THE SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF TWO ULTRA-FAST MAS PROBES FOR NMR SPECTROSCOPY OF BIOSOLIDS AT 1.2 GHZ - UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM

The University of Birmingham invites tenders for the supply and installation of two ultra-fast magic-angle-spinning (MAS) triple-resonance probes to be used in combination with a Bruker 1.2-GHz NMR spectrometer and 54mm standard-bore Ascend 1200 magnet. Both probes are intended to be used primarily for 1H-detected double- and triple-resonance NMR of semi-solid biological samples under conditions of ultra-fast MAS (>100 kHz). The probes should be different with respect to their sample volumes (and therefore rotor-diameters and maximum achievable MAS rates). The first probe should ideally have a sample volume of 900 µL (or greater) and be capable of a MAS rate of 100 kHz (or faster). The second probe should ideally have a sample volume of 250 uL (or greater) and be capable of a MAS rate of 150 kHz (or faster). Both probes should be optimized for 1H sensitivity and should permit a 1H/13C/15N triple-resonance channel-configuration, and the probe with the larger sample volume should additionally permit a 1H/13C/31P channel-configuration. In addition to the probes themselves, the equipment package should include the following items: - A dedicated MAS control unit. - All accessories, mounting elements and electronic and pneumatic adaptors/interconnectors required for temperature-controlled operation of the probes with the latest-generation Bruker 1.2 GHz NMR magnet and spectrometer. - Rotor-handling station(s)/kit(s) to facilitate loading and removal of wet, semi-solid biological samples into the MAS rotors (including centrifugal adaptors). - Pre-filled test rotors required for probe installation, testing and optimization. - Sets of empty rotors and caps.