LOW LEVEL METALS MICROANALYSIS WITH MONOCHROMATIC X-RAYS

有一些重要的医疗应用将受益于一个系统，该系统可以检测和定位单个细胞中十亿分之一的金属水平，并且具有低功耗，价格合理的封装。这将有助于阿尔茨海默病、帕金森病、前列腺癌的研究以及微量环境污染的调查。提出了一种单色x射线微量分析技术，用于测量标准样品中金属种类的ppb浓度。类似的技术只在昂贵的同步加速器上可行，但在使用一种新的、革命性的双弯曲晶体光学器件的低功耗、低成本系统上是可能的。单色微探针x射线荧光（MMXRF），与这种新的晶体聚焦光学，使用单色光束实现显着降低背景水平，并能够检测生物样品中的金属ppb水平。这个第一阶段的项目将实验演示ppb检测Cr， Mn， Fe和Cd在标准样品中使用Cu K束，并将确定检测限。将评估MMXRF技术用于脑组织中Mn和Fe制图以及前列腺组织中Cd测量的可行性，并提交II期提案，构建优化系统，以提供使用脑组织和其他人体样本的实验数据。建议的商业应用：商业应用将出现在分析实验室和医学研究中心对有毒金属和其他微量元素对生物功能的影响的调查，对低于ppm的重金属污染感兴趣的薄膜和半导体行业，法医学，以及任何其他需要检测能力定位低于ppm浓度的重元素的行业。

There are important medical applications that would benefit from a system which detected and located part per billion metal levels in an individual cell, with a low-power affordable package. This would assist in the research of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, prostate cancer and the investigation of trace level environmental contamination. A microanalysis technique using monochromatic x-rays is proposed for measuring ppb concentrations of metal species in standard samples. Similar techniques that have only been practical with costly synchrotrons are possible with lower power, cost effective systems using a new, revolutionary doubly-curved crystal optic. Monochromatic microprobe x- ray fluorescence (MMXRF), with this new crystal focusing optic, uses the monochromatic beam to achieve significantly lower background levels and is capable of detecting ppb levels of metal in biological samples. This Phase I project will experimentally demonstrate ppb detection of Cr, Mn, Fe, and Cd in standard samples using a Cu K beam, and will determine the detection limits. The feasibility of the MMXRF technique for mapping of Mn and Fe in brain tissue and for measuring Cd in prostate tissue will be evaluated and a Phase II proposal will be submitted to construct an optimized system to provide experimental data using brain tissue and other human samples. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: Commercial applications will be seen in analytical laboratories and medical research centers in their investigation of the effects of toxic metals and other trace elements on biological functions, the thin film and semi-conductor industries who are interested in the sub-ppm contamination of heavy metals, forensics, and any other industries where the detection ability to locate sub ppm concentrations of heavy elements is desired.