Analytical Instruments

Bioresearch Support Core

Analytical instruments

Bio-Rad QX200 Droplet Digital PCR System

The QX200 allows extensive partitioning of nucleic acid samples into thousands of nanoliter-sized droplets, followed by well controlled PCR amplification and accurate end-point data acquisition. This third generation PCR technology enabls absolute quantification of target DNA copies per input sample without the need for running standard curves as well as eiminating error due to suboptimal amplification efficiency. It is highly sensitive and accurate to detect of rare (mutation) targets and enable precise copy number variation determination. Applications:

Absolute quantification of target gene expression
Rare mutation/ variant detection
Copy Number Variation studies
Pathogens load detection

Detailed configuration – QX200 ddPCR System

Standard Operation Protocol – QX200 ddPCR System

Location: L6-01 & L6-03, Laboratory Block, 21 Sassoon Road
Staff-in-charge: Ms CHEN, Wendy | 3917 9442 | bioresearch.cpos@hku.hk

Roche LightCycler480 II Real-time PCR

Roche LightCycler480 includes interchangeable 96-well & 384-well thermal block for high throughput real-time PCR experiment. Built-in Therma-Base technology provides rapid and accurate temperature adjustment with exceptional well-to-well temperature homogeneity. Advanced optical system allows robust and accurate simultaneous capturing of all data from the wells. Applications:

Qualitative target detection
Relative quantification of gene expression
High resolution melting curve mutation analysis

Detailed configuration – LightCycler480

Standard Operation Protocol – LightCycler480

Location: L6-01, Laboratory Block, 21 Sassoon Road

Staff-in-charge: Ms CHEN, Wendy | 3917 9442 | bioresearch.cpos@hku.hk

Agilent Seahorse XFe96 Analyzer

A metabolic analyzer to measure and interrogate mitochrondrial oxidative respiration and cellular glycolysis.

Using patented label-free detection technology to measure Oxygen Consumption Rate and Extracellular Acidification Rate in living cells, the Agilent Seahorse XF Analyzer enables quick and easy real-time evaluation of cellular bioenergetic activities to allow better understanding of metabolism in normal cells as well as in wide variety of diseases. Seahorse XFe96 Analyzer allows high throughput assay in 96-well format for efficient study of complicated experiment, including extensive cells/treatments comparison or detailed dose-response analysis.

Applications:

Metabolic phenotype characterization of cancer or other diseases
Studying effect of genetic manipulation on cell’s energy production and metabolism.
Immune cell activation profiling
Drug screening

Standard Operation Protocol – Agilent Seahorse XFe96 Analyzer

Location: L6-01, Laboratory Block, 21 Sassoon Road
Staff-in-charge: Ms CHEN, Wendy | 3917 9442 | bioresearch.cpos@hku.hk

BMG CLARIOstar Plus

A Multifunction plate reader with advance option and comprehensive accessories. High End Multi-Mode Microplate reader with high efficiency Linear Variable Filter (LVF) Monochromators™, 2 Reagent injectors, and Atmospheric Control Unit. With advance option in detection parameters, component movement (focusing, sample mixing) and incubation control, it can meet most of the needs in nowadays high-throughput cell-based assay.
Applications:

Measuring absorbance (220 – 1000 nm)
Measuring Fluorescence intensity (ex 320-750nm em 350-850nm including FRET
Measuring Luminescence, including BRET
Measuring Time-resolved fluorescence (µs), Bioluminescence and Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (BRET / FRET)

Standard Operation Protocol – Plate Reader

Location: L6-01, Laboratory Block, 21 Sassoon Road
Staff-in-charge: Ms CHEN, Wendy | 3917 9442 | bioresearch.cpos@hku.hk

GE Amersham Typhoon5 Biomolecular Imager

A 4-in-1 multifunctional image scanner with 5 high power lasers and photomultiplier tubes (PMT)

Typhoon5 is a multifunctional image scanner with 5 high power lasers is designed for versatile imaging and precise quantitation of fluorescent, colorimetric, and radiolabelled proteins and nucleic acids. Signals captured by highly sensitivity photomultiplier tubes, Typhoon5 is having detection limit of as low as 3pg protein. Typhoon5 allows high throughput scanning of up to 20gels/membranes & 9-multi-well pates. Multiple stages are also available to accommodate various types of samples (animal tissue, gel, membrane, plate, dish, slide, phosphor screen…). Applications:

Fluorescence, optical density & phosphor imaging scanning of multiple sample types (e.g. blots, gels, dishes, plates, slides, tissues…)
Fluorescence western blot
Assay detection
Microarray slides

Detailed configuration – GE Amersham Typhoon5 Biomolecular Imager

Standard Operation Protocol – GE Amersham Typhoon5 Biomolecular Imager

Location: L2-01, Laboratory Block, 21 Sassoon Road

Staff-in-charge: Dr.WANG Zhaoyue (Cindy) | 3917 9851 | bioresearch.cpos@hku.hk

GE Amersham Imager 680 Blot and Gel Imager

Sensitive Imager for chemiluminescence & colorimetric signal capture.

AI680 is equipped with Peltier cooled Fujifilm Super CCD & superior FujinonTM lens which allow high sensitivity and high-quality imaging of chemiluminescence signal from Western blot. With inbuilt analysis software, intensity and molecular weight analysis can be measured instantly.

Applications:

Detection of chemiluminescence signal from Western Blot
Imaging of colorimetric stained gel

Detailed configuration – GE Amersham Imager AI680

Standard Operation Protocol – GE Amersham Imager AI680

Location: L2-01, Laboratory Block, 21 Sassoon Road
Staff-in-charge: Dr.WANG Zhaoyue (Cindy) | 3917 9851 | bioresearch.cpos@hku.hk

ThermoFisher Qubit Fluorometer

Qubit offers highly sensitive and accurate biomolecule quantification at orders of magnitude more sensitive than UV absorbance. Fluorescent-based detection measure only fluorescent dyes bound to the target molecules, even at low concentrations.

Applications:

Quantitation of dsDNA, RNA, and protein

Detailed Configuration – Qubit Fluorometric Quantitation

Location: L5-03, Laboratory Block, 21 Sassoon Road
Staff-in-charge:Ms ZHU, Hanqi | 3910-3995 | bioresearch.cpos@hku.hk

Edinburgh Instrument FS5

Edinburgh Instrument FS5 is an analytical spectrofluorometer designed to meet the high measurement specifications in analytical research. Equipped with single photon counting technology, dual grating turret monochromators, and near infrared detector. FS5 offers optimal performance with high detection sensitivity, resolution, and acquisition speed with unmatched signal to noise ratio. The system includes a plug-and-play temperature-controlled module for liquid samples and a solid sample holder for powder/ crystal samples. Enables users for various UV-VIS spectral quantification of chemicals.

Applications:
-Fluorescence scan (Excitation, Emission Scan)
-Transmission scan
-Spectral map
-Kinetic scan

Detailed configuration – Edinburgh Instrument FS5
Standard Operation Protocol – Edinburgh Instrument FS5

Location: L5-03, Laboratory Block, 21 Sassoon Road

Staff-in-charge: Dr.WANG Zhaoyue (Cindy) | 3917 9851 | bioresearch.cpos@hku.hk

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Extended services

Bruker AVANCE III 600 MHz NMR Spectrometer

(Service provided by the Department of Microbiology)

Bruker Avance III 600 MHz NMR Spectrometer is a high-resolution solution Nuclear Magnetic Resonance system equipped with a high sensitivity broad band inverse probe. Coupling with a SampleXpress autosampler and state-of-art TopSpin 3.1 software, the system offers fully automated sample loading and NMR data collection to maximize samples throughput. Over 300 1D, 2D and 3D NMR pulse programs are implemented with the system to allow wide range applications such as:

Small molecule qualitative and quantitative analysis
Structure determination of organic molecules and small peptides
Small molecule sample or mixture purity determination
Metabolomics studies on urine, serum, tissue and cell samples
Ligand-observed NMR (WaterLogsy and STD-NMR) experiments for drug library screening and drug target identification and characterization

Detailed configuration – AVANCE 600 NMR

Location: L6-27, Laboratory Block, 21 Sassoon Road
Staff-in-charge: Mr. LAI Pok Man Ivan (Microbiology)| mednmr@hku.hk | 3917 9023 |

For sample submission, please fill in the online sample submission form

Spectrometer usage charge and manpower for sample preparation: $300/hr

(***Notice: service charge will be changed to $400/hr for sample submitted on or after 1 Sept 2022***)

IMPORTANT! PERSONS WITH CARDIAC OR OTHER MEDICALLY ACTIVE IMPLANTS, E.G. HEART PACEMAKER, MUST NOT ENTER L6-27.
THE SUPERCONDUCTING MAGNET MAY ALSO CAUSE PERMANENT DAMAGE TO MECHANICAL WATCH, MAGNETIC TAPES AND DISCS, AND MAGNETIC CREDIT CARD

Analytical Instruments