EV Center Equipment Resource – Room T2209B, MCN
Equipment access is available to trained personnel from Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Meharry Medical College, or Fisk University.
We are NOT a Core and do NOT offer fee-for-service EV purification or characterization.
Beckman Coulter Ultracentrifuges
- The Beckman Coulter Optima XPN 80 – IVD and Optima Max XP are exceptionally designed for our state-of-the-art density gradient extracellular vesicle preparations that require a series of high speed ultracentrifugation steps for optimal separation and refinement of vesicle populations.
- New users must sign a UC Usage Agreement and complete multiple training and monitoring sessions prior to being granted independent access to the ultracentrifuges.
- Please contact Meghan Courtney to schedule in advance.
- NOTE: New user training for conducting EV isolations requires both UC and ZetaView training. Please contact Meghan and Cara at least two weeks in advance to coordinate scheduling.
ZetaView® Multiple Parameter Particle Tracking Analyzer
- The ZetaView® is a nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) instrument that counts and tracks each individual particle in a sample field using laser scattering video microscopy. Based on the Brownian motion of particles both individually and in relation to one another, we obtain high resolution size distributions, concentrations and zeta potential distributions for exosomes, microvesicles and extracellular vesicles. Equipped with a 488 nm laser, tracking of subpopulations of EVs is also accomplished using Alexa Fluor 488-conjugated antibodies.
- New users must complete a two-phase training process prior to accessing the ZetaView®. Training is conducted on a weekly basis.
- Please contact Cara Bekas to schedule in advance.
ProteinSimple Jess Automated Western System
- The ProteinSimple Jess System automates traditional Western blotting of up to 25 samples in just 3 hours, with far less protein and antibody required (protein: 0.5-4 ug/3uL/well). With replexing and multiplexing using the different detection channel options, you can quantify protein levels, compare relative protein levels and assess the degree of protein modification. Simply load your samples and reagents into the microplate, walk away and Jess takes it from there. From the electrophoretic run to the interaction with the antibody and quantification of the signal, it all takes place in the capillaries. JESS separates proteins by size from 2–440 kDa, then runs automated antibody additions, incubations, washes and signal capture, eliminating user error and providing you with fully analyzed, quantitative size-based immunoblot results.
- Jess access requires prior training.
- Please contact Cara Bekas to schedule in advance.
ONI Nanoimager with Aplo Flow, Elveflow, and Environmental Chamber
- The ONI Nanoimager system is a user-friendly platform for super-resolution microscopy. Uniquely customized for single particle characterization of EVs and nanoparticles, it is capable of performing dSTORM, PALM, smFRET, DNA-PAINT,
as well as super-resolution cell imaging and single particle tracking,.-
20 nm spatial resolution and 2 nm precision
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Automated EV and LNP sample capture and staining using the Aplo Flow
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Precise temperature, CO2 and humidity control using the stage-top environmental chamber
- Drug perfusion assays and EV uptake analysis using the Elveflow microfluidics component
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- The ONI system is managed by the Cell Imaging Shared Resource (CISR). Users are charged $25/hour for use, which supports the cost of service and maintenance agreements.
- Please contact Max Kushner to schedule a consultation and training.