The Tecnai^TM G2 Sprit (FEI, The Netherlands) transmission electron microscope (TEM) is enabled to perform high-contrast, high-resolution imaging and analysis for biological samples including unstained material. It allows for imaging of cells, cell organelles and soft matter. Nanomaterial samples can be characterized for their particles shape, size, distribution of particles, phase identification etc. The TEM is operable at 20 kV to 120 kV for high contrast and high resolution.

An Atomic Fluorescence Spectrophotometer (Model AF 420, PG Instruments, UK) has been installed for the analysis of ultra-trace levels of volatile metals (mercury and arsenic) in environmental samples. This instrument is immensely useful in measuring mercury and arsenic in samples at parts per trillion (ppt) level, thus meeting the regulatory requirement of drinking water and air, which otherwise was difficult by the traditional instrumentation like AAS coupled with vapor generation assembly or FIAS. This finds wide application in the air and water quality monitoring studies being pursued by the institute. This equipment works on the principle of fluorescence generated by the atoms of the selected volatile element and has a remarkable accuracy and precision. This is the second equipment of its kind in the country.

Quanta 450 FEG (FEI, The Netherlands) is a high resolution field emission electron microscope being used for imaging and analyzing the topography of biological and material samples. The system is equipped with EDX (energy dispersive X-ray) used for collecting the back scattered electron images, characterizing and determining the elemental composition of a sample. This is operable at 500V to 30 KV for high resolution. This has wide application in the field of nano technology and nano material sciences in addition to biological sciences. It provides information on grain size and shape, particle size distribution, homogeneity and surface structure. A sputter coater and a critical point dryer are also installed for preparation of the samples for SEM.

Shimadzu Nexera UHPLC system has been installed in the Analytical Chemistry Section with Photo Diode Array (PDA) and fluorescence detectors. The system has the capability to analyze environmental pollutants and other chemicals with improved resolution and separation.

A Central Facility for flow cytometry with high throughput six way cell sorting mechanism has been created with technical expertise. This supports the use of a wide range of flow cytometry techniques. This technology allows simultaneous multiparametric analysis of thousands of cells per second, enabling trained researchers to rapidly analyze complex cell populations using the most advanced version of bench-top (BD Influx Model) flow cytometer. High-speed six way cell sorting services provide researchers with fast, objective and quantitative recording of fluorescent signals from individual cells combined with physical separation of cell population of particular interest.

Quadrupole based ultra performance liquid chromatography - mass spectrometer (API 4000 from AB Sciex) has been installed to proved ultra trace analysis of organic compounds, pharmaceutical preparations, environmental contaminants, metabolites and confirmation of these molecules using SRM (single reaction monitoring) and MRM (multiple reaction monitoring) mode to get better sensitivity up to ppt level.

These mice were procured from M/S Charles River Laboratories, USA. Nomenclature for this mouse is Crl:SKH1-hr (outbred), the appearance is hairless, background is albino. The characteris-tics of this strain are- fair to good breeders; able to nurse their young, growth rate and long-evity are good. Most important features of these mice are that these are euthymic and mmunocompetent and have been shown to be good model for wound healing, dermal research, safety and efficacy testing. This strain of mice was not available in any CSIR lab in India. Thus this strain of mice shall be utilized by our animal facility to breed, maintain and supply to mice in house as well as outside researchers.

Novalatile metals viz. Zn, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Cu, Co, Pb, Cd are analysed in flame system while volatile metals viz. Hg, As, Se etc. are analysed using vapour hydride generation accessory (VGA) with enhanced sensitivity. The analytical sensitivity is greatly enhanced using graphite tube atomization (GTA). (GBC Avanta Sigma)

This is a 16-capillary automated sequencer which can sequence 16 samples simultaneously in single run. This machine is capable of reading and storing the data and results with lower percentage of errors.
(Applied Biosystem 3100)

Facility for cDNA microarray analysis provides complete technology platform for transcriptrome analysis that includes RNA extraction, probe labelling and hybridization, scanning, image analysis, data processing. (Genomic Solutions GeneTAC)(GBC Avanta Sigma)

Inductive coupled plasma is one of the most efficient techniques among the simultaneous determination of multiple trace elements. The instrument can simultaneously analyze up to 45 elements at sub ppm levels in environmental and biological samples.

This facility provides support in the separation, quantification, identification and characterization of expressed proteins in biological samples. (Applied Biosystem 491cLC)

Denaturing High Performance Liquid Chromatography is the robotic method to screen the variations/ mutations from its wild type. The analysis is based on the principle that from a column, partially denatured hetroduplexes elutes earlier that non-denatured homoduplexes. Elution profiles that differ from the wild type or reference DNA indicate the presence of mutations or polymorphisms. (Transgenomics Corp. Wave)

The facility is for identification, confirmation and quantification of volatile and semi volatile pollutants viz. pesticides, PAHs, phthalates halogenated and non-halogenated volatile solvents, phenols and their metabolites present in different environmental samples (air, water, soil) and in biological system. It has facility to get classical mass spectra using electron ionization and chemical ionization modes and confirmation of the spectra by library search through computer. The molecular weight information can also be obtained by using either positive or negative chemical ionization mode in mass. (Perkin Elmer, Turbomass)

The system has wide variety of applications in automating biochemical assays including radio ligand receptor binding assays, ELISA, plasmid DNA purification, PCR assays, genomic DNA extraction and RNA processing. With the gripper platform, it automates solid phase extraction procedure. (Packard Bio Science: Multi Probe II EX)

Individually Ventilated Cage System Institute has a state of art animal facility for animal breeding and experimentation. This facility was recently upgraded by equipping it with "individually ventilated cage system" to improve safety for animals and humans in research environment. Here, animals are maintained under positive pressure to avoid any contamination and each unit cage of the system act as an isolator, therefore inbred animals and susceptible hairless mouse or nude mouse can also be reared through IVC system.

Various regulatory studies where observation of each individual animal is required this IVC unit is ideal. Other studies like evaluation of biopesticides (Microbials) may also be carried out with the help of this instrument.

CSIR-IITR acquired a 'Multi mode plate reader' with monochromator based absorbance and filter base fluorescence gadget, including luminiscence. It has a reading time of 15 sec. for 96 well plate, 30 sec for 384 well plate and 60 sec for 1536 well plates. The limit of detection is 1 fmol /well fluorescence top and bottom. It can accommodate 8 filters for excitation and 8 for emission. There are 2 injector built in the system for luminiscence mode and has a detection limit of 0.5 fmol / well ATP. (BMG Labtech, Germany)

Zetasizer nano ZS Zetasizer nanoZS was installed at CSIR-IITR for size and zeta potential measurement of nanoparticles to be evaluated for their safety and toxicity. The instrument provides the ability to measure size and zeta potential of particles in a liquid medium. The instrument measures the particle size by dynamic light scattering in the range of 0.6 nm to 0.6 µm. The zeta potential is measured using a laser in the range of 5 nm to 10 µm.(Malvem Instruments, UK)

Microbiological Shaker, Stacked-Multi System, procured under DBT-GAP386 Project (BT/PR30261/BCE/8/1495/2018), is available as a Central Facility for research and academic use.