Pie Medical Imaging BV (PMI) announced today that they have signed an agreement with the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) to begin a close collaboration.

Under this agreement the CRF Clinical Trials Center will use PMI’s solutions in their Angiographic Core Laboratory for clinical research and multi-center trials. As part of the agreement, CRF will also support further development of PMI’s new state-of-the-art products for analysis and visualization of medical images. The CRF Clinical Trials Center (CTC) plans and executes clinical investigations from first-in-man studies to large, multicenter, international trials and provides expert, independent qualitative and quantitative analyses of clinical and imaging data...

NanoSight reports on how the University of Cordoba has applied Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis, NTA, to improve the understanding of the behaviour of silver colloids used in the development of sustainable nanomaterials.

Dr Rafael Luque is a research member in the Department of Organic Chemistry on the Campus de Rabanales of the University of Cordoba in Spain. The main research goals of his team include the preparation of nanoparticle systems for potential utilization as catalysts and in other applications (e.g. antimicrobial and photocatalytic activities). They are focused on the design of various nanomaterials for a broad range of applications...

A team of researchers from the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have demonstrated new multimodal optical microscopy technology that when coupled with advanced image co-registration algorithms, can account for soft-tissue deformations that may occur over the time-course of weeks and months.

This technology can visualize cellular-level structural, functional, and biomechanical data and provide new insights into complex processes in living tissue, such as skin.  This technology not only offers a new tool for basic science and pre-clinical investigations, but also offers the potential for human clinical investigations into the dynamics of skin regeneration and repair, the incorporation of engineered skin constructs, the effectiveness of new therapies for treating skin conditions such as non-healing diabetic ulcers, and for skin cosmesis applications...

Analytik report on their users' RSC publication in Analytical Methods which demonstrates the use of the ASD FieldSpec portable NIR analyser in the study of medieval illuminated manuscripts.

Dr Paola Ricciardi and her colleagues from the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, have recently published their latest results on using near-infrared fibre optic reflectance spectroscopy (FORS) to study green pigments and mixtures in illuminated manuscripts. The contextualised study has a focus on French illumination between the 13^th and 16^th century and also allows comparisons with contemporary materials from different regions of the world...

Autoscribe, developers of the well-established Matrix family of Laboratory Information Management Systems, is delighted to announce the successful implementation of Matrix Gemini for pre-clinical pathology applications at one of the largest global pharmaceutical companies.

This is the most recent phase of a major project which began back in 2008. The project consists of a very complex sample tracking configuration that tracks the processing of samples, including time/date stamp and person through multiple laboratories all the way to archiving the final products. The first phase of the system went into production in 2008 providing only the processing component.  The second phase of the project enabled archiving capabilities and many error prevention and resolution functions. These enhancements provided an almost completely paperless system for tracking laboratory samples and accounting for individuals performing the tasks (tests) on these samples...

NanoSight reports on how Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis, NTA, is being used at French company, Santen SAS, to use different nanoemulsions for applications in the treatment of the human eye.

Santen is a Japanese pharmaceutical company specializing in the development and manufacturing of ophthalmic products. Santen's products are available all over Europe and the company is the leading manufacturer of ophthalmic products in Northern Europe. Santen SAS, located in France, is the innovation center of Santen Pharmaceuticals. This is where the company incubates high technology projects...

JPK Instruments, a world-leading manufacturer of nanoanalytic instrumentation for research in life sciences and soft matter, reports on how the Laboratory for Mechanobiology and Bioengineering at Nagoya Institute of Technology in Japan use the NanoWizard®3 AFM to investigate biomaterials.

Professor Shinji Deguchi leads a research group at Nagoya Institute of Technology (NITech). The Laboratory for Mechanobiology & Bioengineering has a multi-disciplinary approach to the growing field of Mechano-Biology. This brings together the areas of cell biology, bioengineering and biophysics. Describing his work, Professor Deguchi said "Every living cell keeps their tension constantly always and pulls surrounding cells each other. It is known as "Tensional Homeostasis." We believe that tension homeostasis is one of the important factors used to control cell function such as proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. We study important protein complexes which play a part of the tension homeostasis process."..

Magritek, a leading provider of compact NMR and MRI instruments, have installed the new Spinsolve compact NMR spectrometer at the Moulder Center for Drug Discovery Research, part of the Temple University School of Pharmacy.

The Moulder Center for Drug Discovery Research is home to a talented and enthusiastic group of scientists. The team is dedicated to facilitating collaborative research efforts to support the discovery and development of novel therapeutic agents to improve the health and life of patients. The Moulder Center serves as a multidisciplinary research hub for the further development of scientific discoveries identified by Temple University faculty and scientists, enabling their research to move beyond the lab and into the broader research community...

Easier, More Efficient DNA and siRNA Transfection with ScreenFect™A

Transfection of cells with plasmid DNA or siRNA has become a powerful tool in biological research. The technique, however, may prove frustrating as optimisation can be time consuming and transfection efficiency may remain stubbornly low. New ScreenFectA, now available from Alpha Laboratories, aims to make life easier. This transfection reagent is composed of new cationic lipids discovered by screening a library synthesised by Click Chemistry. ScreenFectA combines high transfection efficiency with low cell toxicity, offering a perfect solution for DNA and siRNA transfection protocols...

 

Silicone oil is commonly used as a lubricant coating in prefilled syringes (PFS) and is becoming one of the most highly discussed topics in the PFS market, particularly for developers of highly sensitive biotech drugs.

In specific biological drug cases, unexpected drug-container interactions have been reported that were potentially attributed to or potentially associated with sub-visible particles generated from the lubricating silicone layer. These could lead to “solution inspection” concerns or even compatibility concern. Sebastien Jouffray is Core Team leader in the R&D Product Development Group at BD Medical – Pharmaceutical Systems....

Thermo Fisher Scientific has developed a reliable method for determining phthalates in alcoholic beverages by single-quadrupole gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The method met the special testing requirements set by the China method GB/T 21911-2008 for determining phthalates in food.

Application Note 10339, Determination of Phthalates in Liquor Beverages by Single Quadrupole GC-MS, describes a sensitive and accurate single-quadrupole GC-MS method for determining levels of phthalate plasticizers in alcoholic beverages. The method is sensitive, rapid, and accurate, and covers a wide linear range to meet the need for trace level detection of phthalate esters in different types of beverages. The analysis uses a Thermo Scientific™ ISQ™ Series single-quadrupole GC-MS coupled to a Thermo Scientific™ TRACE™ 1310 GC.

Metrohm is pleased to present an online configurator for their latest IC systems, the 940 Professional IC Vario and the 930 Compact IC Flex. With this unique tool, a few mouse clicks are all it takes for users to specify any individual solution they may need to meet their particular analytical requirements.

Modern ion chromatography is a powerful analytical tool and has found widespread use in laboratories of all kinds. However, using the full potential of the method can be a challenge; there simply are so many options and possibilities. On the side of the hardware, only the right combination of functional modules, features, and specifications will do the job.....

Thermo Fisher Scientific has developed efficient high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods combined with ultraviolet detection to determine carbonyl compounds found in vehicle passenger cabin air samples.

Application Note 1056: Determination of Carbonyl Compounds in Vehicle Cabin Compartments demonstrates that all 13 carbonyl compounds specified in California Air Resources Board Method No. 1004, International Organization for Standardization 16000-3:2011, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Compendium Method TO-11A, and the Chinese HJ/T 400-2007 are derivatized with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine and well separated on a reversed-phase column in less than 10 minutes...

Gain the most from your modified oligo with Link Technologies’ new Product Guide

Link Technologies Ltd, a specialist oligonucleotide reagent manufacturer, has dedicated a section of its new, freely available 2013/14 Product Guide to ‘Modification Strategies in Oligonucleotide Synthesis’. Increasingly, modified oligos are playing an important role across a broad range of life science and clinical-based research groups and, for example, show significant promise as agents to optimise drug delivery. In the new Product Guide, Link Technologies has compiled a comprehensive resource for - scientists working with modified oligonucleotides, including educational references, detailed product information, established protocols and application notes, for assured oligo synthesis and use. This go-to guide for oligonucleotide chemistry can be downloaded for free...

Bruker Announces Novel Approach for Inborn Errors of Metabolism (IEM) Screening by NMR

Clinical IEM-by-NMR Screening Study in Turkey Measures 65 Metabolites in Urine Simultaneously, Including 20 Endogeneous Metabolites and 45 Metabolites Associated with Inborn Errors of Metabolism. At the 12th International Congress of Inborn Errors of Metabolism (www.iciem2013.com), Bruker announces another milestone in the cost-effective use of NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy screening as a clinical research tool for metabolic screening and small molecule in vitro diagnostics (IVD) research and validation...

Linkam Scientific Instruments report on the use of their popular THMS600 stage for polymer research at the University of A Coruña (A UDC), Spain.

Founded in 1989, the University of A Coruña (A UDC) promotes the generation, management and dissemination of cultural, scientific, technological and professional development through research and teaching. The University aims to raise levels of welfare for the whole society through the pursuit of social progress, science and technology. Dr. Birgit Bittmann and her team at the University are using the Linkam THMS600 stage to help understand polymer materials....

Team also publishes paper examining ability to distinguish between protein aggregates and oil droplets in biopharmaceutical formulations

Coriolis Pharma (Martinsried, Germany) has become the first pharmaceutical contract research organization in the world to routinely use Archimedes, a new analytical instrument supplied by Malvern Instruments. Coriolis Pharma specializes in formulation development for biopharmaceuticals such as proteins, peptides and vaccines and offers a wide variety of services to support product development...

Thermo Fisher Scientific has developed an accurate and reproducible method that uses an innovative ion chromatography system for the determination of methylamine (or monomethylamine, MMA) in drug products.

Application Note (AN) 1057: Determination of Methylamine in Drug Productsdemonstrates simple off-line sample preparation followed by an on-line step to complete the sample preparation before analysis. This approach requires only 32 min per analysis. The method uses a cation-exchange column and the eluent is produced by aneluent generator to preclude the labor and potential error associated with eluent preparation...

Skuldtech and AB Science to renew their collaboration agreement, as part of a project financed by Bpifrance, to bring to market a new treatment for Alzheimer's disease and a companion diagnostic

Skuldtech, a genomic biomarker company specialized in developing diagnostic tests, announces today that it has secured EUR 1 million in funding from Bpifrance (French public financing structure) as part of a project on Alzheimer's disease that has received funding of EUR 8.6 million in total. The program is planned to last for four years, with the first results expected in 2018...

Royal Society of Chemistry’s outreach programme gains NMR capability

Spectroscopy in a Suitcase is an outreach programme which gives more than 10,000 A-level students in the UK each year the chance to experience hands-on spectroscopy. The strategy of the programme is to cover the principles of spectroscopic techniques, as well as use real-life contexts to demonstrate the applications of the techniques. For the first time, the Thermo Scientific™ picoSpin™ 45 benchtop NMR spectrometer from Cole-Parmer will allow Welsh students to experience NMR spectroscopy.  Previously there had been no opportunity to demonstrate this technology because traditional NMR requires fixed installation...

Cleaver Scientific and Biocenter Collaboration is Appreciated at the University Of Pécs in Hungary

Gel Electrophoresis specialists CLEAVER SCIENTIFIC Ltd (CSL) and their Hungarian distributor Biocenter recently exhibited at and sponsored the 11^th International Symposium on Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) and Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Peptide (PACAP) and related peptides. The event, staged at the University of Pécs in Hungary at the end of August, was an excellent example of the successful collaboration between CSL and their Hungarian distributor...

Engineers at The Technology Partnership (TTP) have discovered a way to break through the Faraday Cage that prevents the entry or escape of an electromagnetic field through a metallic enclosure.

While the Faraday Cage effect does have useful applications from preventing leakage from microwave ovens to lightning strike protection and screening data cables, TTP’s new patent-pending Fluxor technology will have major benefits for power and data transfer through metal shielding. TTP is already using the technology for monitoring fluid levels in steel pipes, taking readings from medical implants and measuring data from inside high-performance F1 engines...