The Institute of Molecular Recognition and Technological Development is distributed between the Universitat Politècnica de València (first and second floor at the 5M building and third floor at the Escola Superior de Disseny) and at the Vera Campus of the University of Valencia (fourth floor at the researching building of the Pharmacy faculty). The laboratories have all the necessary facilities in order to develop the usual task within the research lines the Institute develops such as synthesis, compound and material preparation, characterization, etc. (for example: cabinets for gas extraction, security fridges and closets, equipment for the synthesis and purification operations: agitators, autoclaves, lacquer heaters, rotary evaporators, vacuum pumps, filtration systems, chromatography equipment, etc.).

Additionally, the Institute has access to characterization and analysis equipment of their own and of the universities which cover most of the researching necessities.

Studies on molecules’ bioactivity

• In cell cultures: monocytes, macrophages, sinoviocits, chondrocytes, osteoblasts, enterocytes, fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and endothelial cells or cartilage and bone explants. Within this models, the cellular metabolism is studied in processes such as that of viability, proliferation, cellular cycle, production of inflammatory and degradable mediators, growth factors, etc. as well as several enzyme activities. Molecular interaction of drugs, signalling pathways, transcription factors and modulation of gene and protein expression.
• In models of rats and mice: drug screening, air bags, carrageenan oedema topical inflammation, wound healing, arthritis adjuvant for collagen arthritis, spontaneous or surgical osteoarthritis.

Equipment for molecular characterization. A great part of the Institute’s potential is the synthesis of new compounds. The Institute does not depend on third parties for the synthesis of products due to the fact that it counts with the necessary staff and equipment for the design and organic synthesis of new molecular compounds. It has all the necessary equipment to carry out the synthesis of organic products and their complete characterization.

• NMR equipment with 1H and 13C catheter, Virian Gemini 300
• Monovidre X-ray diffractometer, Siemens P4
• Absorption spectrophotometer Perkin Elmer Lambda 35 UV/vis
• Infrared spectrophotometer for Fourier transformation, Jasco FT/ANAR-460plus
• Potency for Methrom amperometric and polarography works
• Automatic valuing equipment with Methrom potentiometric and photometric detention systems

Equipment for material characterization. A great part of the Institute’s potential is the synthesis of new compounds. The Institute does not depend on third parties for the synthesis of products due to the fact that it counts with the necessary staff and equipment for the design and synthesis of new inorganic materials. It has all the necessary equipment to carry out the synthesis of materials and their complete characterization.

• Thermogravimetric analysis Mettler Toledo TGA/SDTA 851i coupled to a mass detector Pfeiffer Vacuum Thermostar
• X-ray powder diffractometer
• Absorption spectrophotometer Perkin Elmer Lambda 35 UV/vis with integrating sphere
• Electronic microscopy techniques SEM, TEM, AFM

Equipment for the characterization of electrochemical, optical and solution properties The Institute counts with the scientific tools for the characterization of the electrochemical and optical properties (absorption and fluorescence) of compounds and prepared materials. As it will be discussed later, this allows, fro example, studying the development of electrochemical molecular probes or fluorimetric and colorimetric probes for the recognition and detection of chemical species of interest. In addition, it counts with an automatic valuing equipment used for water solution studies on the determination of complex forming constants with selected metals or anions.

• Fluometer Edinburgh Instruments FS900CDT steady state T-Geometry
• Fluometer Edinburgh Instruments FL900CDT time fix T-Geometry
• Spectophometer Perkin Elmer
• Fluorimeter for filters. Turner
• Luminòmetre, Turner
• Spectophometer UV/vis with diode detector, Hewlett Packard
• Spectophometer UV/vis with diode detector, Agilent 8453
• Spectophometer UV/vis with diode detector, Shimadzu UV-2101PC
• Spectophometer UV/vis with diode detector, Shimadzu UV-2600
• Spectrophometer UV/vis, Pye-Unicam
• Potence/galvanostat AUTOLAB (for compounds’ electrochemical characterization, determination of oxidation and reduction potentials, etc.)
• Automatic valuing equipment with potentiometric detector (for the determination of constants of equilibrium on compound formations between ligands and metals and/or anions)

Equipment for immunoassay techniques. There is a strategic bet by IMQA to launch research, production and exploitation of immunoassay techniques as a selective and advanced analysis systems. The institute has been working on this R&S line for some years now and has the adequate tools to achieve the objectives in this field.

• ELISA board reader through UV/vis detectors, fluorescence, phosphorescence resulted fluorescence in time and luminescence. Wallac
• Camera for CCD for biochip detection
• Special CD reader with biochips
• Equipment for probe and CD printing
• Refrigerated centrifuge with Eppendorf
• Flashing counter with Wallac microbeta
• Intraviral microrscopy equipment with Nikon
• Fluorescence microscope with Leica
• Sample hub with Eppendorf
• Thermocycler with iCycler Bio-Rad
• Unity for cell culture
• Hypoxia bells with Coy
• Equipment of electrophoresis of proteins with Bio-rad
• Bioanalyser with Agilent
• Freezers of -80ºC

Equipment of chemical separation and analysis. One of the Institute of Applied Molecular Chemistry’s capacity is related to chemical analysis. There is a considerable number of PDI in the knowledge field of analytical chemistry which has a contrasted experience in sample analysis from diverse precedence related both to researching tasks and samples to supply enterprises of several sectors which go from environmental to food industries. The equipment for separation and analysis techniques the Institute owns are:

• Spectrometer of atomic absorption Perkin Elmer
• Emission Spectrometry ICP Spectro
• Gas chromatographCarlo Erba Instruments 8000 series coupled with mass detector Traci DSQ
• 2 gas chromatographs Hewlett Packard 5890
• Gas chromatograph Hewlett Packard 5890 Series II with an injector in series
• HLPC with photodioide detector Waters 600
• Gas chromatograph with ECD and FID Fissons detector
• HPLC with detector for UV/vis and luminescence Agilent
• Capillary electrophoresis with detector for UV/vis and Beckman fluorescence
• Iconic chromatography with conductivity detector Dionex
• Tecator digestion block
• Tecator nitrogen analyser
• Gas chromatograph and HPLC with mass detectors

Equipment for the elaboration of electronic devices in thick layers. The hybrid technology group appointed to IQMA has experience on designing and manufacturing electronic devices. Concretely, it is capable of elaborating devices manufactured in thick layers. This technology has a wide field of application and allows developing miniaturized electronic systems and of a low cost, which gives it a marked applied character. The Institute owns the following equipment for the design and manufacturing of electronic devices in thick layers.

• Room with processing screen
• Serigraphy room
• Oven room

Equipment for the development of electronic devices and printed sensors.

• Compressor with Atlas Copco SF 2FF
• Flat exposure unit with BCB 3000w
• Photoploter with FILMSTAR PLUS BUNGARD
• Serigraphy machine with Aurel C900. Semiautomatic and with an lining up system controlled via artificial vision.
• Gravure Printing Mahine with K-printing proofer RK.
• Digital printer JHA421 for horizontal printing with a sliding table
• Milling-drilling machine with BUNGARD CCD/ACT
• Digital oscilloscope with 60MHZ PROMAX OD-576

Equipment for biointeraction characterization

• Interphometer DPI
• Quarts crystal microbalance