Technical/Development

NIA works exclusively with Chembiotech Laboratories (CL) for all its R&D and QA analysis requirements.

R&D Resources & Capabilities
Chemistry
Biochemistry
Physical Properties

Chembiotech Laboratories (CL) utilise a variety of analytical techniques for both routine analysis and more advanced R&D projects for clients, particularly in areas of new product development, product quality control (QC), and product property modification and troubleshooting. Regularly employed techniques include:

High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
High Performance Size Exclusion Chromatography (HP-SEC)
Rheological analysis (creep, flow & oscillation measurements)
Texture analysis (adhesion, extrusion, penetration tests)
Fourier Transform-InfraRed (FT-IR) spectroscopy
Ultraviolet/visible (UV/vis) spectrophotometry

CL also has regular access to a number of other high-power techniques, including Gas Chromatography (GC), Mass Spectrometry (MS), GC-MS, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDXA), etc.

CL also has a computer-controlled Fibre Rig for the wet-spinning of polysaccharide-based fibres.

Listed below are some examples of the types of analyses performed by CL using such equipment/techniques:

High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
CL primarily utilises a type of HPLC called High Performance Anion Exchange Chromatography (HP-AEC) for the identification and quantification of carbohydrates (mono- and oligo-saccharides) and amino acids. These can be free or monomeric components of larger biological macromolecules (such as polysaccharides and proteins) that are liberated on hydrolysis. Detection can be accomplished by a number of techniques, which include pulsed amperometric detection (PAD) and photodiode array detection.
CL utilises Dionex equipment and CarboPac columns for such analyses.
High Performance Size Exclusion Chromatography (HP-SEC)
HP-SEC is utilised by CL for the analysis of polymers in aqueous solution (mainly polysaccharides and proteins). Detection is performed using a differential refractive index (DRI) detector.

Rheological analysis (creep, flow & oscillation measurements)

CL use a combination of flow, creep and oscillation measurements to determine and compare/contrast the viscoelastic characteristics of raw/modified biomaterials and products.

Flow tests are routinely performed in order to ascertain differences in zero shear viscosity and shear thinning, which can be related to molecular weight and molecular weight distribution. Such techniques can provide a lot of information with respect to the physical properties of gel materials, such as comparing the gelatinisation profiles of starches of different botanical origin. CL utilise a TA Instruments controlled stress rheometer equipped with a variety of different size cone and flat plate geometries.

Texture analysis (adhesion, extrusion, penetration tests)

Texture analysis is utilised by CL for the comparative, quantifiable and reproducible assessment of a number of different material/product properties. CL utilises a Stable Micro Systems Texture Analyser, which is effectively a calibrated force probe that measures the force required to perform various activities. This is a very versatile instrument when equipped with a number of probes and attachments for testing specific parameters or types of materials. For example the hardness index of a wide range of materials can be determined by penetration test using conical and finger probes. hesion rig), Also the extrusion properties of viscous raw material solutions and products using forward and backward extrusion attachments.

Fourier Transform-InfraRed (FT-IR) spectroscopy

Elucidation of chemical functionality is routinely performed on a wide range of materials (both natural and synthetic) by FT-IR spectroscopic analysis. CL utilises a Nicolet FT-IR spectrometer equipped with an Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) sampling accessory, which permits direct analysis of solid and liquid samples. CL specifically utilise FT-IR spectroscopic analysis for carbohydrate derivative characterisation, were spectra peak height and peak area measurements can be used to facilitate degree of substitution (DS) determination for selected chemical functionalities.

Ultraviolet/visible (UV/vis) spectrophotometry

CL regularly employ the use of colorimetric/ spectrophotometric assays for the determination of specific classes of material and colour measurement.