Isothermal titration calorimeter for molecular interactions

本申请的目的是购买一台进行等温滴定量热(ITC)的设备。ITC是一种最先进的技术，用于获得表征分子相互作用的热力学参数。基于分子间相互作用放出或吸收的热的测量，一次ITC实验可以得到所有必要的热力学参数：结合常数(Kb)、反应化学计量比(N)、热(H)、熵(S)和吉布斯自由能(G)。这些参数的关系式为：G=RTlnKb=H-TS，其中R和T分别为气体常数和温度。这些参数可以通过单一的计算机化实验获得，而不需要标记所涉及的分子物种，不需要在分子相互作用期间固定或使用报告分子。由于ITC产生了关于分子相互作用的基本信息，阿尔伯塔大学化学与材料工程系的几个研究小组将受益于这种设备。将依赖ITC设备的研究途径是：(I)设计新的药物输送系统，其中将研究广泛的治疗剂(核酸和有机分子)与设计材料之间的相互作用；(Ii)肽自组装，其中基于自组装肽的生物材料支架将被设计用于生物医学应用；(Iii)蛋白质在生物材料上的吸附，其中将研究细胞黏附蛋白在机械拉伸生物玻璃上的结合；(Iv)分子筛的设计，其中具有受控结构的沸石将被用于广泛的工业过程，如催化和分子分离；(V)石油热力学，其中重油-沥青-工业溶剂之间的相互作用将被描述为改善石油加工；和(Vi)聚合物热力学，其中将作为聚合物结构性质的函数来研究聚合物-聚合物和聚合物-溶剂之间的相互作用。ITC的可获得性将在这些不同的研究领域产生重大影响，并加快我们的研究努力。

The purpose of this application is to purchase an equipment to conduct isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). ITC is a state-of-the-art technique used to obtain the thermodynamic parameters characterizing molecular interactions. Based on the measurement of heat released or absorbed during the interactions among the molecular species, a single ITC experiment can yield all of the necessary thermodynamics parameters; binding constants (Kb), reaction stoichiometry (n), enthalpy (H), entropy (S) and Gibb's free energy (G). These parameters are related by: G = RTlnKb = H -TS, where R and T are Gas Constant and Temperature, respectively. These parameters can be obtained from a single, computerized experiment, without the need to label the molecular species involved, immobilization or using reporter molecules during the molecular interactions. Becasue the ITC generates such a fundamental information about molecular interactions, several research groups at the Chemical & Materials Engineering Department of the University of Alberta will benefit from this equipment. The research avenues that will rely on the ITC equipment are; (i) design of novel drug delivery systems, where the intraction between a wide spectrum of therapeutic agents (nucleic acids and organic molecules) and designer materials will be investigated; (ii) peptide self-assemply, where biomaterials scaffolds based on self-assembling peptides will be engineered for biomedical applications; (iii) protein adsorption to biomaterials, where binding of cell-adhesive proteins on mechanically streesed bioglass will be studied; (iv) design of molecular sieves, where zeolites with controlled architecture will be enginered for a wide array of industrial processes, such as catalysis and molecular seperations; (v) petroleum thermodynamics, where the interaction among heavy oils-bitumen-industrial solvents will be characterized to improve petroleum processing, and; (vi) polymer thermodynamics, where polymer-polymer and polymer-solvent interactions will be investigated as a function of polymer architectural properties. The availability of ITC will make a significant impact in these diverse research areas and accelerate our research endeavors.