A high sensitivity fluorescence spectrophotometer for advanced characterization of nanomaterials, biomaterials, and biocolloids

我们需要一种高灵敏度荧光分光光度计，能够定量和表征许多不同类型介质（例如，淡水，土壤孔隙水，缓冲液，培养基，溶剂）中的各种颗粒，生物胶体和分子（例如，纳米塑料，金属，碳点，细菌，病毒，蛋白质）。这项技术将使我们能够推进正在进行的nserc资助的研究活动，并在许多具有全球意义的领域取得新发现：例如，微塑料污染、环境纳米技术、生物材料、药物输送、能量收集和储存材料以及病原体检测。这个最先进的系统提供了世界上最高的保证灵敏度规格，并将支持麦吉尔大学化学和材料工程和化学系的3个共同申请者以及麦吉尔大学和魁北克其他地方的工程和科学的几个其他用户的积极研究项目。该系统的其他主要优点是最大限度地减少样品污染物的影响，非破坏性分析，超低样品体积测量能力，多种分析模式，包括吸光度，化学发光和生物发光。将高灵敏度分光光度计添加到我们现有的材料表征工具套件中，确保了一个独特和最先进的环境，至少有27名学生将有机会立即进行荧光材料表征和生物测定的实践培训。这些都是高度市场化的技能，可以在许多研究和开发领域进行转移：例如，纳米技术、生物医学科学、化学品制造、油漆和涂料、制药、个人护理产品、食品和饮料以及环境工业。因此，为这一仪器提供资金将是为加拿大研究界带来最先进设备和专门知识的一种相对廉价的手段。该工具所支持的研究将对加拿大人的生活产生积极影响，提供必要的信息，以规范潜在有害材料的生产、使用和处置，彻底改变用于治疗和诊断疾病的生物材料的发展，减轻有害病原体的传播，并改变能量储存和收集装置的效率。

We are requesting a high sensitivity fluorescence spectrophotometer with the capability to quantify and characterize a wide range of particles, biocolloids, and molecules (e.g., nanoplastics, metals, carbon dots, bacteria, viruses, proteins) in many different types of media (e.g., freshwaters, soil porewaters, buffers, culture media, solvents). This technology will allow us to advance our ongoing NSERC-funded research activities and make new discoveries in many areas of global significance: e.g., microplastic pollution, environmental nanotechnology, biomaterials, drug delivery, materials for energy harvesting and storage, and pathogen detection. This state-of-the-art system offers the world's highest guaranteed sensitivity specification and will support the active research programs of 3 co-applicants in the Departments of Chemical and Materials Engineering and Chemistry at McGill and several other users in Engineering and Science at McGill and elsewhere in Quebec. Additional major advantages of this system are the minimization of the influence of sample contaminants, non-destructive analysis, ultra-low sample volume measurement capability, multiple analysis modes including absorbance, chemiluminescence and bioluminescence. The addition of the high sensitivity spectrophotometer to our existing suite of materials characterisation tools ensures a unique and state-of-the-art environment where at least 27 students will have the opportunity for immediate hands-on training in characterization of fluorescent materials and conduct of biological assays. These are highly marketable skills that are transferrable in many areas of research and development: e.g., nanotechnologies, biomedical sciences, manufacturing of chemicals, paints and coatings, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, food and beverage, and environmental industries. Thus, funding of this instrument would be a relatively inexpensive means to bring state-of-the-art equipment and expertise to the Canadian research community. The research enabled by this instrument will positively impact the lives of Canadians by providing the information needed to regulate the production, use, and disposal of potentially harmful materials, revolutionize the development of biomaterials for treatment and diagnosis of diseases, mitigate the spread of harmful pathogens and transform the efficiency of energy storage and harvesting devices.