Facilities and Equipment

The Biomaterials and Histomorphometry Core at Mayo Clinic provides dedicated facilities to help investigators utilize high-quality material for their research.

Facilities

The Biomaterials and Histomorphometry Core occupies 1,854 square feet of the second floor in the Medical Sciences Building on Mayo Clinic's campus in Rochester, Minnesota. It contains one 250-square-foot tissue culture room, five work benches, four biological fume hoods, a dark room for microscopy, and a specimen cutting and grinding area.

Equipment

The Biomaterials and Histomorphometry Core utilizes the most advanced equipment for processing, embedding, sectioning, staining and analysis of mineralized and soft tissues, as well as synthetic biomaterials. The core facility is equipped with OsteoMeasure histomorphometry systems and data acquisition analysis software from OsteoMetrics Inc. and a BioQuant Osteo Image Analysis System from BioQuant.

  • Mayo Clinic Biomaterials and Histomorphometry Core Exakt cutting and grinding system

    Exakt cutting and grinding system

    The Exakt cutting and grinding system from Exakt Technologies sections, grinds and polishes implants and metals.

  • Mayo Clinic Biomaterials and Histomorphometry Core Thermo Electron iS50R Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectrophotometer with Nicolet Continuum FT-IR Microscope

    Thermo Electron iS50R Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectrophotometer with Nicolet Continuum FT-IR Microscope

    Researchers achieve qualitative and quantitative analysis of a wide range of organic and inorganic samples using FT-IR spectroscopy for polymer testing and pharmaceutical analysis, as well as macroscopic and microscopic analysis.

  • Mayo Clinic Biomaterials and Histomorphometry Core Thermo Electron iS50 Fourier Transform Raman (FT-Raman) Module and FT-IR Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) Station

    Thermo Electron iS50 Fourier Transform Raman (FT-Raman) Module and FT-IR Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) Station

    Raman spectroscopy is essential to many applied scientific disciplines, including materials science, life science research, and chemical and biological engineering. The FT-Raman module provides information-rich spectra to advance research and complement FT-IR spectroscopy. FT-IR ATR is a quick and easy method to obtain information about the surface of a material.

  • Mayo Clinic Biomaterials and Histomorphometry Core 3D Continuous Digital Light Processing (cDLP)

    3D Continuous Digital Light Processing (cDLP)

    The ProMaker D35 produces parts in large quantities at speeds no other 3D printer can achieve. The ProMaker D35 allows for highly accurate control of the geometry of every part produced. It has the highest degree of precision on the market, making it ideal for intricate, precise and durable applications such as dental and bio-medical. Featuring two DLP heads, the ProMaker D35 achieves production speeds up to ten times faster than market standards, regardless of the part size. Compatible with 365-nm UV resins, the ProMaker D35 is ideal for mass production for a wide variety of applications.

  • Mayo Clinic Biomaterials and Histomorphometry Core Inovenso NanoSpinner PilotLine Electrospinner

    Inovenso NanoSpinner PilotLine Electrospinner

    The PilotLine is designed for precise product development processes. This model is specifically suited to electrospinning over long time intervals requiring in-situ parameter optimization. The programmable touch screen control panel enables easy re-call of previous recipes and produces new samples within the same parameters. Results are easily comparable and create logical steps for product development. This flexible, programmable, recipe re-call enabled system has long-term electrospinning capability and is supported by unique features.

In addition, to support biomaterials research, the core also includes:

  • Tissue processor
  • Paraffin embedding system
  • Auto stainer
  • Auto slide printer
  • Cryostat
  • Image analysis systems (OsteoMeasure and BioQuant)
  • Slide scanner
  • Micro-CT (Skyscan 1272)
  • KOS rapid multifunctional tissue processor
  • RSA-G2 Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer

Biomaterials characterization equipment

Biomaterials research in the Biomaterials and Histomorphometry Core is supported by these characterization tools:

  • Mayo Clinic Biomaterials and Histomorphometry Core Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC)

    Differential Scanning Calorimeter (Discovery Series)

    Differential scanning calorimeters measure temperatures and heat flows associated with thermal transitions in a material. Common usage includes investigation, selection, comparison and end-use performance evaluation of materials in research, quality control and production applications.

  • Mayo Clinic Biomaterials and Histomorphometry Core RSA-G2 Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer

    RSA-G2 Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer

    Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) measures the mechanical properties of materials as a function of time, temperature and frequency In addition to basic material properties, DMA also quantifies finished part characteristics, reflecting the important contribution that processing has on end-use performance.

  • Mayo Clinic Biomaterials and Histomorphometry Core gel permeation chromatography instument

    Gel permeation chromatography instrument

    Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) separates dissolved macromolecules by size based on their elution from columns filled with a porous gel.

  • Mayo Clinic Biomaterials and Histomorphometry Core Thermogravimetric Analyzer (Discovery Series)

    Thermogravimetric Analyzer (Discovery Series)

    Thermogravimetric analysis measures the amount and rate (velocity) of change in the mass of a sample as a function of temperature or time in a controlled atmosphere. This helps determine the thermal and oxidative stabilities of materials as well as their compositional properties.

  • Mayo Clinic Biomaterials and Histomorphometry Core Rheometer (Discovery Series)

    Rheometer (Discovery Series)

    Rheology is the study of flow and deformation of materials under applied forces, which aids research.