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Center for Bioactive Delivery

The Center for Bioactive Delivery (CBD) at UMass Amherst is advancing the field to a predictive science-a fundamental break from its empirical, single application roots. Our teams are developing fundamental carrier design principles that integrate an understanding of the bioactives from the onset and applying them to various disease models. The long-term objective is to develop reliable, predictive models for optimized drug/carrier systems. This focus on synergies between the bioactive compound and its delivery needs to a suitable carrier solution creates a new paradigm for drug and nutrient delivery.

Drug and nutraceutical delivery is a multi-dimensional challenge that remains a critical and often unsolved issue in product development. At the heart of the center are organized multi-disciplinary teams focused on solutions to this complex landscape.

Animal Imaging facility
Animal Imaging

This facility conducts research using live animal imaging technologies. Equipment is capable of fluorescence and luminescence imaging independent of or concurrent with CT imaging.

NMR facility
NMR

Elucidates molecular structure, conformation, inter-actions and dynamics for chemical science, materials science, biochemical science, and natural products.

Nutriceutical Formulation facility
Nutriceutical Formulation

Isolates and concentrates bioactives, thermally treats them by ultrahigh pasteurization and agitating retort, produces emulsion systems by homogenization, and encapsulates by freeze or spray drying.

Mass Spectrometry
Mass Spectrometry

Expertise measuring molecular weights of small molecules, biological and synthetic macromolecules, qualitative and quantitative proteomics, protein dynamics by hydrogen-deuterium exchange, metabolite identification and elemental quantitation by mass spectrometry.

Light Microscopy
Light Microscopy

Nine different Nikon microscopes available that enable a full range of light microscopy methods and applications. Expert support offered for acquisition and analysis of data.

Illumina MiSeq Sequencing System
Genomics Resource

Provides solutions for Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) and advances instrumentation for DNA, RNA analysis. Facility is equipped with instruments including Illumina NextSeq 500 and MiSeq.

Flow Cytometry
Flow Cytometry

Enables researchers to image structures ranging from single molecules to whole model organisms and performs microscope-based high-throughput screens.

JEOL- JEM-2200FS EFTEM
Electron Microscopy

Transmission (TEM) and Scanning (SEM) Electron Microscopes as well as related sample preparation equipment.

Bioproduction / Separation facility
Bioproduction / Separation

Offers equipment for expression, separation, and isolation of biomolecules that allows users to culture cells and then separate biomolecules of interest.

Biophysical Characterization
Biophysical Characterization

Unique facility for the study of interactions between biological macromolecules and smaller molecules. The facility supports discovery-based research and assay development for translational applications.

Cell Culture
Cell Culture

Two cell culture facilities for both biological and bio-engineering approaches. Biosafety cabinets, incubators and general wet lab supplies.