U28. NanoImaging Unit – Equipment

U28-E09. Leica FC7 cryo-chamber on Leica EM UC7 ultramicrotome

Specifications:
• Using the touchscreen control, three different cryo-modes are available:
– Standard.
– High gas flow, increased gaseous nitrogen flow reduces ice contamination below -140 °C.
– Wet sectioning, to set a temperature difference of up to 130 °C between knife (-40 °C) and specimen (-170 °C), which is useful for, e.g., DMSO applications.

• Leica EM CRION ionizer with electrostatic charge and discharge functions controlled by foot switches greatly improves the method of cryosection collection.
• The attachable micromanipulator provides precise positioning of the grid to make section collection easier than ever before.
• Multiple lighting angles using the patented LED chamber illumination provide excellent visibility for section manipulation and pick up.
• Contact-free, through-the-wall specimen arm makes the instrument highly stable for chatter-free cryosectioning.
• Heated chamber walls prevent icing over a prolonged working time and enhance user comfort.
• Especially for frozen hydrated sectioning or the Tokuyasu method, the Leica EM CRION with electrostatic discharge and charge mode used with the micromanipulator provides outstanding cryo sectioning performance.

U28-E08. FEI Quanta 250 FEG Scanning Electron Microscope + ESEM Mode

Specifications:
Everhart-Thornley detector of secondary electrons for high vacuum applications providing topographical information
High contrast backscattered electron detector optimized to work with low volt-ages: vCD detector. Suitable for high-vacuum and low vacuum modes, provides topographical and compositional contrast
Scanning-transmission electron microscopy detector (STEM) for high vacuum applications. Allows to introduce 8 grids in one vacuum cycle and to perform bright field and dark field analysis
Large field detector (LFD) for low vacuum and ESEM applications. Allows working in SE and BSE modes and facilitates the observation of large fields of view
Gaseous secondary electrons detector (GSED) for environmental-SEM (ESEM) applications
Gaseous analytical detector (GAD) for ESEM applications
Wet scanning-transmission electron microscopy detector (Wet-STEM) for
ESEM applications

U28-E07. FEI Tecnai G2 20 TWIN Transmission Electron Microscope + Cryo-TEM

Specifications:
Electron source with LaB6 emitter and flexible high tension between 20 and 200 kV
Twin objective lens for high contrast and high tilt applications
Side-mounted CCD Olympus Veleta with 2k x 2k MP, high field of view and fast read-out rates for real time observation
Bottom mounted CCD FEI Eagle, 4k x 4k MP, HS scintillator
EDS thanks to EDAX DPP-II analyzer with Si (Li) detector
Low-dose control software mode for electron beam damage protection of the samples.
Xplore3D software for automated tomography control.
Inspect3D software for post alignment of tomograms.
Amira software for 3D reconstruction.
Sample holders:

• Single tilt
• Low background (for EDS applications) double tilt
• Fischione 2020 advanced tomography holder
• GATAN Tomography holder for samples at room temperature.
• GATAN Cryo-station for transferring of cryo-samples to the cryo-holder, previously vitrified of frozen with the high-pressure system.

U28-E06. Bruker Minispec MQ-60

The Minispec TD-NMR is broadly used in research, development and quality control of MRI Contrast Agents. These agents are used to enhance contrast in Magnetic Resonance images between tissues that otherwise would be difficult to differentiate. Most of these contrast agents are based on Gd chelates or iron oxide nanoparticles, which produce signal contrast enhancement by affecting the magnetic relaxation properties of water molecules. The Minispec MQ-60 provides T1 and T2 measurements with high accuracy and reproducibility, and, most importantly, at clinical field, which is fundamental for translational research. Hence, the Minispec MQ-60 plays a key role in the characterization of new contrast agents for clinical use.

Specifications:
Permanent 1.4T magnetic field.
“Intelligent” 1H probe (“plug and play”) with 60 MHz operating frequency
Fast magnet warm-up and precise digital temperature regulation for ultimate results stability
Optical detector to any kind of glass, quartz and plastic samples. Specific filters for natural and fluorescent light suppression and energy saving lamps

U28-E05. Bruker Avance 600 MHz NMR spectrometer + HR-MAS Probe

Specifications:
UltraShieldTM Plus 14.1 T magnet
5 mm BBFOPLUS probe, optimized for X-nuclei direct observation in a frequency range between 31P and 15N. Automated tuning and matching (ATM).
5 mm TXI probe, optimized for higher sensitivity 1H-nuclei observation. The outer coil is optimized for decoupling of 13C and 31P.Automated tuning and matching device (ATM).
TCI CryoProbe Prodigy, uses nitrogen-cooled RF coils and preamplifiers for 1H, 2H and 13C, delivering a 2.5x 1H sensitivity boost. The probe is ATM compatible and has 2H “lock” channel and Z-gradient.
Control temperature unit (from 0 ºC to 50 ºC)

U28-E04. Bruker Ascend 400 MHz NMR spectrometer

Specifications:
UltraShieldTM Plus 9.4T magnet
5 mm BBFOPLUS probe, optimized for X-nuclei direct observation. Broad band in a frequency range between 31P and 15N. This probe has 2H “lock” channel and z gradient that allows 2D spectroscopy and hetero correlation 19F/1H and 1H/19F, to be performed. It also includes an automated tuning and matching device (ATM)
Sample Xpress Lite (for 16 samples)
Control temperature unit (from 0 ºC to 50 ºC)

U28-E03. Bruker Albira small animal CT system

Specifications:
Dedicated beds for individual rats and mice with integrated gas anesteasia.
Albira Software Suite 5.0 with integrated acquisition and tomography software.
PMOD biomedical image quantification software.
X-ray Focal Spot Size (Nominal) 35 μm.
Energy Range (kVp) 10-50.
Field of View (FOV) (transaxial x axial) 70 mm x 70mm
Multiple FOV windows can be combined for whole animal imaging
Bore Size 105 mm

U28-E02. Bruker In vivo Xtreme

The In-Vivo Xtreme is a multi-modal optical and X-ray small animal imaging system, designed to combine sensitivity, speed and flexibility for the broadest range of applications for molecular imaging. Equipped with a high performance f/1.3 58mm lens and 4MP back-illuminated CCD camera, the In Vivo Xtreme is suitable for demanding bio-luminescence and fluorescence intravital imaging challenges

Specifications:
Back-illuminated 4 MP camera
f/1.1 – f/16, 58 mm fixed lens (on movable platform)
400W Xenon Light Source
28 Excitation Filters 410 nm – 760 nm
Fluorescent imaging from the visible to near IR
Imaging chamber for up to five mice at a time with
integrated anesthesia and temperature control
Automated switching between modalities – the animal never moves
Multimodal Animal Rotation System (MARS)
Integrated high resolution X-ray imaging (>18lp/mm spot size <60μm)
X-ray illumination optimized for small animal imaging with 5 selectable filter settings for fine tuning

U28-E01. Bruker BioSpec 9.4T animal MRI system

The Biospec 94/20 is a multipurpose research system for high-resolution magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging. The system is designed for preclinical and molecular MR imaging. State-of-the-art RF probes technology together with ultra high field USR magnets deliver high spatial resolution in vivo enabling researchers to come closer to the molecular and cellular level (molecular imaging). Thanks to its innovative modular concept, virtually any small animal MR imaging application in life science, biomedical and preclinical research can be conducted.
Specifications:
Magnetic field strength of 9.4T
20 cm bore diameter, suitable for mice and rats
Automated positioning system (AutoPac™)
High performance actively shielded
gradient system with integrated shims
RF coils for rats and mice