MRI: Acquisition of an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer for interdisciplinary applications in science and technology

该奖项由重大研究仪器计划(MRI)颁发，并得到生命过程化学(CLP)和化学研究仪器(CRIF)计划的额外支持，用于资助维克森林大学购买电感耦合等离子体质谱仪(ICPMS)。该仪器是一种强大的分析工具，可用于测定各种来源的样品中的微量元素。该仪器使合作的跨学科研究能够阐明微量元素在不同的化学、生物和环境过程中的影响和作用。由于其高灵敏度和多元素分析能力，微波消解电感耦合等离子体质谱(MAD)在从环境科学和政策到半导体和材料科学、食品生产和生物医药等领域都是必不可少的。该仪器与温斯罗普大学和温斯顿-塞勒姆州立大学共享用于教学和研究。该提议旨在加强研究，特别是在下列领域：(A)研究放牧生态系统中饲草养分的可用性；(B)将铂配合物用作治疗和细胞探针；(C)监测北卡罗来纳州夏洛特地区Catawba流域内的金属和植物修复；(D)将电感耦合等离子体质谱应用于骨质疏松症的早期诊断；(E)研究革兰氏阳性细菌中金属酶的生物发生和功能；以及(F)对药物制剂中的微量元素进行标准稀释分析。

This award, from the Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI) with additional support from the Chemistry of Life Processes (CLP) and Chemistry Research Instrumentation (CRIF) Programs, funds the acquisition of an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) by Wake Forest University. The instrument is a powerful analytical tool to determine trace elements in samples from various sources. The instrumentation enables collaborative interdisciplinary research to elucidate the effects and roles of trace elements in diverse chemical, biological and environmental processes. Because of its high sensitivity and multi-element capabilities, ICP-MS with microwave assisted digestion (MAD) is essential in fields from environmental science and policy to semiconductor and material sciences, food production, and biomedical industries. Use of the instrument is shared with Winthrop University and Winston-Salem State University for teaching and research. It is employed in several outreach projects involving middle and high school students.The proposal is aimed at enhancing research especially in areas such as: (a) studying the availability of forage nutrients in grazing ecosystems; (b) using platinum complexes as therapeutics and cellular probes; (c) monitoring metals and phytoremediation across the Catawba watershed in the Charlotte, NC, region; (d) applying ICP-MS to the early diagnosis of osteoporosis; (e) studying the biogenesis and function of metalloenzymes in Gram-positive bacteria; and (f) carrying out standard dilution analysis for trace element determination in medicine formulations.