The Accuri is a small, bench-top cytometer housing 2 light scatter detectors, 2 lasers, and 4 fluorescence detectors that enable the detection of up to four fluorochromes.

https://experts.syr.edu/en/equipments/cell-sorter-system

Cell sorting with the FACS Aria allows up to four populations in a mixed sample to be separated and collected in separate vessels simultaneously. Unlike in analyzers (such as the Accuri C6), where the cells simple go the waste, these cells are preserved in appropriate buffer so that they can be further analyzed, later studied, and potentially even cultured after sorting.

https://experts.syr.edu/en/equipments/cell-sorter-system

A Luminex (LX200, Luminex) performs multiplexed immunoassays using either magnetic or polystyrene beads.

https://experts.syr.edu/en/equipments/luminex-flow-based-bead-reader

A plate reader (Synergy 2, Biotek) measures absorbance, fluorescence, and/or luminescence from a variety of cell (or material)–based assays.

https://experts.syr.edu/en/equipments/plate-reader

Real time PCR instrumentation used to quantify gene expression (Mastercycler Realplex2, Eppendorf) in multiplex assays. The machine features a special 96-well heating block, enabling rapid thermal cycling. A standard 40-cycle Taqman® assay can be run in less than two hours, including data analysis and report generation. 

https://experts.syr.edu/en/equipments/real-time-pcr

An atomic force microscope (AFM; Nanoscope IIIa, Multimode, Bruker) has a standard “J” scanner capable of scanning a 100 µm x 100 µm area and an “E” scanner capable of scanning a 10 µm x 10 µm area to facilitate high-resolution imaging of nano-structures to nearly atomic levels.

The AFM is capable of operating in contact and tapping mode, and has fluid cells for examining wet samples.

https://experts.syr.edu/en/equipments/atomic-force-microscope-afm

Contact angle goniometer (250-F1, ramé-hart) for the assessment of material surface wettability (hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity) and surface energy by the sessile drop method.

https://experts.syr.edu/en/equipments/contact-angle-goniometer

A high-resolution digital microscope (KH8700, Hirox) is capable of imaging material surfaces at up to 3500x magnification and generating 3D reconstructions without the need for gold coating or vacuum, thus facilitating the imaging of hydrated samples such as hydrogels and biological materials.

https://experts.syr.edu/en/equipments/high-resolution-digital-microscope

The polarized light microscope (BX-51, Olympus) is useful for observations of polymer morphology, for example after strain is applied.

https://experts.syr.edu/en/equipments/polarized-light-microscope

Freeze dryer (Freezone 25 plus, Labconco) facilitates removal of water from samples (for example hydrogels) by sublimation in preparation for downstream processes.

https://experts.syr.edu/en/equipments/freeze-dryer

A hydraulic press (Model 3851, Carver) facilitates compression molding, embossing, and thin-film preparation.

https://experts.syr.edu/en/equipments/hydraulic-press

Rotors accommodate 15 and 50 mL tubes up to 14,500 rpm (24,446 xg).

https://experts.syr.edu/en/equipments/high-speed-centrifuge

An extruder (Microtruder RCP0625, Randcastle) for compounding polymer mixtures by melt mixing and making filament.

https://experts.syr.edu/en/equipments/polymer-extruder

Rotational viscometer (DV-III, Brookfield) to easily predict a material’s flow, spray, or pumping behavior by studying shear rate profiles. Measures: viscosity, temperature, shear stress, and torque. Includes yield stress measurement feature to characterize startup flow behavior.

https://experts.syr.edu/en/equipments/rotational-viscometer

A temperature-controlled tensile tester (CSS-450, Linkam) can be used to test samples while simultaneously imaging.

https://experts.syr.edu/en/equipments/stage-tensile-tester

A tensile/compression testing system (Model 100P Universal Testing Machine, Test Resources) equipped with 25N and 440N load cells and an environmental bath (BB10 Biobath, Test Resources) and Circulating temperature controller (T200, Test Resources) allows for mechanical properties including strain-to-failure to be tested in air or by simulating body conditions (in fluid at body temperature) under tension of compression.

https://experts.syr.edu/en/equipments/tensilecompression-testing-system

The TS-75 Triboscope (Hysitron, Bruker) facilitates nanomechanical testing of material surfaces by indentation in conjuction with the Nanoscope IIIa atomic force microscope.

Enables quantitative nanoindentation and nanotribological characterization, including measurements of elastic modulus, hardness, creep, stress relaxation, fracture toughness, and viscoelastic properties.

https://experts.syr.edu/en/equipments/triboscope-system

A scanning electron microscope (SEM; JSM5600, JEOL) fitted with an energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS; Princeton Gammatech) system allows for imaging of surface structures at the micro-scale and surface elemental analysis.

https://experts.syr.edu/en/equipments/scanning-electron-microscope-sem

A stereo microscope (Discovery V8, Zeiss) provides walk-up imaging for biological or materials samples.

https://experts.syr.edu/en/equipments/stereo-microscope

The Leica Thunder microscope system which allows for computational clearing of thick and thin samples that are stained with fluorescent markers. The Thunder system features high resolution black and white (Leica DFC9000 GT) and color cameras (Leica DMC4500) mounted on an upright fluorescence microscope (Leica DM6B). The system also features an array of objectives including long working distance, dry, water immersion, oil immersion and glycerol immersion.

https://experts.syr.edu/en/equipments/leica-thunder

Ultramicrotome (MT-7000, RMC) with cryosectioning system, (C21, RMC) and a glass knife maker (RMC) are used to prepare ultra thin sections for TEM analysis.

https://experts.syr.edu/en/equipments/ultracryomicrotome

A dynamic light scattering instrument (DLS; Zetasizer Ultra, Malvern Panalytical) is useful for analysis of particles in solution, including nanoparticles and proteins. This instrument can yield data on the size, concentration, and charge (zeta potential) of such particles. This instrument can also perform highly sensitive size measurements using multiple angle dynamic light scattering (MALDS).

https://experts.syr.edu/en/equipments/dynamic-light-scattering-dls

Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR, Nicolet IS5, ThermoFisher) is used to analyze progress of chemical reactions as well as surface chemistry using KBr pellets in transmission mode or in reflectance mode using a diamond crystal ATR (attenuated total reflectance) attachment.

https://experts.syr.edu/en/equipments/fourier-transform-infrared-spec-ftir-and-microscope

Multi-angle light scattering (MiniDawn TREOS, Wyatt) determines molecular weight distributions of polymers. Operates in conjunction with gel permeation chromatography (GPC) to analyze size-fractionated samples.

https://experts.syr.edu/en/equipments/multi-angle-light-scattering-mals

Crystallization, melting, and glass transition temperatures are measured using a differential scanning calorimeter. This instrument is capable of heating samples to 400°C and cooling to -90°C (Q200 DSC, TA Instruments).

https://experts.syr.edu/en/equipments/differential-scanning-calorimeter-dsc

The thermogravimetric analyzer (Q500 TGA, TA Instruments) measures thermal stability and mass loss of materials by heating samples up to 1000°C with a fully programmable ramp profile. Ideally suited to polymeric materials or composites with thermally degradable components.

https://experts.syr.edu/en/equipments/thermogravimetric-analyzer