Inorganic Materials Core

Director:
Clemens Burda, Ph.D.

The Nanocrystal synthesis and quality control core facility will consist of a fabrication facility for the design of inorganic nanoparticles or biological composites thereof, and an analytical facility for the characterization. The synthesis facility allows us to prepare designed nanoparticles for diagnostics, therapy, and as carriers based on their physicochemical properties. The core facility will provide synthesis of inorganic semiconductor or metallic nanoparticles and their surface modification with targeting ligands.

The quality control facility will include a high performance ultracentrifuge, a fluorescence microscope, IR/Raman microscope, absorption and emission spectrometers for immediate quality check of the prepared samples, and ICCD camera for time-gated fluorescence imaging of the carriers in vitro. For high-quality characterization of the optical properties one needs a femtosecond laser, streak camera and miscellaneous optics. A differential scanning calorimeter to characterize the specific surface coverage and the composition in nanoparticle bio-conjugates, gel permeation chromatography to isolate the desired products by from their original polydispersity will also be made available. The laser portion of this core has already been developed using institutional funds, but other items will be required for optimal function. Users for this core facility include Drs. Burda, Pagel, Oleinick, Fitzmaurice as well as researchers from Cleveland Nanocrystals, Ricerca, and Ferro Corporations.