Metabonomics

Metabonomics is a multi-parametric technique for studying metabolites in biological fluids for the purpose of metabolic profiling for biomarker and diagnostic applications, and to study the effects of environmental stimuli (diet, weight loss, exercise) and other therapeutic applications (lifestyle modification and drug effects) on the metabolome. Metabonomics is one of the newest members of the “omics” family that has the advantage of a closer alliance with our biological phenotypes than either the genome or proteome. The technique has proved highly informative in applications that include toxicology, pharmacology, and the biomedical sciences.

Services Provided

We provide a range of metabolic profiling services that include the analysis of blood analytes (clinical chemistry analyser- ILab 650) and lipoprotein profiling (by iodixanol gradient ultracentrifuge technique). Metabolic profiling using UPLC-QToF MS or NMR is currently under development and as such, is only applicable to our internal research studies.

An automated clinical chemistry analyser (ILab 650 – Instrumentation Laboratory, UK) which uses photometry for in vitro quantification of analytes in biological fluids.  Any assay that employs absorbance or optical density as a measure of detection is appropriate for use on the ILab 650. Typical assays in routine use include total cholesterol, glucose, triacylglycerol, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), high density lipoprotein (HDL), apolipoprotein A-I and B. The ILab 650 is designed as an open channel system that is suitable for the development of specific assays of choice.  

Plasma lipoprotein subclasses can be separated and identified using iodixanol gradient density ultracentrifugation coupled with digital photography (Davies et al., 2003).

Costs

The clinical analyser is available to use for both internal and external clients, with prior arrangement. The cost associated with using the analyser depends on the type of assay and number of samples to be analysed. Please use the contact below for exact pricing enquiry.

For lipoprotein profiling and all other enquiries, please contact Dr Francesca Robertson at the address below.

Contact

Dr. Francesca Robertson
f.robertson@surrey.ac.uk
Nutritional Sciences Division,
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences,
University of Surrey,
Guildford, GU2 7XH, UK.
Tel. 01483 68 4732