Analytical Chemistry

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)

Biomolecular NMR Laboratory

The UNC Biomolecular NMR Laboratory supports research into the structure and dynamics of biological molecules.

Research applications: Macromolecular structure and dynamics. Cryoprobes are available for small molecules and biological applications, including small molecule and natural product NMR. Fragment-based Drug Discovery. Current library offers: fluorinated library with 728 fragments and an additional 732 fragments with high solubility. Total library size of 1460 fragments.

Instrumentation available: Bruker Avance 500 MHz with cryoprobe, Bruker Avance 600 MHz with cryoprobe, Bruker Avance 700 MHz with coldprobe and SampleJet 500 slot sample changer, Bruker Avance 850 with cryoprobe and 24 slot sample changer, Helium Recovery System, Liquid Handling Robot for Fragment-based Drug Discovery.

Training resources: one-on-one training of new users, consultation with prospective users to determine whether NMR will be useful in their research, and consultation in designing experiments. NMR course BIOC663 open to graduate students.

Eligible users: Any researchers at UNC or other academic institutions, and in industry.

Chemistry NMR Core

The Chemistry NMR Core Facility, located in rooms 044 & 051 on the ground floor of Caudill Laboratories, provides NMR services to the Department of Chemistry, as well as to other UNC departments and outside organizations.

Research applications: Authorized users of the NMR facility may reserve time on five spectrometers after schedules are posted on Friday mornings and daily for the walk-up 400MHz spectrometer via a web calendar.

Instrumentation available: 360 MHz spectrometer for solid state NMR, 400 MHz Bruker AVIII spectrometer with sample changer, 400 MHz NMR Spectrometer AVANCE NEO, 500 MHz Bruker AVIII spectrometer, 600 MHz Bruker AVIII spectrometer with cryoprobes, 600 MHz spectrometer AVANCE III, JEOL EPR Spectrometer, Bruker NEO400MHz NMR Spectrometer equipped with a 60-position sample changer, Nitrogen cooled, broad band cryoprobe.

Training resources: Additional assistance with experiments, special request for NMR time, or requests for training may be directed to David Harris or Marc ter Horst.

Eligible users: Any researchers at UNC or other academic institutions, and in industry.

The Eshelman School of Pharmacy NMR Facility

The Eshelman School of Pharmacy NMR Facility provides a resource for small molecule and natural product NMR related to drug discovery and can also be used to study polymers and biomolecular structure and dynamics.

Research applications: Small molecule and natural product NMR; polymer NMR; biomolecular structure and dynamics. In addition to ¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P, and ¹⁹F, we have studied more unusual nuclei, such as ¹¹B, ¹²⁹Xe, and ¹¹⁹Sn.

Instrumentation available: Fully automated Varian 400MR used for ¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P, and ¹⁹F one-dimensional experiments, as well as those two-dimensional experiments often associated with “small” molecules, such as COSY (and its variants), NOESY, ROESY, HSQC, HMBC. The Inova 400 is used for ¹H and ¹³C one-dimensional experiments, and for the same sort of two-dimensional experiments as are run on the 400MR. The Inova 500 was originally designed for biomolecular NMR, and so is our most versatile instrument, with 4 RF channels instead of 2, all equipped with wave-form generators; triple-axis gradients; pre-cooling of the VT air so as to allow temperature studies below room temperature; and a variety of probes, which among other things allow us to study not only ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹⁹F, but also ³¹P, ¹¹B, ¹²⁹Xe, and ¹¹⁹Sn.

Training resources: Frequent training sessions (from 1-4 trainees) scheduled based on demand. Free consultations for prospective users.

Eligible users: Any researchers at UNC or other academic institutions, or industry.

Analytical Instrumentation

Chapel Hill Analytical and Nanofabrication Laboratory (CHANL)

The Chapel Hill Analytical and Nanofabrication Laboratory (CHANL) was established in 2006 as part of the Institute for Advanced Materials, Nanoscience and Technology. CHANL operates as a shared instrumentation laboratory open to UNC researchers from all departments as well as to researchers from other universities, government labs, and industry. User fees are charged for instrumentation usage to recover the cost of materials, supplies, and instrumentation maintenance.

Operation: Provide expertise and technical resources, to assist researchers in designing experimental plans, acquiring appropriate data, and interpreting data.

Research applications: Provide cost-effective access to analytical and nanofabrication instrumentation that would not otherwise be available in individual research labs.

Instrumentation available: Alcatel AMS 100 Deep Reactive Ion Etcher (DRIE), Atomic Layer Deposition: Ultratech/Cambridge Nanotech Savannah S200 (ALD), Advanced Vacuum Vision 310 Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition System, PVD 75 magnetron sputtering system, Thermionics VE-100 Electron Beam Evaporator, Mask Aligner, Hot Embosser, Resonetics Rapid X250 Laser Ablation, Scaning Electon Microscopes (SEM), P-6 Stylus Profiling System, Filmetrics F50 Thin-film Mapper, AutoGlow Oxygen Plasma System, Atmospheric Oven, Microspectrophotometry, AFM-IR (Infrared absorption spectroscopy mapping of nanoscale features. Chemical mapping resolution of 10nm.), Nanoindenter (Hardness and modulus analysis in physicological conditions. Pico-newton force resolution with micron-scale contact area.), FIB lift-out (A TEM specimen preparation add-on for a Focused Ion Beam (FIB) milling system. Enables extraction of thin foils and placement onto TEM grids.), STEM (Scanning/Transmission electron microscope with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS)).

Training resources: Promote education by working closely with students and postdocs to provide instrument training and hands on experience.

Eligible users: All UNC investigators, as well as PIs from other academic institutions and corporate/industry labs.

Mass Spectrometry

Advanced Translational Pharmacology and Analytical Chemistry (ATPAC)

The Advanced Translational Pharmacology and Analytical Chemistry (ATPAC) core lab consists of the Analytical Chemistry and Pharmacology Core (ACPC) lab and the Translational Oncology and Nanoparticle Drug Development Initiative (TONDDI) lab

The ATPAC core lab uses analytical chemistry and pharmacologic infrastructure to support the translational development of drugs, anticancer agents, carrier-mediated agents and biologics. The lab provides expertise in translational drug development, analytical chemistry, pharmacology [pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD); efficacy and toxicity], and biomarker studies.

Research applications:  Services include LC-MS assay development, validation and analysis of samples to quantify a wide variety of drugs, ranging from small molecule therapeutics to complex drugs such as monoclonal antibodies, drug conjugates and polymers. The lab supports formulation development and CMC studies, assistance in PK/PD study design, LC-MS/MS or ICP-MS assay development, quantification of drugs from biological samples, PK/PD analysis and report generation.

Instrumentation available:  Thermo TSQ Quantum Ultra triple quadrupole mass spectrometers with Shimadzu LC-20AD series HPLC, Thermo LTQ Orbitrap Discovery mass spectrometer with Shimadzu LC-20AD series HPLC, Agilent 7700 inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS), Shimadzu 20 series HPLC with fluorescence detection.

Resources: Full-service sample analysis and assay development.  Consultation on PK/PD study design and execution.  Data interpretation and preparation of manuscripts.

Eligible users:  Researchers at UNC-CH, other academic institutions, industry/commercial clients.

Biomarker Mass Spectrometry (BMS)

The Biomarker Mass Spectrometry Facility is a shared mass spectrometry laboratory, we offer LC/MS/MS analyses with ion mobility separation capability, GCMS analysis and trace elemental analysis by ICP-MS, providing expertise for qualitative and quantitative analysis of small molecules and elemental analysis. Starting from biomarker analysis, the facility’s mission evolved over time into trace level analysis of a wide spectrum of complex mixtures from environmental and exposure science applications.  

Research applications: Targeted and untargeted analysis of biomarkers of exposure and effect including DNA adducts, protein adducts, DNA-DNA and DNA-protein crosslinks, metabolites. Environmental chemical analysis constitutes an important area of focus for this facility, such as PFAS, secondar organic aerosol, multi-element analysis and arsenic speciation in water, food, and other matrix.   

Instrumentation:  

• Waters select series Cyclic ion mobility quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry and it is expected to be in service in 2025. 

• Sciex 6500 triple quad mass spec coupled with Agilent 1290 UPLC and Eksigent nanoLC; 

• Thermo TSQ Quantum Ultra triple quad mass spec with Waters NanoAcquity UPLC. 

• Thermo TSQ Quantum Ultra triple quad mass spec with Waters Acquity UPLC. 

• Agilent 6520 Accurate-Mass Quadrupole Time-of-Flight mass spec with Agilent 1200 HPLC. 

• Agilent 8900 ICP-MS Inductively Coupled Plasma mass spec with Agilent 1260 Infinity Bioinert HPLC. 

• Agilent 5977C coupled with Agilent 8860 GC-MS 

• Agilent 1200 HPLC for offline purification and fraction collection. 

Resources: Full-service sample analyses as well as training for independent operation; Consultation for proposal submission and/or project feasibility; Method development; Data interpretation and generation of experimental sections and figures for publications. Fees are based on hourly usage of instrumentation and staff time, so costs correlate with the degree of effort required and the duration of analyses. 

Eligible users: UNC researchers as well as other academic investigators and commercial clients when feasible. 

Department of Chemistry Mass Spectrometry Core Laboratory

The Department of Chemistry Mass Spectrometry Core Laboratory specializes in small molecule mass spectrometry analysis. Our Core aims to provide the highest quality mass spectrometric services possible to both campus and surrounding Research Triangle area members. We offer both independent operator and full-service mass spectrometry workflows. Our primary research focuses are organic and inorganic synthetic molecules, relative and absolute quantitation mass spectrometry, and trace metal analysis.

Research applications: quantitative mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography separations, structural elucidation, MS/MS & MSⁿ fragmentation mass spectrometry, complex mixture analysis, molecular formula confirmation, high resolution and accurate mass analysis, & trace metal determination/quantitation.

Instrumentation available: ThermoFisher Exactive GC, ThermoFisher LTQ FT with a Waters Acquity H-Class UPLC system, PESciex 3000 with a Shimadzu LC and CTC autosampler, Agilent 1100 liquid chromatograph system, CEM Mars Microwave System

Resources: Individualized user training for undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral scholars of the Department of Chemistry and UNC Campus community. Walk-up access is available to all trained users. Full-service sample analysis. Consultation for project development. Method development and advising. Data interpretation. Grant application assistance. Metabolomics and Lipidomics.

Eligible users: All researchers at UNC-CH, affiliated universities, non-affiliated universities, private industry/commercial clients.

Metabolomics and Proteomics Core

UNC Metabolomics and Proteomics (MAP) Core  provides researchers with state-of-the-art analysis of proteins and metabolites from tissues, cells and other biological samples. The Core is also a resource for training and education in metabolomics and proteomics techniques. The Core offers an array of sample preparation, instrumentation and data analysis services, as well as method development and in-depth consultation to help researchers optimize their experimental design. 

Research applications: For proteomics: simple protein ID from SDS-PAGE gels; PTM analysis of a single protein; global quantitative proteomic profiling; global quantitative phosphoproteomics; protein-protein interaction analysis; kinome profiling; chemoproteomics; targeted proteomics to quantify specific peptides/proteins; and intact, high-resolution mass analysis of large biomolecules, such as antibodies.  

For metabolomics, the UNC MAP Core offers sample preparation including metabolite and lipid extraction from biological samples and purification with solid phase extraction. Heavy labeled metabolites/lipids are used as internal standards for normalization and/or quantification. The UNC MAP Core offers both targeted and untargeted metabolomics services. 

Instrumentation available:  Seven LC-MS systems are available. For Proteomics: Thermo Vanquish Neo-Astral, Thermo Neo-Exploris480, Thermo Ultimate3000-Exploris 480, Thermo Easy nLC 1200-QExactive HF. For Metabolomics: Thermo Vanquish Horizon-Stellar targeted MS, Thermo Vanquish Horizon-Exploris240, Thermo Vanquish Horizon-Lumos with ETD. 

In addition to the LC-MS systems, the MAP Core is equipped with 2 908Devices ZipChip capillary electrophoresis systems, an Evosep One liquid separations device, a Thermo AccelerOme proteomics sample preparation automation system and an Agilent HPLC for offline fractionation. 

Resources: Full-service core providing sample preparation, mass spectrometry analysis and data analysis. Grant and manuscript support. Multi-omics data integration. Modular Course offered: PHCO750. In-depth method development and optimization. 

Eligible users: Researchers at UNC and other academic institutions or industrial laboratories.