LAB MANAGER: Luca Carraretto
STAFF: Carla Argentini, Veronica Tauro, Luca Carraretto
DESCRIPTION – In the Biochemistry and Biotechnology Lab, students learn to carry out studies on drug design, formulation, direction and release, as well as the characterization of several Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), also with the aid of spectroscopic and fluorimetric techniques.
Furthermore, they begin to take in various cromatographic methods, such as SEC (Size Exclusion Cromatography), useful for protein separation and for the isolation lipid and non-lipid drug carriers (liposomes, cyclodextrins, etc.), whose size features can be assessed through Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS).
Other types of cromatography (typical of this laboratory), such as IMAC (Immobilized Metal Affinity Cromatography) and HIC (Hydrophobic Interaction Cromatography), are also applied to recombinant (and therapeutic) proteins, expressed after transformation and induction of E. coli cells with the appropriate DNA constructs (plasmids).
The biochemical characterization of such proteins is also possible thanks to spectroscopic kinetic approaches (to determine, as an example, the enzyme activity before and after the use of catalysis inhibitors) and one- and two-dimensional electrophoresis, with subsequent analysis by mass spectrometry.
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CONTACT INFORMATION
+39 049 8275842
AVAILABLE INSTRUMENTS IN THE LAB
4 Jasco V-730 double-beam UV/VIS spectrophotometers, one equipped also with NCP-706 thermostatted 6-position automatic cell changer
2 BOOKABLE INSTRUMENTS! – Find them in the “Spettroscopia UV/VIS“ section of the booking page
IMPORTANT! Have you already been enabled to use this instrument? If not, go to this PAGE, download the training certificate and contact the Lab Manager/Facility Manager before use.
1 Agilent Technologies Cary 60 single-beam UV/VIS spectrophotometer
1 SP-350 Genova Nano micro volume spectrophotometer for DNA and proteins
1 Jasco FP-8250 spectrofluorometer
BOOKABLE INSTRUMENT! – Find it in the “Spettrofluorimetria” section of the booking page
IMPORTANT! Have you already been enabled to use this instrument? If not, go to this PAGE, download the training certificate and contact the Lab Manager/Facility Manager before use.
2 Hermle Z 233 M-2 centrifuges for 1.5 and 2 mL Eppendorf tubes
1 Ohaus Frontier FC 5706 centrifuge, equipped with 2 different rotors for 15 and 50 mL Falcon tubes
1 Eppendorf Vacufuge Concentrator 5301
BOOKABLE INSTRUMENT! – Find it in the main section of the booking page
IMPORTANT! Have you already been enabled to use this instrument? If not, go to this PAGE, download the training certificate and contact the Lab Manager/Facility Manager before use.
1 Perkin Elmer Geliance 600 imaging system, equipped with UV transilluminator and EPI lights
2 Heidolph VV 2000 Rotavapors (rotary evaporation systems)
1 IKA KS 4000 i Control thermostatted incubator with orbital stirrer and single/rod adapters for tubes and flasks
BOOKABLE INSTRUMENT! – Find it in the “Cell Culture Facility” section of the booking page
IMPORTANT! Have you already been enabled to use this instrument? If not, go to this PAGE, download the training certificate and contact the Lab Manager/Facility Manager before use.
1 Malvern Panalytical ZetaSizer Nano ZS Dynamic Light Scattering Z-potential particle size analyzer
BOOKABLE INSTRUMENT! – Find it in the “MacIn Facility” section of the booking page
IMPORTANT! Have you already been enabled to use this instrument? If not, go to this PAGE, download the training certificate and contact the Lab Manager/Facility Manager before use.
1 F.lli Galli G-Therm 115 thermostatic heater, volume 115 L, max. temperature 260°C
4 technical balances: 3 Radwag WLC 2/A2/C/2 and 1 BEL Engineering Mark 500
4 analytical balances: 2 Radwag AS 220.R2 PLUS, 1 BEL Engineering M124Ai and 1 Mettler Toledo NewClassic MF ML104
6 Crison Basic 20 pHmeters (4 instruments in use)
4 Amersham Pharmacia FRAC-100 automatic fraction collectors for cromatographic analysis
1 BioRad Protean IEF Cell for the first dimension (isoelectric focusing) of 2D analysis of proteins
4 BioRad Criterion Cells and 1 PowerPac Basic power supply for the second dimension of 2D analysis of proteins
Power supplies (6), gel electrophoresis apparatus for SDS-PAGE (5) and for agarose gel (8)
1 Biosan Bio TDB-100 dry thermostatic block
1 Applied Biosystems 2720 Thermal Cycler
Biochemistry and Biotechnology Lab is also equipped with vortex stirrers, heated magnetic stirrers, micropipettes (P10, P20, P200, P1000), pipet aids, orbital, rotating and rocking shakers, high-quality glassware and consumable plastics.
COURSES WITH PLANNED ACTIVITIES IN THIS LAB
Biochemical methodologies – Prof.ssa Cinzia Franchin
Delivery and formulation of biotechnological drugs – Prof. Gianfranco Pasut, Prof. Stefano Salmaso
Tecnologia del direzionamento e del rilascio controllato dei farmaci – Prof. Stefano Salmaso
Analytical methods in Biochemistry – Prof.ssa Barbara Spolaore
Production and characterization of therapeutic proteins – Prof.ssa Laura Acquasaliente
Proteomics and biochemical methodologies – Prof.ssa Patrizia Polverino De Laureto
Protein engineering – Prof.ssa Dorianna Sandonà, Prof.ssa Laura Acquasaliente
