Nanoparticle Tracking Analyzer (NTA) for the Advancement of Biomedical, Environmental, and Materials Research

纳米粒子的尺寸小于100纳米，在这种尺寸范围内通常具有独特的物理、电子或光学性质。这些材料在开发新的医疗保健诊断工具和治疗方法以及开发光电子器件方面都有应用。纳米颗粒还可以作为探针，帮助更好地了解与疾病及其治疗相关的基本生物过程，并在环境中发挥新的重要作用。我们已经请求NSERC提供支持，以获得纳米粒子跟踪分析仪系统。该仪器将能够对纳米颗粒样品进行详细表征，比目前的标准技术具有更好的异质性分辨率，并且更定量，与荧光纳米颗粒兼容。这些功能对于仪器将支持的研究项目都是至关重要的。这项研究横跨多个领域，包括生物医学、环境和材料科学。所要求的仪器将涉及的研究主题的例子包括：基于智能手机的护理点诊断；用于成像与疾病病理相关的细胞过程的荧光探针；阐明抗菌肽的作用机制；纳米颗粒介导的药物和造影剂的输送用于肿瘤学成像；血液疾病的治疗；阐明自然大气中的纳米颗粒如何引发冰核和影响全球气候；以及开发更高效的照明和记忆存储材料。我们估计，在未来五年内，至少有150名研究实习生将学习如何操作这种仪器，并带着纳米技术和材料科学/聚合物领域的本地和国际公司所需要的尖端技能进入就业市场。这些学员在我们的监督下进行的研究将有助于将加拿大定位为纳米技术的全球领导者，最重要的是，将其应用于解决健康、环境和材料科学方面的问题。结果将包括更好地了解疾病的机制、诊断和治疗、影响气候变化的因素以及新设备和技术的开发--所有这些都将为加拿大带来经济利益。

Nanoparticles have dimensions of less than 100 nm, and often possess unique physical, electronic, or optical properties at this size scale. These materials have applications in the development of new diagnostic tools and therapeutics for health care, and in the development of optoelectronic devices. Nanoparticles can also serve as probes to help better understand fundamental biological processes related to diseases and their treatment, and have emerging and important roles in the environment. We have requested support from NSERC to obtain a nanoparticle tracking analyzer system. This instrument will enable the detailed characterization of nanoparticle samples with far better resolution of heterogeneity than the current standard technology, and is much more quantitative and compatible with fluorescent nanoparticles. These features are all critical for the research programs that the instrument will support. This research spans several areas, including biomedical, environmental, and materials science. Examples of research topics that will be addressed with the requested instrument include smartphone-based point-of-care diagnostics, fluorescent probes for imaging cellular processes related to disease pathology, elucidation of the mechanism of action of antibiotic peptides, nanoparticle-mediated delivery of drugs and contrast agents for oncology imaging, treatment of blood disorders, elucidation of how natural atmospheric nanoparticles initiate ice nucleation and affect global climate, and development of more efficient lighting and memory storage materials. We estimate that at least 150 research trainees will learn how to operate this instrument over the next five years, and enter the job market with cutting-edge skills that are in demand by both local and international companies operating in nanotechnology and materials science/polymer sectors. The research carried out by these trainees under our supervision will help position Canada as a global leader in nanotechnology and, most importantly, its application to solving problems in health, the environment, and material science. Outcomes will include a better understanding of the mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, of factors affecting climate change, and development of new devices and technologies--all of which will have economic benefit for Canada.