Biological Characterisation

Our biological characterisation experts work at the molecular and cellular level, with single molecule and atomic force microscopes unravelling the complexities of DNA interactions within cells.

Biological Characterisation involves using advanced techniques to probe the structure, properties, and behaviour of biological materials. At Royce at the University of Sheffield this capability is a key component of the overarching Imaging and Characterisation research theme.

Much of the equipment associated with this area are situated within the Nanocharacterisation Lab at the Royce Discovery Centre, which features specialised equipment such as high-resolution Atomic Force Microscopes (AFM) capable of imaging fragile biological samples. This nano-scale imaging is essential for understanding fundamental biological processes, such as the structure and interactions of DNA and biomolecules.

Such sophisticated biological characterisation directly contributes to the Henry Royce Institute's research into Biomedical Materials, supporting the development of next-generation medical devices and therapeutics.

Capabilities:
Atomic Force Microscopy
Optical Tweezers
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry
Nanoindentation
Optical Profilometry