Molecularly imprinted polymer nanospheres and encapsulated quantum dots for chemical sensing of trace mycotoxins (fungal metabolites) and biological molecules (pathogen proteins)

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

My research program will continue with the development of affinity probes, especially molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), in mycotoxic and biomedical applications for both the improvement to human health care and the early diagnosis of animal diseases. Mycotoxins (such as ochratoxin A, patulin and DON) and abnormal prion protein (PrPSc) associated with transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) probably present a more serious and demonstrable risk to public health and food safety worldwide than man-made chemicals do. The determination of any single mycotoxin or PrPSc at ultratrace levels is most promising by selective pre-concentration using the molecular recognition property of a tailor-made MIP. For the determination of several mycotoxins or abnormal proteins simultaneously after selective pre-concentration on MIPs, capillary electrophoresis and microfluidics can offer many analytical separation merits. Our short-term objective is focused on the preparation of novel MIP nanospheres which can specifically recognize single target compounds of mycotoxic and biomedical significance. Key contemporary and emerging challenges in analytical sciences will be tackled using MIP nanospheres-based methods in several instrumental approaches. Our long-term objective is escalating the development of powerful MIP nanospheres-based devices, instruments, methods, facilities and expertise that will one day contribute to mycotoxic and biomedical research in collaboration with science departments, government laboratories and federal research institutions in Ottawa and across Canada.