UNLOCK large-scale open infrastructure for microbial research provides access to unique facilities and state-of-the-art equipment that allows you to conduct innovative experiments and tackle novel research questions particularly on microbial communities. UNLOCK is set up and maintained by microbial scientists from TU Delft and Wageningen University & Research, who are also at hand to provide expertise and technical support. The facilities are easily accessible to researchers from all over the world and highly subsidized for academic users.
UNLOCK is funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) as part of the National Roadmap for Large-Scale Research Facilities (project 184.035.007)
Raman Assisted Microfluidic Cell Sorting Unit
The Raman Assisted Microfluidic Cell Sorting Unit enables the sorting and characterization of cells from a targeted population of interest for downstream cultivation. The system is composed of four main units: a Raman microscope, optical tweezers, a microfluidic cell sorter, and a single-cell cultivation chamber. Single cells are trapped while flowing through a microfluidic device using integrated optical tweezers. Raman interference determines whether the cell has a characteristic of interest (e.g., isotopic labeling), which is then used to sort or discard the cell. Individual cells can be characterized and sorted based on functional characteristics and genetic identity within a complex microbial community. Using the Biodiscovery Platform, sorted single cells can be cultured for downstream analyses.
MicroWriter ML3 Pro
The MicroWriter ML3 Pro is an advanced benchtop photolithography system that allows precision patterning in applications such as microfluidics, MEMS, and advanced micro-optical systems. With this tool, we can generate microfluidic chips with minimum feature sizes of 0.6 μm, with an optional resolution of 0.4 μm, all at very high writing speeds. This makes it an ideal choice for rapid prototyping and for creating complex designs for downstream single-cell cultivation, phenotyping, and genotyping
