Synthesis & Pharmaceutics & Chemical Analysis Lab
Synthesis & Pharmaceutics & Chemical Analysis lab focuses on improving human health by safely and effectively translating new drug into clinical trials using synthetic technology, targeted nano-pharmaceutical technology and quality analysis.
- Drug Synthesis
Synthesizing conjugates of certain nucleic acid aptamers (possessing high specificity and affinity to specificity cell type) and natural products to develop smart drug molecules with both cell-selectivity and intracellular bioactivity for achieving efficacy and safety.
- Drug Delivery
Linking certain nucleic acid aptamers (possessing high specificity and affinity to specificity cell type) with lipid- / polymer-based cargo system to develop targeted delivery system for translating the molecular understandings toward RNA interference-based therapeutics in bone and joint diseases.
- Drug Analysis
Providing expert analysis in all facets of pharmaceutical analysis (including stability, related substances, impurities and active assays, etc.) to establish specification for active pharmaceutic ingredient (API) and formulation according to the instructions provided by FDA or CFDA.
Mr. CL Chan (M.Phil.)
Senior Technical Officer
Mass Spectrometry and Analytical Chemistry
Email: clchan@hkbu.edu.hk
Mr.Alan Ho (M.Phil.)
Senior Technical Instructor
Mass spectrometry
Email: alanhhm@hkbu.edu.hk
Technical Instructor
Pharmaceutical Sciences
Email: lmzhou@hkbu.edu.hk
- Name: Delsa® Nano HC Particle Analyzer
- Location: Rm. 801, SCM
- Technician: Dr. Li Min Zhou (lmzhou@hkbu.edu.hk)
- Description: The DelsaNano series can measure particles as small as 6 Angstrom and as large as 7 micron with molecular weight as small as 267 Dalton in a concentration range from 0.001% to 40%. In addition to zeta potential of particles, zeta potential of bare, treated, or coated solid surfaces such as glass, metal, metal oxide, ceramics, etc. in liquid can be also measured using DelsaNano.
- Name: NLI Liposome Extruder
- Location: Rm. 801, SCM
- Technician: Dr. Li Min Zhou (lmzhou@hkbu.edu.hk)
- Description: The liposome Extruder is designed to generate homogeneous populations of unilamellar vesicles (liposomes) without the need for solvents or detergents. Extrusion is a quick and simple one-step procedure that produces liposomes by forcing aqueous suspensions of lipid through polycarbonate filters with defined pore size. It is relatively gentle, exposing the formulation to moderate pressures (100 – 700 psi) at controlled temperatures which contrasts with homogenization where temperature may fluctuate, and pressures often exceed 18,000 psi. The LIPEX Extruder offers anumber of advantages over alternative lipid manufacturing strategies.
- Name: Freeze Dryer (LABCONCO)
- Location: Rm. 601, SCM
- Technician: Ms. Hilda Cheung (hildacys@hkbu.edu.hk)
- Description: Freeze dry rates for various sample types. Collectors that reach -50° C are available with capacities from 1 to 18 liters. Cascade systems in 2.5, 6 and 12 liter collector capacities that reach -84° C are ideal for freeze drying samples with low eutectic temperatures including ones containing acetonitril.
- Name: FT-IR Spectrometer
- Location: Rm. 801, SCM
- Technician: Dr. Li Min Zhou (lmzhou@hkbu.edu.hk)
- Description: Rapidly screen the quality of raw materials, intermediates and formulated products
- Name: Microcentrifuge 5417R
- Location: Rm. 801, SCM
- Technician: Dr. Li Min Zhou (lmzhou@hkbu.edu.hk)
- Description: (1) T30 x1.5 / 2.0 mL capacity rotor; (2) Speed up to 25,000 x g (16,400 rpm) (3) Compact footprint for use on all lab benches; (4) Low profile design for ergonomic loading / unloading of rotor— allows for complete lid opening under low hanging shelves; (5) Low noise level to benefit your work environment; (6) Back lit, full-digit display for easy reading; (7) Automatic rotor recognition and imbalance detection for maximum safety; (8) Temperature range from –9°C to 40°C; (9) FastTemp function for fastest pre-cooling and maximum temperature accuracy; (10) Standby cooling maintains temperature when centrifuge is no tin use
- Name: Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatograph with Tripe Qquadrupole Mass Spectrometer (UHPLC-QqQ MS / MS)
- Location: Rm. 707, SCM
- Contact: Mr. CL Chan (clchan@hkbu.edu.hk)
- Description: Meeting our quantitative needs with triple quadrupole performance which gives superior sensitivity, renowned performance reliability, and easy up gradeability. The Agilent 6400 Series Triple Quadrupole LC / MS Systems are the proven choice for quantitative applications in pharmaceutical ADME / DMPK studies, biomarker validation, clinical research, food safety, forensics, toxicology and environmental analysis.
- Name: Gas Chromatograph with Electron Capture Detector (GC-ECD)
- Location: Rm. 707, SCM
- Contact: Mr. CL Chan (clchan@hkbu.edu.hk)
- Description: (1) Agilent 6890 offers a complete selection of inlets: split / splitless, purged-packed, cool on-column, PTV and volatiles interface.
(2) A wide selection of the most sensitive detectors including flame ionization (FID), thermal conductivity (TCD), NPD, micro-ECD, MSD and HP 5972, HP 5973 Mass Selective Detectors.
(3) Early maintenance feedback (EMF) alerts you when upkeep is due.
(4) Several alternative sample introduction techniques including headspace, purge and trap and valving.
(5) Equipped with Electronic Pneumatics Control (EPC) feature.
- Name: UltiMate 3000（DIONEX）
- Location: Rm. 609, SCM
- Technician: Ms. Hilda Cheung (hildacys@hkbu.edu.hk)
- Description: The UltiMate 3000 HPLC system offers UHPLC compatibility across all modules, ensuring maximum performance for all users and all laboratories.
Covering flows from 20 nL/min to 10 mL/min and offering a wide range of pumping, sampling, and detection modules, the UltiMate 3000 series provides solutions for all your chromatography needs.
- Name: Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatograph with Diode Array Detector (UHPLC-DAD)
- Location: Rm. 708, SCM
- Contact: Mr. Y Tao (mrtaoyi@hkbu.edu.hk)
- Description: The Agilent 1260 Infinity Diode Array Detector (DAD) features a completely new optical design based on the Agilent Max-Light cartridge cell with optofluidic waveguides.
With typical detector noise levels of <± 0.6 µAU/cm, the revolutionary 6 cm flow cell gives up to 10 times higher sensitivity than the Agilent 1200 Series DAD and VWD detectors.
Any compromising refractive index and thermal effects are almost completely eliminated, resulting in significantly less baseline drift for more reliable and precise peak integration.
Multiple wavelength and full spectral detection with up to 80 Hz data rates allows precise identification, quantification and purity analysis at trace levels for ultra-fast LC separations.
- Name: Fourier Transform Mid- / Near-Infrared Spectrometer (FT-IR)
- Location: Rm. 708, SCM
- Contact: Mr. Y Tao (mrtaoyi@hkbu.edu.hk)
- Description: Very high levels of spectroscopic performance, offering the highest levels of sensitivity.
Four separate sampling and detector areas combined with a broad range of upgrades provide the highest level of advanced applications flexibility.
Every Spectrum GX has fully upgradeable, interchangeable optics to provide optimized performance from the Near-IR right down to the Far-IR region.
- Name: Thin Layer Chromatograph Visualiser and Digital Documentation System (CAMAG Reprostar 3)
- Location: Rm. 708, SCM
- Contact: Mr. CL Chan (clchan@hkbu.edu.hk)
- Description: (1) UV254, UV302 & UV366 visible light excitation.
(2) Camera records the images to the Dell laptop where the Wincats software enables the image to be interpreted and stored for future reference.
(3) Access door 370mm x 125mm.
(4) Timer 260 mins and constant.
(5) Dell Latitude 120 Laptop with Wincats software, s/n 1307W007. Supplied with transformer / charger.
- Name: Thin Layer Chromatograph Scanner
- Location: Rm. 708, SCM
- Contact: Mr. CL Chan (clchan@hkbu.edu.hk)
- Description: Classical densitometry with the CAMAG Scanner 3 offers highest accuracy for quantitative evaluation.
The complete spectral range from 190nm to 800nm can be utilised for evaluation.
CAMAG TLC Scanner 3 with the software 'winCATS Planar Chromatography Manager' is the most advanced work station for densitometric evaluation of planar chromatograms.
- Name: Tablet Presser
- Location: Rm. 801, SCM
- Contact: Dr. Li Min Zhou (lmzhou@hkbu.edu.hk)
- Description: This is a single punch tablet press and can manufacture tablets and odd shaped products with a diameter of up to 20 mm at a maximum of 4000 per hour.
It operates automatically i.e. the tablets are filled, pressed and ejected continuously.
The compression force is up to three tons and the filling depth is up to 15 mm.
- Name: Dissolution Tester
- Location: Rm. 801, SCM
- Contact: Dr. Li Min Zhou (lmzhou@hkbu.edu.hk)
- Description: Dissolution tests using the VK7025 determine the rate at which the active ingredients in a dosage form become bio-available — a key test in quality control laboratories and stability testing to ensure consistency of the manufacturing process.
- Name: Spray Dryer
- Location: Rm. 801, SCM
- Contact: Dr. Li Min Zhou (lmzhou@hkbu.edu.hk)
- Description: (1) In hot air stream, 95% to 98% of moisture can be evaporated immediately.
(2) Quick drying speed: the surface area of material liquid through atomizing is greatly increased.
(3) Product has good uniformity, fluidity, solubility, high purity and quality.
(4) For liquid containing 0–60% moisture (up to 90% for special cases), it can be dried to powder in one step.
(5) No need to crush or sieve after drying, reducing production procedures.
(6) Size, bulk density, and moisture of the product can be adjusted by changing operating conditions.
(7) Large capacity with operational flexibility.
(8) No high requirement for factory buildings.
- Name: 20L Rotary Evaporator
- Location: Rm. 801, SCM
- Contact: Dr. Li Min Zhou (lmzhou@hkbu.edu.hk)
- Description: The Heidolph large scale evaporators of the Laborota 20 series are perfectly designed for a wide range of distillation processes—from standard evaporation without vacuum control to complex distillation processes with vacuum control.
Aspects such as safety, convenience, and cost savings have been carefully considered in the development of these large scale evaporators, which is reflected in various unique product advantages.
- Name: Thermo Scientific Barnstead Electrothermal 9000
- Location: Rm. 802, SCM
- Technician: Alan HO
- Description: (1) Used in the production of medicines, dye stuffs, perfumes, and other organic crystal substances.
(2) Uses PID & PWM to control the temperature.
(3) Automatically records the melting curve.
(4) Measures three samples at the same time and calculates the average value of initial and final melting points automatically.
(5) Melting-point measurement range: room temperature to 400 °C.
(6) Minimum digital display: 0.1 °C.
- Name: Sample Preparative HPLC System
- Location: Rm. 802, SCM
- Technician: Alan HO
- Description: (1) Low dwell volume allows fast, reproducible gradients.
(2) Off-bed collection racks allow for true large-scale fraction collection into vessels of your choice without sacrificing bed space.
(3) Injection of up to 15g per run depending on column dimensions.
(4) The 30X Pump Series, configured as injection pumps, can inject volumes up to several liters to maximize sample loading on preparative HPLC columns.
(5) The GX Direct Injection Module features an innovative injection port design that attaches directly to the injection valve, reducing void volumes and minimizing carryover associated with calibrated connection tubing.
(6) Max. Pressure: 5000 psi (Injection Pressure), 3040 psi (Pump Pressure).
- Name: JASCO P-1010 Polarimeter
- Location: Rm. 802, SCM
- Technician: Alan HO
- Description: (1) Measures specific rotation, optical rotation, sugar degree, and concentration.
(2) Automatic repetition measurement for 6 times with average value and mean square root calculation.
(3) Sample chamber features constant temperature design to reduce heating effect on measurements.
(4) Capable of measuring dark-colored samples.
(5) No pre-warming required after power-on.
- Name: Bruker Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry
- Location: Rm. 802, SCM
- Technician: Alan HO
- Description: (1) Configures a double-pump transfusion system and a high-pressure flow path selecting valve system.
(2) Analyzes samples according to set LC-MS/MS conditions.
(3) The method detects morphine, O6-monoacetylmorphine, codeine, and acetylcodeine in urine with a detection limit of 0.3–1 ng/mL. The correlation coefficient (γ) is above 0.9991, showing favorable linearity.
(4) Urine samples can be directly injected and analyzed without pretreatment, simplifying procedures and saving costs.
(5) Available mobile phases: water; water + 0.1% formic acid + 5% acetonitrile; methanol; acetonitrile + 0.1% formic acid.
