High Pressure Freezer (lot#1) Cryo Handling System (lot#2) Freeze Substitution Unit lot(#3)

LOT no. 1: Essential Features: Instrumentation - HIGH PRESSURE FREEZER The requirement is for a high pressure freezer capable of the rapid freezing of biological samples. This should allow the near instantaneous immobilisation of all molecular components in vitrified ice to avoid the introduction of structural artefacts in samples up to 200 µm thick. The samples prepared using this method should then be amenable to further processing or introduction into analytical techniques operating in in high or ultra-high vacuum, including an IONTOF time of flight and Orbitrap secondary ion mass spectrometry, FEI scanning electron microscopy, FIB, TEM, etc. The instrument should be capable of high pressure freezing of biological samples including but not limited to mammalian and microbial cells (e.g. macrophages and stem cells, bacteria and biofilms) and tissue biopsy samples and sections.

LOT no. 2: Essential Features: Instrumentation - CRYO-SAMPLE HANDLING / TRANSFER SYSTEM. The requirement is for sample handling capabilities under cryo-conditions capable of sample manipulation under cryo-conditions following high pressure freezing. This system will then enable the transfer of samples into high and ultra-high vacuum ultra-high vacuum, including an IONTOF time of flight and Orbitrap secondary ion mass spectrometry, FEI scanning electron microscopy, FIB, TEM, etc., whilst maintaining the samples in the frozen hydrated state. Cryo/vacuum-sample transfer chamber should be available under appropriate vacuum and temperature conditions, and within a timely manner, to avoid sublimation and devitrification.

LOT no. 3: Essential Features: Instrumentation - FREEZE SUBSTITUTION SYSTEM An automatic reagent handling system delivering freeze substitution and low temperature embedding capabilities to samples which have undergone high pressure freezing.

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Funding Description

EPSRC

Is a Recurrent Procurement Type? : No