Proposal

Narrative

We would like to request the purchase of the Agilent (Agilent Infiniti II 1260 series) High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) system to strengthen and enhance undergraduate biochemistry laboratory curriculum. HPLC technique is one of the most common bioanalytical techniques that is used in research laboratories as well as pharmaceutical companies. The automated HPLC system, currently unavailable to students in the teaching labs will modernize the laboratory curriculum and enhance learning opportunities to students. Educational benefits of a HPLC system in a teaching lab: Students can obtain hands-on experience and understand core concepts of separation, identification and quantification of biomolecules. They will have and opportunity to conduct scientific projects /experiments and connect with real-world research questions and will help them build additional skills that could help them in grad school applications, internships and job opportunities. Modernizing the teaching curriculum and could be used across several laboratories- biochemistry, bioanalytical and biotechnology and will strengthen the certificate programs such as pharmaceutical technology, Biotechnology and Prep-Chem in the department. New technology can improve student enrollment because of innovative class-room experience. The teaching labs are offered year-round with hundreds of students enrolling annually. In addition, an average 90 students per year participate in Directed Independent Study and/or Honors in Chemistry Program in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry with ~400 students cycling through our upper-level courses. At least 500 students per year will obtain training using these equipment

Facilities

none

Hardware Requirements

New Technologies Agilent 1260 Infinity II liquid chromatography system is a reliable and robust HPLC that could be routinely used to obtain high quality results. This HPLC can be used for analytical separations of biomolecules with reduced processing times and increased efficiency. The automated autosampler, unique dual-needle design, efficient temperature control and high quality diode array detector makes this instrument a trusted equipment. While students are taught about protein purification and gel electrophoresis in the current Biochemistry curricula, this technology would allow them to separate, identify and quantify proteins affording the experience of a complete experimental lifecycle. We could design simple yet elegant and novel experiments in the lab curriculum that would mimic a science project; for example, performing an enzyme assay and identifying substrate and product using the HPLC system.

Software Requirements

Openlab software from Agilent technologies

Personnel Costs

No permanent personnel are required but a graduate teaching assistant will assist with incorporating technology into the upper-level division courses (Advanced Biochemistry with RI designation), and lab (Biochemistry Laboratory) for the first two years. The teaching assistant will also assist the undergraduate students wanting to use the technology for their DIS or Honors Thesis projects across the University. The teaching assistant will be supervised by Dr. Allani. Dr. Allani will be teaching Biochemistry 1 course and Biochemistry Lab and aims to redesign and, introduce new techniques to the Biochemistry lab curriculum.

Other Costs

A UV-vis spectrophotometer Total: $6,741.00. A nanodrop Lite Plus spectrophotometer with printer will be an easy-to-use spectrophotometer that can measure the concentration of protein and nucleic acids and will be a great tool for many assays in the biochemistry laboratory.

Timeline

Regarding the installation of Agilent 1260 Infinity II sytem will be completed by Agilent representative immediately after its delivery. Dr. Allani and biochemistry laboratory teaching assistants will coordinate the installation process. Minimal assistance from Information Technology (IT) staff in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science (CESCoS) may be required.

Sustainability

The requested system (HPLC system and the spectrophotometer requires minimal additional maintenance. Dr. Allani’s graduate teaching assistant (TBA) will be in charge of maintaining proper operation of these instruments.

Resource Matching

The equipment room is currently equipped with two fume hoods, protein gel electrophoresis and imaging system, and spectrophotometers in visible range. Additional analytical technologies previously purchased from other funds will be utilized as complementary training methods for our students. These include Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC) instrument, Horiba XPLora Raman microscope, Perkin-Elmer STA-6000 Thermo Analyzer, Biotek Cytation 5 multimode microplate reader, and Biotek EPOCH microplate spectrophotometer.

Implementing Organization

The instrument will be located in the biochemistry lab (PS223). This equipment will make the biochemistry lab modernized and will play a critical role in student training. The instrument will be overseen by Dr. Allani. Dr. Allani research is focused on oxidative stress, aging and age-related disorders. Dr. Allani has been involved in undergraduate training for past several years. Dr. Allani has on average 6-8 undergraduate students (Chemistry and Biology majors) participating in the DIS program in Chemistry every semester. Students in her lab receive a unique training experience that brings together many aspects of biochemistry and bioanalytical techniques.