Characterizing the local environment of films created from natural and engineered biofluids

表征由天然和工程生物流体制成的薄膜的局部环境

• 批准号: RGPIN-2020-05816
• 负责人: Stotesbury, Theresa
• 金额: $ 3.21万
• 依托单位: University of Ontario Institute of Technology
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=717802
• 关键词: Characterizing; local; environment; films; created

This research program seeks to understand how biological and other polymeric fluids form films across surfaces. We focus primarily on film formation created as a result of droplet impact across a variety of complex surfaces. My research group uses a unique combination of analytical chemistry, fluid dynamics and materials characterization to understand the local environment of these formed films and how they change (age and degrade) over time in the environment. Importantly, we use high-speed video imaging, high-resolution mass spectrometry and other spectral techniques to better understand these processes. The main objectives and short-term goals of my program are to: (i) understand the film formation mechanics of whole blood and other biological fluids; (ii) characterize how these films age and degrade over time; and (iii) engineer novel polymer-based biofluid analogues for use in research and training. In the long-term, my goal is to develop an extensive understanding and mass balance of all compounds involved in the film formation process, their transfer across interfaces, and their persistence on surfaces and within the bulk material. We will develop an innovative sampling chamber for chemical and optical monitoring of the generated films over time. This is critical in understanding the dynamic interplay between the physical (mechanical) and chemical processes involved in thin-film formation and degradation. We will also monitor and sample the changing films and their local environment (headspace, surrounding substrate) over time. A highlight of this work will use high-resolution mass spectrometry techniques (ESI- or MALDI- FT-ICR-MS) combined with untargeted analytical approaches to allow us to rapidly and accurately identify a large number of molecules, including biomarkers, in the changing film. This will be critical in determining key chemical signatures of aging and degradation. High-speed video imaging of film formation will contribute to the growing research in soft-materials characterization in fast time domains. Biological fluids are inherently variable in nature, making them difficult to use in applied training scenarios. Another highlight of my program is engineering biological fluid analogues as standard reference materials in the forensic sciences; the discipline's first project of this kind. We will use sol-gel and hydrogel technologies with high water content and delayed phase transitions so that they are environmentally friendly and have long-lasting shelf lives. Manipulating the polymerization process will generate tailored synthetic biofluids with relevant bulk material and surface properties. HQP who participate in my program will learn critical skills in materials characterization using a suite of analytical techniques. Importantly, their work will have significant industrial applications and transferrable skills to the forensic science, biotechnology, occupational health & safety, and national defence sectors.

该研究项目旨在了解生物和其他聚合物流体如何在表面形成薄膜。我们主要关注由于液滴在各种复杂表面上的撞击而形成的薄膜。我的研究小组使用分析化学，流体动力学和材料表征的独特组合来了解这些形成的薄膜的局部环境以及它们如何随着时间的推移在环境中发生变化（老化和降解）。重要的是，我们使用高速视频成像，高分辨率质谱和其他光谱技术来更好地了解这些过程。 我的计划的主要目标和短期目标是：（i）了解全血和其他生物流体的膜形成机制;（ii）表征这些膜如何随着时间的推移而老化和降解;（iii）设计新型聚合物生物流体类似物用于研究和培训。从长远来看，我的目标是对薄膜形成过程中涉及的所有化合物、它们在界面上的转移以及它们在表面和本体材料中的持久性进行广泛的理解和质量平衡。我们将开发一种创新的采样室，用于随着时间的推移对生成的薄膜进行化学和光学监测。这对于理解薄膜形成和降解中所涉及的物理（机械）和化学过程之间的动态相互作用至关重要。我们还将监测和采样随时间变化的薄膜及其局部环境（顶部空间，周围基质）。这项工作的一个亮点将使用高分辨率质谱技术（ESI-或MALDI-FT-ICR-MS）结合非靶向分析方法，使我们能够快速准确地识别变化膜中的大量分子，包括生物标志物。这对于确定老化和降解的关键化学特征至关重要。薄膜形成的高速视频成像将有助于软材料在快时域表征的研究。生物流体本质上是可变的，使得它们难以在应用训练场景中使用。我的计划的另一个亮点是工程生物流体类似物作为标准的参考材料在法医科学;这类学科的第一个项目。我们将使用高含水量和延迟相变的溶胶-凝胶和水凝胶技术，使其对环境友好，并具有持久的保质期。操纵聚合过程将产生具有相关本体材料和表面性质的定制合成生物流体。 参加我的项目的HQP将学习使用一套分析技术进行材料表征的关键技能。重要的是，他们的工作将具有重要的工业应用和法医学，生物技术，职业健康与安全和国防部门的可转移技能。