MRI: Acquisition of A MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometer for Accurate Mass Determination of Biomolecules

这一拟议的重大研究仪器(MRI)项目的意义在于填补现有的缺乏科学设备的空白，推动多学科研究，并促进南泽西地区的教育和外联活动。多所学校和研究所将从购买设备中受益，包括来自罗格斯-卡姆登大学、罗文大学和卡姆登联合健康科学中心(JHSC)7个不同部门的16个关键用户实验室。潜在影响包括加强卡姆登地区代表不足/少数族裔学生的STEM外联活动；促进本科生和研究生的课堂教学、体验式学习和研究培训；促进当地学校和行业合作伙伴之间的合作。拟议的设备还将与现有设施对接，以加强罗格斯大学卡姆登科学测量核心设施的设置。将根据用户数量、出版物产品、会议介绍、赠款奖、班级参与度、外联活动和其他科学传播活动来评价工具使用的成功。该项目服务于NSF的利益和使命，以促进科学进步，促进国家健康、繁荣和福利，并确保国防安全。MALDI-TOF仪器用于分析各种大分子生物分子，如核苷酸、多肽、蛋白质和多糖。收购该仪器将支持仿生自组装、细胞生物化学、蛋白质化学、新型生物材料、纳米材料、法医分析和分子传感等领域的多学科研究计划和学生教育，以及增加对健康相关机制的知识。该仪器将促进多个研究和推广项目，包括：(1)用于开发仿生组件和智能反应堆的生物分子修饰和连接的表征；(2)生物材料和生物聚合物的开发；(3)纳米颗粒的合成、组装和输送；(4)用于研究细胞功能和活动的增强的双分子表征；(5)用于法医体液鉴定的强化方法；(6)用于双分子功能的多肽和蛋白质的表征；(7)加强研究推广和培训。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The significance of this proposed Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) project is to fill in the existing gap of lacking scientific equipment to advance multidisciplinary research and to promote educational and outreach activities in the South Jersey area. Multiple schools and institutes will be benefited from acquiring the equipment, including 16 key user labs from 7 different departments at Rutgers-Camden, Rowan University and the Joint Health Sciences Center (JHSC) in Camden. The potential impacts include the enhancement of STEM outreach for under-represented/minority students in the Camden area; advancement of classroom teaching, experiential learning and research training for undergraduates and graduate students; the promotion of collaboration within local schools and industrial partners. The proposed equipment will also interface with existing facilities to enhance the setup of a core facility of Scientific Measurements at Rutgers University-Camden. The success of instrumental use will be evaluated by the number of users, product of publications, conference presentations, grant awards, class participation, outreach activities and other scientific disseminations. This project serves the interest and mission of NSF to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity and welfare; and to secure the national defense. The MALDI-TOF instrument is used for the analysis of various high molecular-weight biomolecules, such as nucleotides, peptides proteins and polysaccharides. The acquisition of this instrument will support multidisciplinary research programs and student education in the fields of biomimetic self-assembly, cellular biochemistry, protein chemistry, novel biomaterials, nanomaterials, forensic analysis and molecular sensing, as well as increasing knowledge of health-relevant mechanisms. Multiple research and outreach projects will be enhanced by this instrument, including: (1) Characterization of biomolecule modification and conjugation for developing biomimetic assemblies and smart reactors; (2) Development of biomaterials and biopolymers; (3) Nanoparticles synthesis, assembly and delivery; (4) Enhanced bimolecular characterization for studying cellular functions and activities; (5) Enhanced methods for forensic body fluid identification; (6) Characterization of peptides and proteins for bimolecular function; (7) Enhancement of research outreach and training.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.