Instrumentation
The Center provides essential training for all instruments and technical support for troubleshooting. We also provide consultation, hands-on service on experimental design and data analysis. For more info regarding services and rates contact our Core Facility Supervisor Dr. Yu (Ellen) Jing.
Cryostat
The Cryostat, carried out by ThermoFisher Scientific, is the instrument to freeze the tissue and also to cut the frozen tissue for microscopic section. The firm ice within the tissue acts as embedding media to cut the tissue. The cut thickness is 1-500 micron and chamber temperature can be lowered to -30⁰C. UV disinfection is available. Users need to bring their own consumable supplies, such as blades, OCT compound, slides for uses on a regular basis.
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Tissue Dissociator (gentleMACS Octo)
The tissue dissociator, modeled as gentleMACS™ Octo manufactured by Miltenyi Biotek, is a fully automated device for tissue dissociation or homogenization. It's equipped with numerous manufacture-optimized programs. Pre-treatment of tissue following manufacture's recommendation using their specific reagents is usually needed. Our instrument allows up to eight samples running independently at a time. Single-cell suspensions or thorough homogenates are easily obtained using the unique sterile C Tubes (for cells) or M Tubes (for lysates).
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gentleMACS™ Octo Dissociator with Heaters
Cell Separator (autoMACS Pro)
The cell separator, modeled as autoMACS Pro manufactured by Miltenyi Biotek, is a bench-top device for automated cell isolation utilizing magnetic beads labeling and pre-installed separation protocols. It also has auto labeling program that allows fast fully automated isolation of subsets of immune cells from the whole blood. Customers are recommended to bring their own columns.
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