Acquisition of Monolith X instrument, a Microscale thermophoresis instrument, for research and teaching at Hampton University

The Monolith X instrument is a biomolecular analysis tool that can assay binding kinetics across a wide range of biochemical and chemical samples using microscale thermophoresis (MST) technology. The instrument will primarily be used for both research and teaching at Hampton University (HU). Hampton University is a Carnegie R2-designated mid-sized research institution in Virginia with over 4200 enrolled students. Approximately 87% of the students at HU are undergraduates. The University’s strategic plan “Elevating Hampton Excellence 2023-2033” underscores a need to increase research and innovation at the institution. One of the foci of the university’s strategic plan aims to provide healthcare solutions. Acquisition of the Monolith X instrument will contribute to the development of new drugs for diseases of concern such as drug resistant malaria and breast cancer. The instrument will be housed within the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the instrumentation laboratory on the third floor of Turner Hall. Users of the instrument will include personnel from the Department of Chemistry/Biochemistry, Biological Sciences and Chemical Engineering. The instrument will be used to measure binding affinities for specific research programs including Plasmodial falciparum heat shock protein drug prospecting, molecular protein to protein interactions in P19 pluripotent stem cells, studying the process of TiO2 nanoparticles endocytosis and binding affinity of anti-carcinogenic bioactive plant compounds. In addition, the Monolith X instrument will be incorporated into CUREs curriculum for several courses including Techniques in Molecular Genetics (BIO 404), Pre-medical Biology II (MSD 612), Medical Physiology (MSD 655), Biochemistry I and II (CHE 501-502), Bioorganic Chemistry (CHE 508), Physical Chemistry I (CHE 401), Advanced Analytical Chemistry (CHE 408) and Research Problems (BIO 505). The objective is to expose students to state of the art instrumentation used in medical research. This experience will motivate students to pursue research careers in the medical sciences. As a result of acquiring the Monolith X instrument, the research enterprise at Hampton University in biomedical sciences will be enhanced leading to a transformation of the caliber of research performed at the university. Presently, there are no instruments of a similar design and capacity such as surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and isothermal titration calorimeter (ITC) on the university campus.