Drug Development
Analytical Services
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.
UNC CFAR Clinical Pharmacology & Analytical Chemistry
UNC CFAR Clinical Pharmacology & Analytical Chemistry The goal of the UNC Center For Aids Research (CFAR) CPAC core is to provide the research community with the expertise and resources in study design, analytical chemistry, and data analyses to support innovative animal and human clinical pharmacology investigations.
All analyses are conducted in a CLIA-certified, state of the art analytical laboratory that includes high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet and mass spectroscopy detection.
Services include: Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic analysis; development and validation of small molecule methods using LC/UV, LC/MS and LC/MS/MS in a wide variety of animal and human matrices; grants and clinical trials consultation and research support. We will provide you with advice on experimental design and the best methods to accomplish your objectives.
Organ Injury Biomarker Core
The Organ Injury Biomarker Core can discover, validate, and quantify biomarkers that enable early detection and mechanistic insight of hepatic, renal, and cardiac injury.
Nanomaterials
Nanomedicines Characterization Core Facility (NCore)
The Nanomedicines Characterization Core Facility (NCore) provides comprehensive characterization of novel nanomedicines and nanomaterials. Services include physicochemical assays (ICP-MS, Nanosight, Capillary Electrophoresis, WES Simple Western Blotting, HPLC, FPLC, Thermogravimetric Analysis, GPC, Malvern Zetasizer, and more). Exosome isolation and characterization including size, size distribution, concentration, charge, markers expression, particle labeling. The Nanomedicines Characterization Core Facility (NCore) grants researchers an opportunity for in-depth characterization of nanomaterials and carrier-mediated agents (CMA) including: chemical composition, number average molar mass Mn, weight average molar mass Mw, polydispersity, molecular weight distribution, size, gyration radius, size distribution, shape, surface charge, count number of nanoparticles, solubility (second virial coefficient), thermal/oxidative stabilities, estimation of product lifetime, isotope analysis, analytical evaluation of nanoparticle encapsulated and released drug or agent stability and released rates, degree and rate of recognition of nanoparticles by mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS), UV/Vis spectroscopy, UV-temperature correlation, etc.
Research applications: Physicochemical characterization (PC) of nanomaterials offers a comprehensive body of information that can be used to predict behavior of the nanomaterials in biological environments both in vitro and in vivo. This information is essential in order to exercise tight control over inter-batch variations and maintain reproducibility of nanomaterials critical for their applications.
N-Core offers PC of various classes of nanomaterials such as:
- Polymer conjugates
- Polymeric micelles
- Liposomes
- Nanogels
- Polyion complexes of small drugs and biomacromolecules (proteins, DNA, and RNA)
- Inorganic/metal nanoparticles
- Bio-derived nanoparticles such as exosomes with protein and nucleic acid car
Instrumentation available: ICP-MS Perkin Elmer NexION 300d with autosampler, Capillary Electrophoresis Beckman Coulter PA 800 plus Pharmaceutical Analysis System, HPLC Agilent 1200 series, NTA Malvern NanoSight NS500, NTA and Zeta Potential meter Particle Metrix ZetaView QUATT, DLS Malvern ZetaSizer Nano ZS, TGA TD Thermogravimetric analyzer, Western Blot and Gel Imager Protein Simple FluorChem E Imager, Automated Western Blot Protein Simple WES, Freeze dryer (lyophilizer) LABCONCO, GPC Malvern Viscotek, FPLC AKTA.
Eligible users: Any researcher at UNC or other academic institutions, and industry.
Genetic Screening
UNC CRISPR Core
The CRISPR Screening Facility provides:
Arrayed Screens which includes: Consultation on screen design, benchmarks, and objectives, high quality CRISPR sgRNA arrayed into 96-well or 384-well format, automated assay with in-house robotics, individual acquisition and analysis for each target gene, and deliverable: high quality data sets for individual genes.
Pooled Screens which includes: Consultation on screen design, benchmarks, and objectives, high quality whole mammalian genome CRISPR sgRNA validated pools, assay run by our experienced team, or PI can choose to run assay in their lab, isolation of ‘hit’ genes, next generation sequencing and bioinformatics, and provides as a deliverable: rank list of genes identified in screen