Liquid Heating Holder for Transmission Electron Microscope

透射电子显微镜液体加热支架

• 批准号: RTI-2017-00267
• 负责人: Grandfield, Kathryn
• 金额: $ 10.93万
• 依托单位: McMaster University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Research Tools and Instruments
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2016-01-01 至 2017-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=616619
• 关键词: Liquid; Heating; Holder; Transmission; Electron

The design of relevant point-of-care diagnostics, biomaterials and therapies for remineralization depend strongly on the understanding of fundamental nanoscale processes in liquid. Often, a transmission electron microscope (TEM) is required to view nanoscale phenomena, but with several limitations: extremely thin specimens, operation in vacuum, room temperature conditions, and imaging at a single point in time. This limits its ability to probe real-time dynamic processes, particularly those in liquid systems. The requested liquid flow heating TEM holder will enable real-time visualization of nanoscale processes in liquid at relevant physiological or experimental temperatures. By coupling a TEM holder with specially designed tubing to control liquid flow, and electron transparent windows with heating contacts, liquid can be encapsulated or flowed through the TEM to allow visualization of nanoscale processes in native liquid states at precisely controlled temperatures. Placing this holder within the Canadian Centre for Electron Microscopy at McMaster University enables it to it coincide with a high resolution FEI Titan TEM equipped with the necessary detectors and spectrometers for high resolution imaging and elemental characterization of the liquid specimens. This liquid flow heating holder will enable research activities across the broad interdisciplinary fields of materials science, chemistry, and engineering physics. More specifically, it will focus on the fundamental research needed for applications in (i) micro-fabricated point-of-care diagnostics devices and DNA assembly, (ii) remineralization strategies for tissues, and (iii) the development of improved materials for orthopaedic implants. In particular, it will provide a means for detailed visualization of the interfacial structure of bioconjugates, the self-assembly of DNA nanostructures, and formation and transport of calcium phosphate in solution and at interfaces. The ability to flow solutions in/out or mix in the holder will also enable structure to be determined in parallel with biological activity, and permit observation of changes in structure with exposure to enzymes, other biomolecular binding partners, biological fluids or temperature gradients. The anticipated results of these studies will provide critical new insight into the molecular mechanisms behind liquid phase phenomena including, the structure-function relationships of nanoparticle bioconjugates, calcium phosphate mineralization pathways, and DNA analyte amplification. These findings will enable the rational design of new materials or therapies that will positively impact Canadian biomedical research and health care tools. Furthermore, these findings will stimulate HQP training and Canadian economic growth in the areas of diagnostic device fabrication, and therapies for tissue regeneration and bone attachment.

用于再矿化的相关临床点诊断、生物材料和疗法的设计在很大程度上依赖于对液体中基本纳米级过程的理解。通常，要观察纳米尺度的现象需要使用透射电子显微镜，但有几个限制：极薄的样品，在真空中操作，室温条件下，以及在单个时间点进行成像。这限制了它探测实时动态过程的能力，特别是那些在液体系统中的过程。 所需的液流加热透射电子显微镜保持器将能够在相关生理或实验温度下实时显示液体中的纳米级过程。通过将透射电子显微镜保持器与控制液体流动的特殊设计的管子相结合，以及带有加热触点的电子透明窗口，液体可以被封装或流经透射电子显微镜，从而可以在精确控制的温度下可视化自然液体状态下的纳米级过程。将这个支架放在麦克马斯特大学的加拿大电子显微镜中心内，可以使它与配备了高分辨率探测器和光谱仪的高分辨率FEI Titan透射电子显微镜重合，以便对液体样品进行高分辨率成像和元素表征。 这种液流加热器将使研究活动跨越材料科学、化学和工程物理等广泛的跨学科领域。更具体地说，它将侧重于应用于(I)微型制造的护理点诊断设备和DNA组装，(Ii)组织的再矿化战略，以及(Iii)骨科植入物的改进材料的开发所需的基础研究。特别是，它将提供一种详细可视化生物偶联物的界面结构、DNA纳米结构的自组装以及磷酸钙在溶液中和界面上的形成和传输的方法。将溶液流入/流出或混合到固定器中的能力还将使结构能够与生物活性平行确定，并允许观察在暴露于酶、其他生物分子结合伙伴、生物流体或温度梯度时结构的变化。 这些研究的预期结果将为理解液态现象背后的分子机制提供重要的新见解，包括纳米生物结合物的结构-功能关系、钙磷酸盐矿化途径和DNA分析物放大。这些发现将使新材料或疗法的合理设计成为可能，这些新材料或疗法将对加拿大的生物医学研究和卫生保健工具产生积极影响。此外，这些发现将刺激HQP培训和加拿大在诊断设备制造、组织再生和骨附着治疗领域的经济增长。