organs. Its applications include:

• Blood flow monitoring in peripheral vascular disorders
• Cerebral perfusion monitoring in models of stroke and brain injury
• Tumor perfusion monitoring
• Angiogenesis
• Blood flow (free flaps, pedicle flaps, wound healing, gastroenterology)

Ta lab hosts instruments to run gel electrophoresis (e.g. SDS-PAGE, agarose gel) and western blotting for protein/peptide and DNA/RNA separation and analysis. They include electrophoresis chambers, PowerPac power supply, gel preparation kit, TransBlot Turbo Transfer System, and Sapphire Imager.

Ta Lab has a cell culture facility housing a biosafety cabinet, BB150 CO2 incubator, water bath, centrifuge, etc.