Instruments

The Karikari lab is equipped with state-of-the-art instruments that facilitate advanced biomarker research. Specifically, the lab features a wide range of cutting-edge equipment designed for ultra-sensitive immunoassays and mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis. Additionally, the lab provides a comprehensive selection of specialized equipment to support protein biochemistry work. With these extensive equipment setups, the Karikari lab is well-positioned to perform precise biomarker measurements and explore novel biomarkers.

Ultra-sensitive automatic immunoassay platforms

Quanterix HD-X

The Simoa HD-X Analyzer™ is a fully automated bead-based immunoassay platform for running Single Molecule Array (SIMOA) assays. Simoa assay is an ultra-sensitive immunoassay that detects proteins and DNA at sub-femtomolar concentrations. It digitalizes traditional ELISA assays by incorporating microscopic beads to capture immunocomplexes and arrays of femtoliter-sized reaction chambers to isolate single enzyme molecules, thereby significantly enhancing sensitivity. A wide range of commercially validated assay kits is available for multiple therapeutic areas, including neurology, oncology, immunology, cardiology, and infectious diseases. Additionally, users can develop and optimize their own assays. Our lab is currently equipped with four HD-X Analyzers™, allowing us to analyze a large number of samples quickly and efficiently.

LUMIPULSE® G1200 Analyzer

The Fujirebio LUMIPULSE G1200 is a robust, mid-sized, fully automated immunoassay instrument. Utilizing chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (CLEIA) technology, this system provides precise measurement of a wide range of biomarkers associated with various diseases and disorders, including metabolic, infectious, immune response, neurodegenerative, and oncology. The panel includes several assays approved for in vitro diagnostic use, such as the Lumipulse G β-Amyloid Ratio (1-42/1-40) for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples to assess brain amyloid pathology. Key features of this system include high throughput (up to 120 tests per hour), continuous access loading and unloading of samples, reagents, and consumables without interrupting operations, and a unitized test cartridge to reduce reagent waste and eliminate cross-contamination.

ARGO™ HT System

The ARGO HT is a fully automated, high-throughput precision proteomics platform designed for ultra-high sensitivity and multiplexed immunoassay analysis. Built upon proximity ligation assay technology, it couples qPCR for single-plex assays and next-generation sequencing for multiplexed assays. This system features a fully automated workflow with less than 30 minutes of hands-on time, high throughput capacity processing up to 288 samples per run, and rapid results in under 8 hours for single-plex qPCR assays and under 15 hours for multiplex NGS assays. Currently, two multiplexed assays are available: the NULISAseq Inflammation Panel 250, targeting approximately 250 protein biomarkers for comprehensive profiling of inflammatory response, and the NULISAseq CNS Panel 120, targeting around 120 protein biomarkers for CNS disease.

Mass Spectrometry Instrument

Orbitrap Exploris 480

The Thermo Scientific™ Orbitrap Exploris™ 480 mass spectrometer is a fourth-generation quadrupole-Orbitrap system designed for exceptional robustness and everyday reliability. It enables high-performance peptide and protein identification and quantification, with a resolution of up to 480,000 (FWHM) at m/z 200 and acquisition rates up to 40 Hz. This instrument’s sensitivity allows for the identification of approximately 7,000 protein groups from just 200 ng of bulk HeLa digest in a 2-hour LC gradient LC-MS analysis. The system is equipped with an UltiMate™ 3000 RSLCnano System, capable of supporting workflows in nano, capillary, and micro LC.

Sciex 6500 Triple Stage Quadrupole

The Sciex 6500 QTrap Mass Spectrometer combines triple quadrupole and linear ion trap capabilities to deliver high sensitivity, a wide linearity range (5-6 orders of magnitude), and excellent selectivity. Coupled with a Shimadzu Nexera binary HPLC and a photodiode array detector, the QTRAP 6500 UPLC-MS/MS system offers ultimate sensitivity for targeted quantitative analysis of a wide range of molecules, including amino acids, lipids, metabolites, and peptides.

Microflex LT MALDI-TOF

The Bruker MALDI Microflex LT is a high-performance, user-friendly benchtop instrument. It has been clinically utilized for biotyping microorganisms. This system is ideal for profiling medium to large molecules, including peptides, proteins, polymers, and oligonucleotides. Using this instrument, we have developed an immunoprecipitation (IP) MS assay to quantify intact amyloid-beta peptides from low volumes of plasma samples.

Protein Biochemistry

In addition to specialized instruments for biomarker research, the Karikari lab is equipped with a range of essential biochemistry equipment. This includes a bench top Sorvall X4R Centrifuge, a FastPrep-24™ homogenizer from MP Biomedicals for efficient protein extraction from various tissues, a BioTek Cytation 5 Multi-Mode Reader capable of HTRF and Alpha detection, and a BioTek Epoch microplate spectrophotometer for visible (VIS) and ultraviolet (UV) absorbance applications such as protein assays and ELISA. Furthermore, the lab features an acid-resistant CentriVap Vacuum Concentrator for concentrating protein or peptide samples. The lab also houses six ultra-low temperature (-80°C) freezers for sample storage.