A Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer and Microscope for Bionanomaterials Analysis

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This grant will be used to provide a research-grade Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometer and microscope allowing new experiments to be conducted by researchers at both Dalhousie University and Saint Mary's University. IR spectroscopy allows for in-depth characterization of the exact state of the atoms and molecules that make up a wide variety of materials. All seven co-applicants and their 41 current trainees, ranging from undergraduate student to professional research associate, will be able to immediately take advantage of this instrument for: fundamental studies of proteins critical for life in diverse organisms including humans, fungi, plants, marine oraganisms, and spiders; for development of novel materials based on proteins, other naturally-derived starting materials, or synthetic polymers; and, for development of new sustainable and cost-effective molecular sensor technologies.******This instrument will be used to study proteins, such as spider silks, fungal coat proteins, photosynthetic proteins from plants, antifreeze proteins employed by fish and other organisms to survive in cold conditions, and extracellular matrix proteins that support cell growth in many organisms. Studies of other classes of material will also be enabled and routinely carried out, including polymeric networks capable of being loaded with cargos such as drug molecules, metals patterned using naturally-inspired templates, materials developed as part of unique sensors for specific molecular species; or, pigments in artwork. IR spectroscopy and the ability to carry this out as a function of location through microscopy provides the capability to determine the folded states for each of these classes of protein and the molecular arrangement and structuring in non-protein materials. This, in turn, gives direct insight into the intricate arrangement of atoms that allows each type of protein or material to function correctly. These types of study are being employed by the applicants to engineer and develop new biodegradable and sustainable materials and sensors. ******This instrument will be installed in the Biophysical Analysis Facility at Dalhousie, providing ready access to all of the co-applicants and to many other researchers at Dalhousie, Saint Mary's and beyond. This instrument will be operated directly by students and other highly qualified personnel as a part of their research training, each of whom will be mentored in hands-on use of the instrumentation and in expert analysis of the resulting data.