Facilities
The Laboratory for Mesoscale Magnetic Biomaterials
The Laboratory for Mesoscale Magnetic Biomaterials (LMMB) is a network of laboratories shared between Drs. Dobson and Rinaldi. The primary location is over 1200 sq ft of laboratory space in the newly constructed Biomedical Sciences Building adjacent to Shands Hospital at the University of Florida (UF). These laboratory facilities are described in detail below and include a nanoparticle synthesis laboratory, a cell culture laboratory, and two magnetic nanoparticle characterization laboratories.
Nanoparticle Synthesis and Modification Laboratory: This 535 sq ft laboratory is located in the Chemical Engineering Building. It is outfitted with two chemical hoods, gas lines (nitrogen, air, vacuum), basic organic and inorganic synthesis equipment, chiller, shakers, Millipore Synergy water purifier, analytical balances, refrigerated preparative centrifuge, pH and conductivity meters, ultrasonic liquid processor, vacuum ovens, and a Buchi R-215 rotavapor system with automated control of chiller and vacuum pump.
Nano-Bio Interface and Nanoparticle Characterization Laboratory: This laboratory occupies a total of 800 sq ft of assigned space in the Biomedical Sciences Building. It is outfitted with analytical balances, a chemical hood, a Brookhaven Instruments ZetaPALS/BI-90Plus dynamic light scattering instrument, NanoSight LM10HSBT14 Nanoparticle Characterization System with CMOS camera and temperature controlled sample holder, DynoMag AC Susceptometer, a Shimadzu UV-2600 UV-Vis spectrophotometer, an induction heating system consisting of a Ambrell EASYHEAT 8310LI 10 kW induction heater, NeOptix Reflex 4-channel fiber optic thermometer with immersion probes, and FLIR SC325 thermal camera.
NanoBioMagnetics Laboratory: This 800 sq ft laboratory, including a tissue culture facility, is located in the Biomedical Sciences Building. The tissue/cell culture facility includes a laminar flow cabinet, incubators, centrifuges, an inverted microscope, and -20°C freezer. Other instrumentation available include an iCyt Eclipse Flow Cytometer, MICA Biosystems Magnetic Force Bioreactor, magnetic transfection device nanoTherics magnefect nano II, induction heating nanoTherics magnetherm 1.5 AC system, NeOptix Reflex 4-channel fiber optic thermometer with immersion probes, Siskiyou motorized MX1641 micromanipulator for magnetic actuation combined with an AMG EVOS Digital Fluorescent Microscope, and a chemical hood.
Magnetic Characterization Laboratory: This laboratory is in the new Physics building and houses a new Quantum Design SQUID-VSM magnetometer with AC susceptibility and ultra-low field accessories. This facility takes advantage of the Physics Building’s helium recovery and re-liquefaction system.
Other Experimental Resources