Equipment
The Department of Nutritional Sciences core facility houses equipment available for use (with user fees) to researchers across the OSU campuses.
Hologic Discovery A QDR 4500 Series Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometers (DXA)
DXA is the industry standard for measuring both human and animal bone density, but is also a valuable tool for assessing body composition (lean body mass and adipose). Currently, we house two state-of-the-art Hologic DXA’s (same model, however, one with a 300 lb. weight limit; the newer one with a 450 lb. weight limit) which are utilized by researchers in the department and across campus, to determine the effects of dietary and environmental factors on bone mineral density.
Faculty Contacts: Dr. Brenda Smith and Dr. Edralin Lucas
Scanco Medical mCT 40
This mCT unit is designed to scan small bone specimens (i.e., rodent or larger animal biopsies) to create a three-dimensional model without damaging the original biological specimen. The mCT is used in the department to examine the effects of various physiological conditions (i.e., hormone or nutrient deficiencies) on bone microarchitecture. Specimens can be scanned both in the absence of presence of solution (i.e., formalin fixative). Departmental faculty members provide analytical services to other investigators across campus to assess the structural and biomechanical properties of bone.
Faculty Contacts: Dr. Barbara Stoecker and Dr. Brenda Smith
Lunar Piximus
This pencil-beam DXA allows for the determination of bone mineral density and body composition of small animal models (i.e., Mus musculus).
Faculty Contacts: Dr. Edralin Lucas and Dr. Brenda Smith
Perkin-Elmer Elan 9000 Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS)
ICP-MS is a highly sensitive method useful for determining amounts of beneficial or toxic trace elements that may be present only in the parts per billion range. ICP-MS can be used for the elemental analysis of both biological (e.g., blood or urine) and environmental (e.g., water) samples. We currently utilize ICP-MS analysis to measure trace minerals in blood, serum, and food, but it can also be used for mineral and isotope analyses of environmental samples (e.g., water or soil samples).
Faculty Contact: Dr. Barbara Stoecker
BioDent (Active Life Scientific, Santa Barbara, CA)
BioDent is a benchtop instrument that works on the principle of Reference Point Indentation technology. It was designed to perform microindentation studies on bone tissue for charactering the effect of treatments on bone quality. It can also be used to test a wide range of soft materials allowing the user to characterize the mechanical properties.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Brenda Smith
Sapphire Biomolecular Imager
The Sapphire Biomolecular Imager is a high-resolution digital imaging system capable of optical densitometry, as well as near-infrared (NIR; 784 nm), fluorescence (520 and 658 nm) and phosphor imaging. Within the department it is commonly used to quantitatively assess changes in protein-nucleic acid interactions by utilizing isotope labeling and phosphor imaging technology. Yet, this flexible imaging system is capable of quantitively analyzing gels, blots, plates and microarrays, as well as tissues and small animal models. Thus, this machine offers the capacity to go from assessing changes in cellular responses to visualizing treatment responses in the context of the entire animal.
Faculty Contact: Dr. McKale Montgomery
Carolina Chemistry Biolis 24i Benchtop Clinical Chemistry Analyzer
This instrument is useful in measuring concentrations of various metabolites, electrolytes, proteins in serum, plasma, urine and/or other body fluids. It is an automated system that require small sample volume and use colorimetric, ion-selective potentiometry and latex agglutination to assess these various analytes. Applications include monitoring diseases such as diabetes, testing for metabolic functions or cardiac markers and drugs-of-abuse testing.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Edralin Lucas
Biorad Bioplex Magpix Multiplex Reader
The Biorad Bio-Plex Magpix Multiplex Reader utilizes advanced fluidics, optics and digital signal processing with Luminex’s proprietary technology to perform immunoassays on the surface of color-coded beads. This equipment is able to multiplex many different assays simultaneously, providing greater information from less sample volume and in a shorter time than required for traditional immunoassays.
Faculty Contact: Dr. Edralin Lucas