Laboratories
Additive Manufacturing
Biomacromolecules in solution
MASTERlab is an integrated, experimental laboratory composed of OMNISEC (a size exclusion chromatography multidetector, SEC-MD), nano-DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) and Affinity ITC (Isothermal titration calorimetry) fundamental for reliable and in-depth characterization of natural and (semi)synthetic (bio)macromolecule-based systems in solution. In particular, OMNISEC, thanks to the combination of light scattering, viscosimeter, refractive index (RI) and UV detectors will allow to measure absolute molecular weight, molecular size and intrinsic viscosity, and generate information on macromolecular structure, conformation, aggregation and branching. Both Affinity ITC and nano-DSC are calorimeters specifically used to determine the energies driving the affinity/binding/aggregation interactions between a (bio)macromolecule and small (pigments, dyes, drugs, pollutants, metals) or large (polymers, proteins, RNA, DNA) molecules and the thermal stability of macromolecules. The MASTERlab activities and facilities are adaptable for both academic and industrial researchers dealing with (bio)macromolecule-related systems in the fields of chemistry, (nano)materials, biology, pharmaceutics and life science at large.
Calorimetry
Calorimetry revolves around measuring changes in energy, specifically heat (q), between a system (the reaction occurring) and its surroundings. CISUP provides different types of calorimeters:
Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC): a thermoanalytical technique that measures the difference in the amount of heat required to increase the temperature of a sample and reference as a function of temperature. It is widely used to study phase transitions like melting and crystallization.
Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC): a technique measures the heat released or absorbed when molecules interact (e.g., protein-ligand binding), determining binding affinities and thermodynamic parameters in real-time.
Fast Scanning Chip Calorimetry (Flash DSC): an ultra-fast thermal analysis technique that allows researchers to measure heat absorption or release during phase transitions and chemical reactions at extreme heating rates (up to 2.400.000 K/min) and cooling rates (up to 240.000 K/min)
Deposition
Electrophysiological & neuroimaging techniques
High content imaging system
Imaging
Mass Spectrometry
Material analysis
Microscopy
Molecular Biology
Nanolayering
NMR Spectroscopy
Ultrasound
UNIPI Networked Laboratories
In addition to pooling its own technological resources, the Center acts as a coordinating hub for departmental assets networked through specific administrative decrees. This synergy ensures the efficacious utilization of the University’s collective instrumental heritage and fosters the convergence of cross-departmental expertise. The ultimate objective is to consolidate scientific initiatives and provide a unified interface for external consultancy and services.
