ANSTO's research capabilities, led by the OPAL nuclear research reactor and associated instruments provide access to users investigating areas as diverse as materials, life sciences, climate change and mining/engineering.
LifeSciences Facilities
LifeSciences’ facilities are closely linked with our unique capabilities in:
Bioanalytics
The Bio-analytics facilities enable research to be conducted in the areas of cell biology, molecular biology, membrane biophysics and electrophysiology.
Cell Biology Facilities
The Bio-analytics cell biology facilities provide critical support to all aspects of ANSTO LifeSciences. Our facilities provide researchers with the necessary equipment to perform a large variety of traditional cell biological analyses as well as non-standard, experimental and technically novel applications. Making use of the established waste management procedures at ANSTO, this facility is suitable for the analysis of radioactive materials which can include contaminated materials, isotopic detection methods and radiotracers.
Detection methods available to researchers at the Bio-analytics cell biology facility include:
- Live-cell imaging
- UV/Vis spectrophotometry
- Chemiluminescence
- Bioluminescence
- Calcium imaging
- Photo stimulated luminescence
- Fluorescence
- Fluorescence polarisation
- Time resolved fluorescence
- Gamma counting
- Liquid scintillation analysis
The cell biology facilities make use of a suite of standard cell analysis techniques/equipment including:
- Fluorescence and light microscopy including phase contrast and darkfield
- FLA7000 high resolution multimodal scanner
- LAS4000 cooled CCD gel documenter with diode excitation
- Wizard 2480 ɣ counter
- Tricarb LSA β counter
- Spectramax M5 multimodal 12-384 plate reader
- Flow cytometry
- Full tissue culture facilities including long term cryo storage
- Separate general biology facilities for tissue preparation
Molecular Biology Facilities
The molecular biology facilities are primarily used to quantify the expression of genes by measuring RNA and protein levels. Cultured cell lines can also be modified to overexpress, knock-down or knock-out genes of interest.
- CFX384 real time PCR detection system for quantifying nucleic acids
- High resolution melt analysis to detect differences in double-stranded DNA
- T100 thermal cycler for amplifying DNA fragments
- Gel electrophoresis equipment for separation and analysis of nucleic acids and proteins
- TransBlot turbo transfer system for high efficiency blot transfer of proteins
- Standard molecular biology equipment including water baths, incubators, incubator shakers, centrifuges and a Nanodrop spectrophotometer are used to create expression plasmids
- Nucleofection for the delivery of DNA, RNA and biomolecules into difficult to transfect cell lines
Membrane Biophysics and Electrophysiology Facilities
Equipment available to the Bio-analytics group enables the study of biological membranes. One area of focus has been examining membrane proteins and their interaction with artificial lipid bilayer membranes. Electrophysiology equipment is also available to study the electrical properties of vesicles, organelles, cells and tissue sections.
- Electrical impedance spectroscopy to characterise the sub-structure of lipid bilayers and cells
- Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring to characterise the formation of lipid bilayers
- Conventional patch clamp setup (including Axon digitizer and amplifier) to record single channel and whole cell currents of vesicles, cells, and tissue sections (i.e. brain and spinal cord slices)
- Nanion automated patch clamp to record currents of vesicles, organelles and cells in suspension
- Nanion vesicle preparation device to prepare vesicle for patch clamp and impedance spectrometry
- Olympus BX61 water immersion microscope for imaging and monitoring of procedures during conventional patch clamp
- CoolSNAP digital camera to record images including live-cell and calcium imaging
Investigations with Imaging
Imaging is about revealing processes and events in living matter: showing the metabolic pathways a molecule travels in cellular structures or in animals, discovering the cellular events of a disease, or finding and identifying a missing protein. Using radio-labelled molecules, imaging with Positron emission tomography (PET) or Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) can track events and target proteins in a cell, on a cell and outside a cell.
| In vivo laboratories | |
Gamma Counters
|
The Wallac Wizard 2480 is used to measure the radioactivity in research samples such as tissues from biodistribution or samples from bioanalytical assays. Gamma counters are located at both the ANSTO and BMRI campus. |
Small Animal Positron Emission Tomography /Computed Tomography (PET/CT)
|
The Siemens Inveon PET/CT is a high resolution small animal imaging system that can perform multimodal imaging resulting in fused PET/CT images. It has an axial PET Field of View (FOV) of 12.7cm and spatial resolution of 1.4mm. We are currently investigating the imaging of two mice at the same time in the system.
CT scans used for PET/CT animal studies can be achieved in less than 15minutes and cardiac or respiratory gating can be applied to scan acquisition.
ANSTO LifeSciences have two of these systems, one located at our ANSTO campus and another located at the BMRI under the NIF node which can be used in conjunction with C-11 radiotracers produced from the Camperdown Cyclotron. |
| Animal anaesthesia and monitoring systems | We use inhalant isoflurane in oxygen anaesthesia throughout animal imaging sessions as well as during surgical procedures. We have available two different animal monitoring systems to record temperature, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and respiration rate; the M2M BioVet system and the Starr Life Sciences Mouse Ox. |
| Small Animal Positron Emission Tomography /Computed Tomography (PET/CT) and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography/CT (SPECT/CT) | The Siemens Inveon Trimodality PET/SPECT/CT is a high resolution small animal imaging system that can perform multimodal imaging resulting in fused PET/CT and/or SPECT/CT images.
The PET component has an axial Field of View (FOV) of 12.7cm and spatial resolution of 1.4mm.
CT scans used for co-registration with PET or SPECT animal acquisitions can typically be achieved in less than 15minutes.
This system is located at the BMRI. |
| Stereotaxic Surgery Equipment | For the precision injection of drugs into brain regions, LifeSciences have the facilities to perform stereotaxic surgery. Consisting of the stereotaxic frame, drill equipment and syringe pump the system is used in conjunction with anaesthesia and animal monitoring equipment. |
| Femoral Artery Cannulation Equipment | Direct arterial blood sampling is necessary during complex drug multi-injection protocols and this requires cannulation of the femoral artery. LifeSciences has the equipment to perform this microsurgery including microscopy, microsurgery tools, anaesthesia and animal monitoring equipment. |
| In vitro laboratories | |
| Liquid Scintillation Counters | The Perkin-Elmer Tri-Carb 2800TR Liquid Scintillation Analyser is used for measuring radioactivity (beta particles) within binding samples or for autoradiography standards. We have one system located at the ANSTO campus and another located within the BMRI facilities (Tri-carb 2100TR) |
Cryosectioning (micro)
|
The Leica CM3050S Cryomicrotome with disposable cutting blades is capable of creating sections as thin as 4µm thick from frozen animal tissues. Disposable blades reduce cross-contamination that can occur when consecutively cutting different radioactive samples while the motorised sectioning capability reduces repetitive motion while maintaining reproducible section thickness and quality. |
Paraffin Embedding and Microtome Sectioning
|
LifeSciences can preserve, embed and section tissues for histological or immunohistochemical procedures. Our paraffin wax embedding system produces preserved and embedded samples in three days which can be followed by microtome sectioning to as thin as 4µm if required. |
Autoradiography equipment (Densitometry using phosphor imager and film) |
We operate GE Typhoon FLA7000, FujiFilm BAS-5000 and FujiFilm BAS-2500 phosphorimaging systems routinely for detecting 125I,14C, 18F, 123I, 99mTc and 111In using Fujifilm phosphorimaging plates. Additionally for lower energy isotopes (e.g. 3H) we have film based methods using a BioRad Gs-800 Calibrated densitometer. This can be used to detect/quantify radioactive sources with spatial resolution within in vitro preparations.
|
| Dark room | Dark rooms have manual and automated film developing infrastructure. Films are archived using a BioRad Gs-800 Calibrated densitometer
|
Cell Harvesters for Binding studies
| Brandell 24-Sample, Semi-Auto Cell Harvesters allow rapid washing and throughput of cell binding assays. |
Radiochemistry
The radiochemistry capabilities and facilities are primarily devoted to developing novel radioligands for imaging (PET, SPECT) and targeted radioisotope therapy. Other areas of interest are developing technologies to incorporate isotopes through molecular design, use of conjugates and novel macrocycles. The radiochemistry team utilise a diverse suite of radiochemistry and synthetic chemistry facilities and capabilities to deliver world class research.
| Radiochemistry Laboratories (more than 15) | Located both at Lucas Heights and Camperdown 17 remote manipulation radioisotope handling facilities (Hot Cells) 16 Lead lined fume hoods |
Radioisotope access | Dedicated research cyclotron (18 MeV) at the Camperdown facility for PET radioisotopes (18F,11C) 64Cu, 86Y, 89Zr and 124I through the cyclotron partnership Two in-house 68Ge/68Ga generators Commercial sources (123I,125I, 131I, 67Ga, 68Ge, 177Lu) Custom irradiations in the OPAL Reactor for SPECT and therapeutic radioisotopes. Canberra HPGe Gamma Spectrometer for radionuclidic purity determinations |
Automation modules and new radiolabelling technology platforms | GE Tracerlabs FxFn (x3) Nuclear Interface FDG module Synthra RN Plus (x4) Synthra MeI Plus (x2) Iphase Flexlab (x3) In house built automation modules Microfluidic chemistry is investigated using an Advion NanoTek LF Microwave chemistry is investigated using a CEM Discover |
Radiolabelling of peptides and proteins | Dedicated biomolecule labelling laboratory Gradient HPLC: ion exchange, affinity, size exclusion, (Waters) - Dedicated QC and separation systems - Assorted interchangeable detectors: Variable single and dual wavelength, UV-Vis PDA, Evaporative light scattering, conductivity and refractive index - Scintillation high activity and high sensitivity radio-flow detectors Freeze drier (FTS, FlexiDry) Minus 80 freezer (Thermo) Heating and cooling centrifuge (Sigma, 2-16KC) Heated centrifugal concentrator (Eppendorf Concentrator Plus) Ion-Chamber (Capintec, CRC) |
Radiometabolite analysis | Ultrasonicator (Misonix S4000) and centrifuge for sample preparation Gamma counter (Wallac Wizard 2480) for quantification Radio TLC analysis using a phosphorimager (Fuji Bas5000) or RadioTLC scanner (Berthold Tracemaster 20) Radio HPLC using UV visible, Posi-RAM (Model 3 IN/US systems) and Gamma-RAM (Model 4 IN/US systems) detectors Shimadzu-ABSciex triple quadruple LC-MS-MS system dedicated for radioactive samples |
Radioligand analysis | Dedicated QC HPLC systems (Reverse phase, normal phase, ion exchange, affinity, size exclusion) - Variable wavelength detectors (Dual and PDA) - Scintillation high activity and high sensitivity radio-flow detectors |
Synthetic Chemistry Laboratories | 3 dedicated wet chemical laboratories 14 fune hoods |
Synthetic Chemistry Characterisation and Analysis | Bruker AV400 NMR spectrometer with BACS60 Autosampler LC-MS (Waters Micromass ZQ) for routine analysis and reaction monitoring Automated Flash Chromatography System (Grace Reveleris) 4 HPLC Systems - Dedicated QC System (Waters Alliance 2695) - QC and Prep HPLC Systems (Waters) Bruker Alpha Diamond ATR IR spectrometer AA-10R Automatic Polarimeter Eppendorf Centrifuge 5430 5 Bay Solvent Purification System (Braun) KEM AT-610 Autotitrator 7 Buchi Rotary Evaporators Christ Alpha 2-4 LD Plus Freeze Dryer CEM Discover microwave reactor |
Radiation Technologies
The Radiation Technology group operates cobalt-60 irradiators for small scale irradiation studies to a wide range of doses and dose rates. Our unique capabilities enable us to accurately deliver high doses of radiation with a precision not achievable in industrial-scale irradiators. Controlled dose rates and temperatures allow users to test ideas, develop applications and perform irradiations under non-standard conditions.
Gamma Technology Research Irradiator (GATRI) | 60Co wet storage batch irradiator Varying dose rates from 0.1 to 4 kGray.h-1 Delivery of dose from 10 Gray to 106 Gray Temperature irradiations from –78°C (under dry ice) to ambient Wet chemistry lab with Bruker Electron Spin Resonance spectrometer and laminar flow cabinet Sample / product size to 1m3 |
| Gamma Irradiation Suite (GIS) | Irradiation and biology rooms for radiobiology research 60Co collimated beam (Theratron), mGy to Gy Beam attenuators PC1 biology lab |
Gammacell 220 (GC220) | 60Co dry storage self-shielded irradiator Fixed dose rate of 2 kGray.h-1 Delivery of dose from 10 Gray to 106 Gray Temperature irradiations from –78°C (under dry ice) to ambient Sample chamber dia. 150mm h. 200mm Access for thermocouples Sample / product size to 2 litres |