The Natarajan Lab is equipped with a range of modern instrumentation that supports chemistry and biology research. The facility enables high-quality data collection, method development, and routine analysis for ongoing research projects and student training.
Below is an overview of the major instruments available within the laboratory and shared research spaces, along with brief descriptions of their capabilities and applications.
Researchers in the lab also utilize complimentary high end instrumentation that is located in the institutional core facilities.
Core facilities: https://researchdirectory.uc.edu/Facilities/Cores
Instrumentation
Bio-Rad ChemiDoc Imaging System
High-sensitivity imaging system for chemiluminescent Western blots, fluorescent gels, and densitometry. Provides quantitative digital imaging with Image Lab software.
Bio-Rad Mini-PROTEAN Electrophoresis System
Compact gel electrophoresis setup for SDS-PAGE and native PAGE. Supports fast protein separation and gel runs with high reproducibility.
Fisherbrand Digital Dry Block Heater (Isotemp)
Precision-controlled heating for sample incubation, digestion reactions, and nucleic acid processing.
Invitrogen Countess 3 Automated Cell Counter
Automated trypan-blue cell counter for viability and concentration measurements. Supports reproducible quantification for cell culture work.
Invitrogen Power Blotter XL
Rapid, uniform Western blot transfer system. Enables efficient transfer of proteins from SDS-PAGE gels to membranes.
Mettler Toledo Analytical Balance (MX Series)
High-precision analytical balance for accurate weighing of reagents and samples, essential for quantitative experiments.
SpectraMax i3x Multimode Plate Reader (Molecular Devices)
A versatile plate reader capable of absorbance, fluorescence, and luminescence detection. Used for enzyme kinetics, cell viability, binding assays, and quantitative biochemical measurements.
Buchi Flash Chromatography Systems
Buchi C-910 and two C-950 LC purification systems, equipped with UV DAD detector, or evaporative light scattering detector (ELSD) and a fraction collector. These support high-throughput workflows and isolation of the desired molecules from complex mixtures.
Venturi Fume Hoods
The lab is equipped with 13 fume hoods with argon drop lines, Schlenk manifolds, and vacuum lines that support a safe, ventilated workspace for handling chemicals.
Agilent LC-MS system
A 1260 III infinity system with a
UV DAD detector connected to
a 6170A Pro IQ Plus single quadrupole mass spectrometer supports reaction monitoring and compound characterization.
Genius XE-35 Nitrogen Generator (PEAK Scientific)
The nitrogen generator supplies a continuous stream of high-purity nitrogen to the LC-MS system.
Buchi Rotary Evaporator Station
Four Buchi rotatory evaporators (two R-80, one R-100, and a R-200) allow efficient removal of solvents under reduced pressure.
Laboratory Chemical 4°C Refrigerator (VWR)
The 4°C fridge provides temperature-controlled storage for reagents and chemicals. It ensures sample stability and preserves material quality between experiments.
Laboratory -20°C TSG Cold Storage Freezer (Thermo Scientific)
The -20 °C freezer offers long-term storage for temperature-sensitive reagents and chemicals, especially those synthesized in the lab waiting to be screened in biological assays.
Schrödinger Software Suite 2024
The software provides advanced tools for molecular modeling, docking, and structure-based drug design. It enables prediction of ligand-protein interactions and supports computational workflows that accelerate therapeutic discovery.