LABORATORY
OF THE MONTH
Eight-Story Building Houses Abbott's Drug a n d Chemical Research Activities EIGHT-STORY GLASS AND ALUA NMINUM STRUCTURE a t A b b o t t
Laboratories' N o r t h Chicago, 111., headquarters provides t h e center for t h e company's drug and chemical research activities as well as a large portion of the control and development functions. W h e n dedicated two years ago, the new structure containing 225,000 square feet, doubled t h e space available for the company's scientific facilities. About 650 persons, more t h a n half of them professional scientists, are active in the Abbott research and development efforts. During the last five years there has been a doubling of the research and development budget a n d personnel. T h e company's R and D costs were $10.4 million in 1962 and are expected to rise to $11.6 million in 1063. I n t h e new building, laboratories generally are arranged along each side of a central service section containing pipes and conduits. This allows great flexibility in arranging or moving laboratories as need arises. Interior walls of laboratories a n d offices a r e constructed of metal framework and panels t h a t can be moved easily and inexpensively if changes should become necessary. A four-story wing t o t h e building is constructed so t h a t it can b e expanded upward in the future. Eightstory additions also can be erected t h a t would result in a building three times as large as the present eight-story wing. Current projects under way in t h e A b b o t t research center include diseases of the heart and circulatory systems, mental illnesses, infectious diseases, metabolic studies, allergies, e n docrinology, animal health products and industrial chemicals. Receiving more emphasis t h a n ever before a r e basic investigations of nucleic acids, the chemical n a t u r e of cancer, biochemistry of antibiotics, enzymes, brain metabolism, nerve regeneration, a n d body defense mechanisms. Analytical services a r e diversified throughout various d e p a r t m e n t s a t Abb o t t Laboratories. As a consequence, much of the analytical work in the early research stages of t h e development of a potential new product is conducted in the research d e p a r t m e n t concerned. This not only provides faster analysis b u t is p a r t l y based on the philosophy
Continuous screening for new antibiotic-producing micro-organisms from soil samples collected throughout the world is speeded by quick identification of families of micro-organisms that have merely been "rediscovered." Paper chromatography, using several solvents, gives routine identification of antibiotics and sorts out promising new ones for testing
t h a t process knowledge is essential for proper interpretation of analytical results. However, instruments and services requiring specialized skills such as x-ray fluorescence and diffraction, emission spectrography, infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, and microchemist r y are centralized. As the product proceeds t o the m a r keting stage, more of the analytical research and requests for service become centralized in the Analytical Research D e p a r t m e n t which is p a r t of the Quality Control Division. T h e Analytical Research D e p a r t m e n t has three major functions: first to develop suitable analvtical methods for the Chemical Con-
trol D e p a r t m e n t , second t o provide analytical control for compounds under clinical investigation, and third to provide analytical services t o other areas within the company. Because analytical problems v a r y depending on the t y p e of sample, the dep a r t m e n t is organized into groups t o handle t h e analysis of drugs and chemicals, formulations, trace analysis, and development samples. P r i m a r y emphasis is placed on using the best technique to solve the problem rather t h a n fitting the problem t o a specific technique. Although instruments are used extensively a s a means t o a n end, much use is made of wet chemistry. VOL. 3 5 , NO.
13, DECEMBER 1963
·
91 A
The operation of a buffer evaluation apparatus is observed by an analytical chemist. The apparatus tests the effectiveness of buffer compounds in main taining the pH in body fluids
An Erweka tester is being evaluated for its control and research applica tions to the determination of release time of sustained release prepara tions. The preparation is treated with a solution that simulates gastro intestinal tract fluid in the body. With the instrument, samples of the solu tion are withdrawn at timed intervals to determine concentration of active ingredients released •
Thin layer chromatographic tech niques and qualitative tests for various functional groups are used to characterize and identify drugs and their degradation products ψ
92 A
·
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
Analog computer simulates biological systems for research purposes. On the computer is an equation repre senting a system that returns to normal (for example a heart beat that slows down to its usual pace after having speeded up because of ex ercise or excitement). The pattern is traced at left on paper and at far right on the oscilloscope -ψ
WACO
TITRATOR
. . . for Karl Fischer
Moistures
Newest addition to the Abbott Research Center is this eight-story building. A full penthouse accommodates ventilating and air conditioning equipment for the entire building. Basement contains lecture hall, centralized storerooms and laboratory services, and glass blowing shop in addition to other laboratories. Not shown is four-story wing
LABORATORY O F THE
MONTH
Radio-iodine-131 samples, from diagnostic studies, are automatically counted by a gamma programmer, and results are printed on tape. Efficiency and versatility of this type of instrumentation in radiochemical analysis release the analytical chemist for nonroutine work
)fe^tt^ At $290.00 complete, the new W A C O for Karl Fischer moisture determinations
now
features
NO-DIP, BALL JOINT Pyrex glassware . . . plus Drain Flask, W A C O magnetic stirrer . . . for application!
every
Hundreds of users
of the original W A C O may also modernize as parts are INTERCHANGEABLE!
WACO TITRATOR BULLETIN describes this low cost accurate titrator and the new Reservoir, the Drain Flash and magnetic stirrer shown above.
WHITE FOR WACO TITRATOR BULLETIN LABORATORY SUPPLIES A N D EQUIPMENT
WILKENS-ANDERSON 4525 W . D I V I S I O N 5T.
CO.
C H I C A G O S I , ILL.
Circle No. 111 on Readers' Service Card VOL. 3 5 , N O . 13, DECEMBER 1963
·
93 A
