Life Science Articles

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Epigenetics and Epigenomics

Epigenetics is the study of chemical reactions that influence gene expression, through activation or deactivation of genes at specific times and locations. These changes in gene expression do not involve a change in the DNA sequence, meaning there is a change in phenotype, without any change in genotype.

1 Feb 2017

Virus Purification Methods

Virus purification methods include ultracentrifugation, chromatography, precipitation, nanofiltration

23 Jan 2017

Combined PET-MR Principles, Strengths, and Weaknesses

The combination of positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides a unique clinical imaging tool with significant applications in biomedical research in small animals. PET/MRI systems for use in humans were first introduced in the year 2010.

9 Jan 2017

Combined SPECT-MR Principles, Strengths, and Weaknesses

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is combined with MRI to form a hybrid technology used in preclinical applications mainly in tumor and neuroscience imaging. SPECT integrated with MRI enhances SPECT quantification

9 Jan 2017

Micro-MRI in Cancer Research

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) generates images based on the nuclear magnetic behavior of atoms in a sample in a magnetic field. It is a non-invasive imaging tool that offers 3D tissue images without using radiation.

9 Jan 2017

Micro-PAT in Cancer Research

Micro-photoacoustic tomography (PAT) is an emerging technique for full-body imaging of small animals in preclinical research. As small animals are being increasingly used for biomedical studies, in vivo whole body imaging of these plays a key role in these studies.

9 Jan 2017

Using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) for Liposome Size Analysis

Dynamic light scattering (DLS) is a technique that is used to measure the size of particles, generally particles that are in the sub-micron region. The technique is also referred to as photon correlation spectroscopy and quasi-elastic light scattering.

5 Jan 2017

Thermal Analysis of Pharmaceutical Materials

Thermal analytical techniques are invaluable methods for characterizing the properties and structure of pharmaceutical materials. These techniques analyze the change in a specific property of the analyte as a function of temperature.

5 Jan 2017

Positron Emission Tomography

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a non-invasive nuclear imaging technique which uses radioactive tracers. PET scans specifically look at the metabolism of a particular organ or tissue, and uses a tracer dependent on which organ or tissues are the focus of the scan.

5 Jan 2017

Non-protein Functions of Amino Acids

Proteins are generally considered macronutrients that are vital to sustaining life. These biomolecules are made of amino acids, which not only function as the building blocks of proteins, but in several other crucial physiological capacities.

4 Jan 2017

Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT)

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is a form of non-invasive nuclear imaging used in order to determine how organs inside the body work. The scan can be used to illustrate how, for example, the blood flows into the heart and chemical reactions that are happening in the body.

4 Jan 2017

Optical, Electron and Scanning Probe Microscopy

Microscopes are of three basic types: optical, electron (or ion), and scanning probe. The modern optical or light microscope was developed in the mid-19th century. Optical microscopes use transparent lenses and visible light to enable viewing of objects in the micrometer scale, e.g., red blood cells

4 Jan 2017

Micro-PET Principles, Strengths, and Weaknesses

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a nuclear imaging tool for molecular and functional imaging of biological processes. While functional imaging is used to monitor parameters such as perfusion and metabolic rate, molecular imaging is done to study and measure cellular events like gene expression and receptor binding.

4 Jan 2017

Micro-PAT Principles, Strengths, and Weaknesses

Photoacoustic tomography (PAT) is a sensitive and rapid imaging tool. PAT is a hybrid technique that involves acoustic detection of light absorption by endogenous chromophores like oxy- and deoxy-hemoglobin or exogenous contrast agents like nanoparticles and organic dyes. It is an emerging tool that finds widespread applications in preclinical research.

3 Jan 2017

Micro-MRI Principles, Strengths, and Weaknesses

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a technique that generates images by exploiting the nuclear magnetic behavior of different atoms in a sample tissue placed in a magnetic field. It is a non-invasive technique that produces detailed 3-dimensional (3D) images of tissues without the use of harmful radiation. It finds applications in diagnostics and in the treatment of various diseases.

3 Jan 2017

Microfluidics Applications

Microfluidics technology has contributed to powerful tools that have helped advance many areas of biology. The applications of microfluidic systems in chemistry and biochemistry have increased in number over the years with the development of new components and processes for the injection, mixing, pumping, and storing of fluids in the microchannels.

3 Jan 2017

What is Microfluidics?

Microfluidics is the study of systems that can process small quantities of fluids by using tiny channels having dimensions at the microscale – typically tens to hundreds of micrometres. Although in the nascent stage, microfluidics is rapidly emerging as a breakthrough technology that finds applications in diverse fields ranging from biology and chemistry to information technology and optics.

3 Jan 2017

Micro-CT Principles, Strengths, and Weaknesses

Computed tomography (CT) is a non-invasive imaging tool that provides 3-dimensional (3D) images of the internal organs. CT offers very good contrast of bone to soft tissue and thus can have novel applications in bone research.

3 Jan 2017

Gibbs Free Energy and Metabolism

Josiah Willard Gibbs, an American mathematician, first described Gibbs free energy in the 1870s. According to Gibbs, free energy is the total energy of a system that is available to perform useful work. It is expressed in kilojoules (kJ) and is also called “available energy.”

3 Jan 2017

Electrochemical Analysis

Electrochemistry is the study of techniques that use electrical stimulation to analyze the chemical reactivity of a system. More specifically, it analyzes the loss and gain of electrons i.e. the oxidation and reduction mechanisms in a reaction.

3 Jan 2017