Opening the black box: Imaging nanoparticle transport with magnetic resonance imaging

打开黑匣子：利用磁共振成像对纳米颗粒传输进行成像

• 批准号: NE/G010269/1
• 负责人: Vernon Phoenix
• 金额: $ 2.96万
• 依托单位: University of Glasgow
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2009 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=NE%2FG010269%2F1
• 关键词: Opening; black; box; Imaging; nanoparticle

Understanding the transport of nanoparticles through porous geologic material is imperative to provide effective prediction and mitigation of nanoparticlulate pollution. Often, packed column experiments containing rock, sediment or soil are used to quantify how nanoparticles move through these media. Whilst highly informative, the data obtained is a bulk average of a complex and heterogeneous array of interactions within the column. Like natural systems, the material within the column will display complex heterogeneities in geometry, hydrodynamics and microbiology. Problematically, because this material is not 'see-through' we cannot look inside to directly visualize how these heterogeneities impact the transport of the nanoparticle. This, however, can change. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a highly versatile tool which can image pore structure and fluid flow in opaque geological material. Moreover, molecules labelled with a paramagnetic tag are readily visible to MRI enabling their transport through porous systems to be imaged in real time. Such technology is heavily used in the medical sciences to track the transport of molecules of interest in human and other mammalian systems. In this study we propose to use MRI and nanoparticles labelled with a paramagnetic tag to image nanoparticulate transport and fate in packed columns. Experiments will also be performed on the same material after biofilms have been allowed to grow in the pore networks (the biofilms are expected to behave as major sinks for the nanoparticles). Critically, this will demonstrate how such a method can be used to reveal how the complex heterogeneities in these systems contribute to the overall bulk transport of nanoparticulates. Ultimately, this technique will enable researchers to probe nanoparticulate transport in complex systems and moreover, to develop well-founded predictive models of nanoparticulate transport.

了解纳米颗粒在多孔地质材料中的传输对于有效预测和缓解纳米颗粒污染是非常必要的。通常，含有岩石、沉积物或土壤的填充柱实验被用来量化纳米颗粒如何通过这些介质。虽然信息量很大，但所获得的数据是柱内复杂且不同种类的交互作用的总体平均值。像自然系统一样，柱子内的材料将在几何、流体动力学和微生物学方面表现出复杂的异质性。问题是，因为这种材料不是“透明的”，我们不能直接观察内部，以直观地看到这些异质性如何影响纳米粒子的传输。然而，这种情况是可以改变的。磁共振成像(MRI)是一种高度通用的工具，可以成像不透明地质材料中的孔隙结构和流体流动。此外，磁共振成像可以很容易地看到标记有顺磁性标签的分子，从而使它们在多孔系统中的传输能够实时成像。这种技术在医学科学中被广泛用于跟踪人类和其他哺乳动物系统中感兴趣的分子的运输。在这项研究中，我们建议使用磁共振成像和用顺磁标签标记的纳米颗粒来成像纳米颗粒在填充柱中的传输和命运。在允许生物膜在孔隙网络中生长后，也将在相同的材料上进行实验(生物膜预计将成为纳米颗粒的主要下沉)。关键的是，这将展示如何使用这种方法来揭示这些系统中复杂的异质性如何有助于纳米颗粒的整体整体传输。最终，这项技术将使研究人员能够探索复杂系统中的纳米颗粒运输，此外，还将开发出有充分依据的纳米颗粒运输预测模型。

项目成果

Characterization of nanoparticle transport through quartz and dolomite gravels by magnetic resonance imaging

通过磁共振成像表征纳米粒子通过石英和白云石砾石的传输

• DOI: 10.1007/s13762-015-0767-4
• 发表时间: 2015
• 期刊: International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology
• 影响因子: 3.1
• 作者: Lakshmanan S

Nanoparticle transport in saturated porous medium using magnetic resonance imaging

使用磁共振成像在饱和多孔介质中纳米粒子的传输

• DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2014.12.076
• 发表时间: 2015
• 期刊: Chemical Engineering Journal
• 影响因子: 15.1
• 作者: Lakshmanan S