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Research Tools & Reagents

Latest Innovations
Modeling of Microfluidic Systems for High Throughput Cell Culture This portfolio of microfluidic technologies improves cell culture techniques. Current cell culture techniques have several limitations: they are resource and... Read More This portfolio of microfluidic technologies improves cell culture techniques. Current cell culture techniques have several limitations: they are resource and process intensive, the culture environment is inconsistent, and manual manipulation is both time consuming and error prone. These microfluidic inventions enable more consistent cell culture environments; allow use of high throughput devices which provide speed and consistency; conserve cell-cell factors to maintain cell-cell communication; and ultimately reduce operator error. High Throughput In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Device compatible with Multi-Head Flow Cytometry Systems This invention consists of microchannels to incubate oocytes and embryos. Microchannels are aligned to match the multi-head pipettor of a fluid handling robot with the dispenser of flow cytometers. After a certain amount of incubation time, depending on species, sorted sperm are introduced into the microchannels using a flow cytometer. The microchannels direct the movement and location of the sperm toward the oocyte. Once fertilized, embryos are removed from the fluid handling root and are ready for downstream steps. This process is very low shear, can be easily scaled for high throughput and should improve the yield of current processes. High Throughput Migration Device for Chemotaxis Studies Most chemotaxis devices cannot be used in high throughput studies. The geometry and surface tension properties of this invention use fluidic resistance to provide convection and a flow barrier, which then enable the development of concentration gradients. Fluidic resistance ensures this gradient is not disturbed, preserving cell-cell factors. The chamber has a cell inlet, a chemoattractant is introduced in the source channel, and a blank medium is introduced in the sink channel. Microfluidics Well Insert (MWI) for Oocyte/Embryo Culture To facilitate culture microenvironments for embryos similar to in-vivo, this invention provides a ready-to-use culture system made using soft lithography technology. This invention has two versions: channel-less and channeled. The channel-less version is composed of wells of a size especially tailored for the characteristic size of the particular species of oocyte/embryo being cultured. This allows for a flexible platform that will accommodate a wide variety of animal species. The channeled version has microchannels networked between the wells of the channel-less version, so that cell-cell communication between oocytes/embryos can be maintained during medium change. This invention is particularly useful for culturing zona pellucida-free oocytes and embryos as the well holds the cells together much as the zona pellicuda would with intact oocytes or embryos. This invention is easily scalable and fits into standard culture dishes. Automatic Top-Off System using a Surface Tension-Based Valve This liquid handling system automatically fills culture wells to desired levels without operator handling. Liquid is passively added as surface tension drops, maintaining the medium at a constant level without manual manipulation. This has the following benefits: Scalable to high-throughput Culture environment not disrupted Risk of operator error reduced Open-Close-Open-Close-Open (OCOCO) Microchannel System Microchannels provide good micro-environments for cell/embryo/oocyte culture and chemical analysis. However microchannels are very inconvenient for loading or accessing samples. This invention uses passive pumping to change mediums or reagents. This invention does not use any connecting channels or tubing, thus eliminating waste. It can be easily expanded for high-throuhput. The figure shows the liquid flowing from small drop to large drop by surface energy forces.
Ionizable Isotopic Labeling Reagents for Relative Quantification Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) is increasingly being used for metabolic analysis due in part to its widespread availability and compatibility with... Read More Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) is increasingly being used for metabolic analysis due in part to its widespread availability and compatibility with biological samples. This invention provides ionizable, isotopic labeling reagents and labeling reaction products, answering the current need for relative quantification using mass spectrometry. Absolute quantification of an analyte relies upon the addition of an internal standard differing only in its isotopic form. However, it is impractical to add an isotopic standard for every compound when performing more comprehensive metabolic profiling. Relative quantification between samples is more amenable to analyzing broad classes of compounds, and it often provides very useful biological information. Heavy and light isotopic forms of methylacetimidate have been synthesized and used as labeling reagents for quantification of amine-containing molecules, such as biological samples. Heavy and light isotopic forms of formaldehyde and cholamine have also been synthesized and used independently as labeling reagents for quantification of amine-containing and carboxylic acid-containing molecules, such as these found in biological samples. Advantageously, the labeled end-products are positively charged under normal acidic conditions involving conventional liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/MS) applications. This invention improves the precision of relative quantification by minimizing or negating errors associated with run-to-run irreproducibility. Such errors can arise from variations in mass spectrometric detection sensitivity, such as those caused by ionization suppression in electrospray, or from retention time differences between runs. The isotopic pair of labeled compounds co-elute within a single run. Therefore, they have identical retention times and are electrosprayed from identical solution conditions.
Engineered Reprogramming of Somatic Cells Dr. Kris Kilian has designed specific micropatterned surfaces as a substrate for somatic cell reprogramming. Geometric cues facilitate the reprogramming of somatic... Read More Dr. Kris Kilian has designed specific micropatterned surfaces as a substrate for somatic cell reprogramming. Geometric cues facilitate the reprogramming of somatic cells by providing curvature and pinch points that guide proliferation, chromatin architecture, and mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET), which are major indicators of active reprogramming. The technology comprises a kit for somatic cell reprogramming that includes a micropatterned object and immobilized cell adhesion agent. Benefits: A non-genetic method for cellular reprogramming Method saves time and enhances efficiency of reprogramming
New 3D Gels for Cell Culture and Therapy Researchers from the University of Illinois have created a new porus 3D gel. This gel can be prepared with a variety of natural or synthetic polymers and can also... Read More Researchers from the University of Illinois have created a new porus 3D gel. This gel can be prepared with a variety of natural or synthetic polymers and can also contain growth factors or other cellular signaling molecules to improve 3D cell culturing. This technology has the potential to be used in many novel techniques including stem cell therapy, organ and skin transplants as well as many research technologies and other medical processes.
Higher Performance Proteases for Scarless Tag Removal Dr. van der Donk from the University of Illinois has characterized expression vectors and a family of proteases that are useful in removing affinity tags after... Read More Dr. van der Donk from the University of Illinois has characterized expression vectors and a family of proteases that are useful in removing affinity tags after protein expression. Affinity tag removal after protein expression is sometimes necessary for the protein of interest to be functional and active. However during this tag removal, some amino acids not native to the protein of interest can be left behind. Dr. van der Donk's invention eliminates the possibility of extraneous amino acids being left on the final protein product, which is an improvement over existing enzymatic tag removal techniques. This invention has identified a class of lanthipeptides, class II LanPs that show substrate specificity and can serve as efficient sequence-specific traceless proteases, expanding and advancing the current toolbox of proteases. The general goal of Dr. van der Donk's research is to understand enzymatic transformations that are of environmental or pharmaceutical importance. The van der Donk lab utilizes both synthetic organic chemistry and molecular biology to reach this goal. Specifically, the lab uses genome mining strategies to discover new natural products, use microbiology and genomic tools to determine their mode of action, use chemical biology techniques to study their biosynthesis, and use synthetic chemistry to improve their activities and therapeutic properties.
Lantibiotic Screening Technique Dr. van der Donk has developed a screening system for identifying novel antibiotics. The system uses phage display and has been optimized for lantibiotic natural... Read More Dr. van der Donk has developed a screening system for identifying novel antibiotics. The system uses phage display and has been optimized for lantibiotic natural products. The system also has utility for investigating interactions between lantibiotics and other peptides. Lantibiotics have complex structures which make them particularly stable under changing pH and protease exposure as well as possessing the ability to bind to bacterial cell wall targets. This makes them ideal for scaffolds for new antibiotic discovery that can combat the burgeoning problem of antibiotic resistance
New Synthetic Tumor Microenvironments Researchers from the University of Illinois have developed a new synthetic tissue microenvironment that may give cancer researchers the next-best look at tumor... Read More Researchers from the University of Illinois have developed a new synthetic tissue microenvironment that may give cancer researchers the next-best look at tumor growth and behavior. The 3D patterned vasculature tumor microenvironment is created by changing the flow rates of fluid channels and the structures are made of alginate that was mixed with breast cancer cells in the outer layer and macrophages on the inner layer. The 3D vascularization, a network of capillaries that carry drugs and other materials are created can go from straight, to snakelike, to any shape, that offers modelling for metastasis, because the vessel architecture can be tuned on the ﬂy. The technology accurately predicted the clinically measured EC50 of three drugs: Gefitinib, zoledronic acid, and RAC inhibitor. This quick process to create synthetic tumor microenvironments lends to tremendous potential such as model systems for high-throughput screening for drug efficacy, as well as flowable and vascularized lab-on-a-fiber platforms. Finally, biopsied cancer cells lends to personalized cancer treatments with this device that could realistically and quickly recreate microenvironments found across biology.
Controlled Targets-Specific Drug Delivery via DNAzyme (aptazyme or aptamer) - Functionalized Liposome An amphiphilic substance includes a hydrophobic group, and a polynucleotide group attached to the hydrophobic group. The polynucleotide group includes a first... Read More An amphiphilic substance includes a hydrophobic group, and a polynucleotide group attached to the hydrophobic group. The polynucleotide group includes a first polynucleotide segment and a second polynucleotide segment. The first and second polynucleotide segments are at least partially complementary and are bound together by interactions including base pairing. At least one of the first and second segments includes at least one of an aptamer and a nucleic acid-based enzyme. A lipid vesicle may include the amphiphilic substance, a first polar lipid that is an unstable vesicle former, and a polar liquid. Upon exposure to a rupture agent, the vesicle may rupture, releasing the contents of the vesicle. Substances that may be released from the vesicle include bioactive agents, such as drug agents.
Optimally Tailored Raman Spectroscopic Probes for Ultrasensitive and Highly Multiplexed Assays Embodiments of nanostructured, multilayered metal-dielectric particles suitable for use as Raman spectroscopic probes, as well as methods of designing, making and... Read More Embodiments of nanostructured, multilayered metal-dielectric particles suitable for use as Raman spectroscopic probes, as well as methods of designing, making and using such multilayered nanoparticles, and kits including the multilayered nanoparticles. The multilayered nanoparticles include alternating metal and dielectric layers and an outer dielectric shell. One or more of the dielectric layers may include a plurality of reporter molecules. Embodiments of the multilayered nanoparticles are suitable for detecting target analytes in a sample. Some embodiments of the multilayered nanoparticles are suitable for use in multiplexed assays, including assays for multiple target analytes having differing concentrations.
Lanthanide Chelate Lanthanide chelates derived from diazacrown ethers having two ethyliminodiacetic acid side chains have increased ability to bind lanthanide ions. Read More Lanthanide chelates derived from diazacrown ethers having two ethyliminodiacetic acid side chains have increased ability to bind lanthanide ions.

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