RTNN Affiliates Network

The RTNN Affiliates Network connects RTNN facilities with other nano-focused university and government facilities in the Triangle. The goals of Affiliates Network are to:

  1. Allow regional facility managers/directors to more readily connect researchers to complementary facilities needed to complete their nanotechnology research
  2. Enable facility leadership and staff from across the Triangle to communicate timely information efficiently and effectively about instrumentation and other opportunities
  3. Develop strategic partnerships on emerging opportunities and technical needs that support the facilities or user base.

Annually, the RTNN hosts a half-day event to share best practices and opportunities for facility staff. Please contact the RTNN (rtnanonetwork@ncsu.edu) if your facility would be interested in participating in this network.

Participating Facilities

Nanomedicine Characterization Core Facility (UNC)

The Nanomedicine Characterization Core Facility provides assistance in in-depth characterization of nanomaterials, including studies on: 

  1. Polymer chemical composition and structure (e.g., number average molar mass, weight average molar mass, polydispersity)
  2. Nanoparticle characterization (e.g., size, size distribution, surface charge, radius, shape)
  3. Formulation characterization (e.g., drug loading and release, stability and shelf life analysis, purity)
  4. Nanoparticle preparation and isolation (e.g., exosomes)

Core Facility inventory includes but is not limited to: Zetasizer Nano ZS (Malvern) equipped with a flow cell; Nanoparticles Tracking Analysis (NTA) Nanosight NS500 with green laser (532 nm) and 565 nm long pass cut off fluorescent filter,Nanoparticles Tracking Analysis (NTA) Particle-Metrics ZetaView® QUATT 4-Source NTA System with 405/488/520/640 nm sources, Nanoparticle Tracking – Video Microscope PMX-420 (particle size range 15 – 5000 nm; zeta potential and cluster analysis of individual particles, Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass-Spectrometer (ICP-MS) – Nexion 300D (Perkin Elmer), and Capillary Electrophoresis – PA800 plus by Beckman Coulter. 

Contact: Dr. Marina Sokolsky-Papkov (msokolsk@email.unc.edu)

Duke Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Center, DMRSC

The DMRSC offers ultra-high-field NMR instruments with cryogenically cooled probes as well as conventional instruments. Seven high field, high-resolution NMR spectrometers are supported by the Center including:

  • State-of-the-art ultra-high field 800 MHz Varian/Agilent DirectDrive2 spectrometer fully configured with four RF channels, two receivers, and 1H/13C/15N cryogenic and room temperature triple probes with pulsed field gradients
  • Bruker Avance III 700 MHz spectrometer fully configured for biological research with four channels and 1H/13C/15N cryogenic and room temperature triple probes with pulsed field gradients
  • 600 MHz Varian Inova NMR spectrometer with four channel capability and 1H/13C/15N cryogenic and room temperature triple PFG probes as well as a 1H dedicated probe
  • 500 MHz Varian/Agilent VNMRS spectrometer with five-channel capability and dual receivers. Probes available include a newly purchased 1H(19F)/13C/15N triple, 1H/13C/15N triple, 5mM PFG inverse and a 10mM broadband
  • Four channel 500 MHz Varian Inova spectrometer with 1H/13C/15N triple and 5mM indirect H(X) probes for chemical applications
  • 400 MHz Varian Inova spectrometer with a 4-nucleus PFG probe and a PFG inverse probe
  • 300 MHz Varian Mercury spectrometer with a 4-nucleus probe for routine chemistry applications

Contact: Prof. Len Spicer (spicer@biochem.duke.edu), Dr. Ron Venters (venters@duke.edu)

RTI Analytical and Material Laboratories

Capabilities include electron microscopy (ESEM, TEM) energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence, ion chromatography, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma
optical emission spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry, advanced surface area and porosity analysis, organic elemental analysis (C, H, N, S, O), thermogravimetric analysis, chemisorption analysis, and environmental chambers. 

Contact: Dr. Chamindu Liyanapatirana (chamindu@rti.org)

Zeis Textile Extension Education for Economic Development Center (NC State)

Zeis Textiles Extension for Economic Development provides training and certification in textiles and Lean Six Sigma, and serves the textile industry’s prototyping and pilot production needs in its five laboratories – spun yarn, knitting, weaving, dyeing and finishing, and physical testing.

ZTE manages several different TexLabs critical to the textile and apparel industry. These labs enable faculty, graduate, undergraduate, and industry research. Researchers at the Wilson College of Textiles provide an immense knowledge base for research partnerships with industry.

Contact: Dr. Andre West (ajwest2@ncsu.edu)

TECS Analytical Services Laboratory (NC State)

The Analytical Services Lab is part of NC State’s Wilson College of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science Department (TECS). Capabilities include differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, high performance liquid chromatography, contact angle analysis, and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.

Contact: Birgit Andersen (Birgit_Andersen@ncsu.edu)

Rheology and Food Chemistry Laboratory (NC State)

Food rheology addresses fluid and structural properties of raw materials, ingredients, and intermediate and final products of the food and pharmaceutical industries. 

Its importance lies in the ability to understand how process variables influence specific textural characteristics, such as pourability and mouthfeel. Parameters are essential for the design and specification of processing equipment like pumps and heat exchangers. Rheological measurements can rapidly determine product quality and serve as a tool for quality control.

Available for contract testing and consulting, these labs helps explain the physical chemistry, molecular-level interactions, and functionality of a food system to solve industry challenges.

Contact: Dr. Haotian Zheng (haotian.zheng@ncsu.edu )

Nuclear Reactor Program (NC State)

The PULSTAR Reactor is a 1-MW pool-type nuclear research reactor which is administered by the Nuclear Reactor Program and located in Burlington Laboratory on the N.C. State north campus. The PULSTAR Reactor has four ‘User Facilities’ which are available for use by research groups internal and external to the UNC system. Each of these four facilities harness the intense radiation fields emanating from the reactor beamports to create unique research and non-destructive diagnostic instruments.

User Facilities available include:

Services offered include:

Contact: Scott Lassell (scott_lassell@ncsu.edu)

Molecular Education, Technology and Research Innovation Center, METRIC (NC State)

METRIC provides researchers with world-class state-of-the-art measurement science facilities across four buildings throughout campus, encompassing three key molecular characterization technologies including mass spectrometry, magnetic resonance (NMR and EPR), and X-Ray Crystallography (small molecule and macromolecular).

In addition to ample operations, conference, and storage space, instrumentation rooms are equipped with UPS and back-up power. Space renovations (~$2M+) to accommodate METRIC produced state-of-the-art laboratories with independent climate control, galleys to isolate noise and vibration, chilled water, and appropriate power. Laboratories are equipped with sample storage, analysis, and preparation instrumentation, including data analysis hardware and software, a state-of-the-art LMD system with live-cell imaging capability, Leica CM 1950 cryostat, Omni Bead Ruptor and tissue homogenizers, centrifuges, vortexers, speed-vacs, and nanopure water purification systems.

Contact: Prof. David Muddiman (dcmuddim@ncsu.edu)

Chemical Research Instrumentation Teaching and Core Laboratories, CRITCL (UNC)

CRITCL supports research at all levels, from acquiring preliminary data for grant applications to training faculty, postdocs, graduate students and undergraduates in the acquisition and analysis of data from state-of-the-art instrumentation.

Core laboratories include:

  • NMR: Extensive capabilities, including highly sensitive cryoprobes, for the detection of 1H, 2H, 13C, 15N, 19F and 31P. Gradient enhanced pulse sequences, and variable sample temperature control available for 1D and multidimensional experiments. 
  • Mass Spectrometry: Characterization and quantification of various types of materials, for example small organic and inorganic molecules, lipids, metabolites, synthetic polymers, nanoparticles, and trace level elemental analysis. 
  • Small Molecule X-ray Diffraction: The facility houses a single crystal X-ray diffractometer, Bruker SMART Apex II. Service includes SC-XRD structure determination and various PXRD techniques, and user training is available for both SC- and powder XRD techniques. 
  • Electronics: Capabilities include analog, digital, and RF design as well as signal processing and software development. In addition, the facility provides circuit simulation, mathematical modeling, and mechanical design in support of prototype production and construction of circuits and instrumentation.
  • Glass shop: Full service shop primarily engaged in the design and fabrication of specialized scientific glassware as well as repairs and modifications of existing glassware.

Contact: Prof. Jim Cahoon (jfcahoon@ad.unc.edu)

Public Communication of Science and Technology, PCOST (NC State)

PCOST was developed to improve public communication in science and technology, including, but not limited to, emerging and converging technologies such as nanotechnology, bionanotechnology, neurotechnology, geoengineering and synthetic biology. Since 2008, PCOST has broadened our interests to subject fields such as public health, safe drinking water, pests, natural disasters, climate change, and human and environmental hazards and risks.

Contact: Prof. David Berube (dmberube@ncsu.edu)