CoreMiS - Multimodal Correlative Microscopy and Spectroscopy for Advanced Environmental Science Research

CoreMiS - 用于高级环境科学研究的多模相关显微镜和光谱学

• 批准号: NE/X00581X/1
• 负责人: Gbotemi Adediran
• 金额: $ 95.55万
• 依托单位: UK CENTRE FOR ECOLOGY & HYDROLOGY
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2022 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=NE%2FX00581X%2F1
• 关键词: CoreMiS; Multimodal; Correlative; Microscopy; Spectroscopy

Whilst the research community possesses individual tools to visually examine nanoparticles with e.g. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), detect elemental compositions with Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and interrogate chemical structure via Raman Spectroscopy, these have yet to be pulled together to create a much more powerful and dedicated tool for the routine analysis of nanoparticles and nano-scale chemical reactions. Although there are traditional SEM-EDS, it is not able to extract details of the bonding of atoms, which would disclose the chemical nature of the molecules in a sample.RISE-EDS is a recent achievement in multimodal correlative microscopy and spectroscopy. It is the full integration of a (i) WITec 3D confocal Raman microscope into a (ii) ZEISS field emission Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) that is enabled with an (iii) Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) detector, as one analytical suite. RISE-EDS has the unique analytical capacity for combined/simultaneous (i) physical characterisation (size/shape), (ii) semi-quantitative multi-elemental (e.g., C, N, P, K, Ti, Cr, Cu, Zn, Pd, Ag, Cd, Hg) quantification and (iii) chemical speciation characterisation (e.g. identification of polymer compounds) of biological/organic and inorganic samples, from a microscopic to a nanoscopic resolution. Samples that ranges from plant roots, soil grains, microbial cells, and nanoparticles can be characterised in their natural (or close to natural) states.It thus has analytical applications across water science, atmospheric science, soil science, plant science, microbiology and nanotechnology. Its unique analytical capability now allows us to conduct research (across multiple research fields) that has been impossible due to analytical constraints. Some of the major applications are highlighted as follows:(a)About 15 trillion microplastics (polymers less than 1 micron) are floating in surface waters. As they age, they fragment into sizes below 1 micron, becoming nanoplastics. Nanoplastics are perceived to be more abundant and more harmful than microplastics. But this is yet to be well investigated due to a lack of analytical equipment to chemically identify and quantify 1 to 100 nm-sized plastic particles. RISE-EDS will deliver the analytical capability for accurate nanoplastics quantification in complex matrixes. (b)The biggest environmental threat to health in the UK is air pollution with up to 36,000 deaths per year. The tool for rapid and routine characterisation of fine nanoparticulate air pollutants is however not available. RISE-EDS will provide a routine but state-of-the-art approach for characterising the morphology, multi-elemental compositions, and molecular speciation of nanoparticulate hazardous material in the air.(c)To manage the impacts of toxins, assessment of contaminants toxicity to different organisms is required. However, sub-cellular toxicity assessment remains elusive due to analytical constraints. RISE-EDS will provide the high-resolution imaging of sub-cellular compositions that are needed for deciphering the process of contaminant accumulation and toxicity in diverse organisms.(d)Nanotechnology is the driving force behind a new industrial revolution. It makes materials (e.g cosmetics and pesticides) more durable and more effective. However, there are potential risks. RISE-EDS will assist in how we link nanoformulations to nanotoxicity assessment at the earliest stage of nano product design.(e)Infectious diseases are becoming harder to treat due to antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) drugs. RISE-EDS will help identify the mechanisms of AMR, through hyper-spectral characterisation of compositional changes in microorganisms.(f)Nutrient utilisation by crops must be optimised to maximise yield while mitigating greenhouse gases emission and eutrophication. RISE-EDS will help in revealing the biogeochemical processes that govern soil nutrients and carbon dynamics.

虽然研究界拥有单独的工具来用例如扫描电子显微镜（SEM）视觉检查纳米颗粒，用能量色散X射线光谱（EDS）检测元素组成，并通过拉曼光谱询问化学结构，但这些工具尚未被拉到一起以创建用于纳米颗粒和纳米尺度化学反应的常规分析的更强大和专用的工具。虽然有传统的SEM-EDS，它不能提取原子的键合细节，这将揭示样品中的分子的化学性质。RISE-EDS是多模态相关显微镜和光谱学的最新成就。它是（i）WITec 3D共焦拉曼显微镜与（ii）蔡司场发射扫描电子显微镜（SEM）的完全集成，后者配有（iii）能量色散X射线光谱（EDS）检测器，作为一个分析套件。RISE-EDS具有独特的分析能力，可用于组合/同时（i）物理表征（尺寸/形状），（ii）半定量多元素（例如，C、N、P、K、Ti、Cr、Cu、Zn、Pd、Ag、Cd、Hg）定量和（iii）生物/有机和无机样品的化学形态表征（例如，聚合物化合物的鉴定），从微观到纳米级分辨率。从植物根部、土壤颗粒、微生物细胞到纳米颗粒，它都可以在自然状态（或接近自然状态）下进行表征，因此在水科学、大气科学、土壤科学、植物科学、微生物学和纳米技术等领域都有分析应用。其独特的分析能力现在使我们能够进行研究（跨多个研究领域），这是由于分析限制而不可能的。以下重点介绍了一些主要应用：（a）约有15万亿微塑料（小于1微米的聚合物）漂浮在表面沃茨中。随着年龄的增长，它们会破碎成小于1微米的尺寸，成为纳米塑料。纳米塑料被认为比微塑料更丰富，更有害。但由于缺乏分析设备来化学识别和量化1至100 nm大小的塑料颗粒，这一点尚未得到很好的研究。RISE-EDS将为复杂基质中的纳米塑料提供准确定量的分析能力。（B）英国对健康的最大环境威胁是空气污染，每年多达36，000人死亡。然而，还没有用于快速和常规表征细纳米颗粒空气污染物的工具。RISE-EDS将提供一种常规但最先进的方法，用于表征空气中纳米颗粒有害物质的形态、多元素成分和分子形态。(c)To为了管理毒素的影响，需要评估污染物对不同生物体的毒性。然而，亚细胞毒性评估仍然难以捉摸，由于分析的限制。RISE-EDS将提供亚细胞成分的高分辨率成像，这是破译不同生物体中污染物积累和毒性过程所需的。（d）纳米技术是新工业革命的驱动力。它使材料（例如化妆品和杀虫剂）更耐用，更有效。然而，存在潜在的风险。RISE-EDS将帮助我们如何在纳米产品设计的最早阶段将纳米制剂与纳米毒性评估联系起来。（e）由于抗微生物药物耐药性，传染病越来越难以治疗。RISE-EDS将通过对微生物成分变化的高光谱表征，帮助确定AMR的机制。（f）必须优化作物对养分的利用，以最大限度地提高产量，同时减少温室气体排放和富营养化。RISE-EDS将有助于揭示控制土壤养分和碳动态的地球化学过程。