The Structural Biophysics (SB) facility provides support with state of the art biophysical instrumentation to IIT and external research activities in a variety of fields, ranging from drug discovery to material science, and neuroscience. Facility staff offers support in the design and execution of ad hoc experiments for the characterization of macromolecules (DNA, RNA, proteins), small molecules and new materials (catalyst, sensors). Biophysical and structural characterization of a plethora of interactions, including protein-small molecules, protein-protein, interactions with DNA, RNA, aptamers and antibodies are routinely performed by the facility, working with cells, cells lysates or with in-house purified recombinant proteins. Molecular biology activities, biochemical and in-cell assays as well as metabolomics analyses are part of the routine work of the facility.

Available instruments include three systems for proteins purification, Microscale Thermophoresis (MST), Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR), Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC) instruments, and a Bruker FT NMR Avance III 600 MHz spectrometer, equipped with a 5 mm CryoProbe™ QCI ¹H/¹⁹F–¹³C/¹⁵N–D and an automatic sample changer SampleJet™ with temperature control. A Mosquito Xtal3 for crystallization drop setup is also available for protein crystallization.