ODDL operates in the Schools of Pharmacy and Ophthalmology located within the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland. The laboratory has access to facilities and techniques for a wide range of physical and chemical methods of drug development (e.g. qualitative and quantitative methods for chemical analyses of drugs, metabolites and excipients; particle sizes determination; osmotic pressure; viscosity; freeze drying; sterile manufacturing; differential scanning calorimetry), and methods for molecular interaction studies (e.g. thermophoresis) and microscopic methods (confocal, electron microscopy). Also, the laboratories host molecular biology and genetics methods (e.g. DNA, RNA and protein analyses) and well-equipped cell culture facilities. The analytical laboratory has two high-resolution LC-MS (liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry) instruments (LC-qTOF-MS), LC-Orbitrap-MS (Q-Exactive Focus), and two LC-QQQ-MS instruments.

In vivo studies are performed in the Laboratory Animal Centre, which is a part of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Eastern Finland. ODDL hosts the following instruments.

• Electroretinography (ERG) measures the functions of the retina in vivo, including activity of photoreceptors. The measurements can be run with mice, rats and rabbits.
• Optical coherence tomography (OCT) for mice and rats is used for cross section and 3D imaging of retina and cornea. This option will also soon be available for rabbits.
• Fluorescein angiography (FAG) images retinal blood vessels in mice and rats. This will become available for rabbits later this year.
• Fundus photography visualizes the main structures of central and peripheral retina and optic disc. The camera includes two types of coloured filters (red and green).
• Fluorotron (in vivo fluorophotometry) measures fluorescence in the eye and can be used for the following applications: blood retinal barrier permeability, blood aqueous barrier permeability, lens autofluorescence, aqueous humor turnover, corneal autofluorescence, corneal epithelial permeability, tear turnover, and ocular surface retention of materials. The device is most suitable for measurements of macromolecules and nanoparticles with a green fluorescent label. Fluorotron is used with rats and rabbits.
• Health of the surface of the cornea and conjunctiva is monitored with microscopy studies.
• Intraocular pressure is measured with tonometer.

If you need any further information, please contact our experts seppo.auriola(at)uef.fi, arto.urtti(at)uef.fi and marika.ruponen(at)uef.fi