Rapid synthesis, screening, analysis and identification of engineered materials that respond to or are compatible with biological systems and biologics manufacturing.
The Biointerfaces Institute is a state-of-the-art facility implementing research workflows to investigate the nature of the interface between biological systems and materials, as well as biologics manufacturing. The Institute has expertise in surface characterization, polymer chemistry, bioassay development, ophthalmic biomaterials, development of advanced sol-gel–based biomaterials, biosensor technologies, and biomanufacturing and bioprocessing.
The Bioprocess Automation Lab supports continuous cell culture workflows aimed at reducing biologics manufacturing costs and improving efficiency compared to conventional batch processes, with the objective of increasing access to critical therapeutics such as monoclonal antibodies. Research activities include bioreactor operation and development of sensor technologies to enable automation and high throughput, real time process monitoring.
- Point-of-care diagnostics and biosensors
- Biomedical materials development and screening
- Particle design, synthesis and characterization
- Bioprocess automation
- Large scale biomanufacturing
- Elemental and chemical analysis of materials
- Mass spectrometry
- Agriculture, animal science and food
- Chemical industries
- Education
- Healthcare and social services
- Life sciences, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment
- Manufacturing and processing
Specialized labs and equipment
- Biological sample preparation and cell processing: Chromatography system (AKTA Avant 150 fast process liquid chromatography), PCR and DNA amplification systems (real time PCR; isothermal DNA amplification, gel imager), cell and tissue culture facilities (CL 2 bacterial and mammalian cell culture)
- Bioprocess automation and analytics: Analytical capabilities support assessment of cell viability and morphology, cellular metabolism, biomolecular production, dissolved gases, and osmolality (HPLC system; Sartorius Ambr Crossflow 4 channel tangential flow filtration system; Sartorius Octet R2 Protein Analysis System; Nova Biomedical BioProfile FLEX2 Automated Cell Culture Analyzer; Beckman Coulter Vi CELL BLU Cell Viability Analyzer; Wyatt Technology ultraDAWN RT-MALS detector; Sartorius Incucyte S3 Live Cell Analysis System).
- Synthesis and printing: Automated materials synthesis and screening system (liquid handling; integrated microarray and microwell plate readers), microarray and patterning systems (noncontact and contact microarray printers; lateral flow device printer; inkjet flatbed printer), purification and separation systems (automated flash chromatography, gel permeation chromatography).
- Bioselectivity and molecular interaction analysis: Mass sensitive interaction analysis systems (quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation), optical biosensing systems (surface plasmon resonance imaging), mass spectrometry systems (neofleX MALDI-TOF/TOF imaging mass spectrometer; UPLC/Q TOF), nanoscale and molecular imaging system (atomic force microscope).
- Surface and particle characterization: Surface chemistry and composition analyzers (imaging and scanning X ray photoelectron spectrometer), optical and spectroscopic characterization systems (imaging ellipsometer; FTIR imaging microscope), particle size, shape, and charge analyzers (dynamic light scattering; zeta potential analyzer), mechanical and wetting characterization systems (tensile tester; high speed contact angle instrument).
Private and public sector research partners
- Sartorius Canada Inc.
- Fusion Pharmaceuticals Inc.
- Physical Electronics, Inc. (PHI)