Nanofluidic imaging kit for liquid-phase electron microscopy studies of drop-casted samples

用于滴铸样品液相电子显微镜研究的纳流体成像套件

• 批准号: 560695-2021
• 负责人: Sciaini, German
• 金额: $ 9.11万
• 依托单位: University of Waterloo
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Idea to Innovation
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=723927
• 关键词: Nanofluidic; imaging; kit; liquid; phase

This proposal focuses on the development of the components necessary for the study of drop-casted in-liquid specimens with sub-nanometre resolution by Liquid-Phase Transmission Electron Microscopy (LP-TEM). LP-TEM is a novel electron microscopy method that is used to characterize a variety of hard or soft nanomaterials and biological specimens that are suspended in a carrier liquid. It relies on the implementation of a nanofluidic cell (NFC), a sensitive device that is capable of encapsulating fluid in a precise and safe manner between two electron-transparent ultrathin windows.This NSERC-I2I Phase I developmental project builds on intellectual property that has been assigned to the University of Waterloo through its Commercialization Office, which filed a patent application titled: "Nanofluidic Cell and Loading Platform". In addition, researchers have very recently filed a provisional patent titled: "Nanofluidic carrier" with key improvements in the NFC shape design.This proposal is put forward to support the third technological innovation that will complete the initial portfolio of product offerings of a Startup in Waterloo, Ontario, that will be incorporated this coming fall 2021.Moreover, the University of Waterloo, on behalf of the principal investigator, and the Canadian Centre for Electron Microscopy (CCEM) have recently formalized a memorandum of understanding that will make this LP-TEM technology broadly available to the Canadian TEM community. The team has also signed non-disclosure agreements with Systems for Research and ThermoFisher Scientific (FEI), who expressed interest in becoming beta testers of Waterloo's technologies.

该提案的重点是通过液相透射电子显微镜（LP-TEM）研究具有亚纳米分辨率的液滴铸造液体样品所需的组件的开发。LP-TEM是一种新型的电子显微镜方法，用于表征悬浮在载液中的各种硬或软纳米材料和生物样品。它依赖于纳米流体单元（NFC）的实现，这是一种能够以精确和安全的方式将流体封装在两个电子透明窗口之间的敏感设备。这个NSERC-I2 I第一阶段开发项目建立在通过其商业化办公室分配给滑铁卢大学的知识产权基础上，该办公室提交了一项名为“纳米流体单元和加载平台”的专利申请。此外，研究人员最近提交了一项临时专利，标题为：“纳米流体载体”与NFC形状设计的关键改进。提出这一建议是为了支持第三次技术创新，这将完成在滑铁卢，安大略，将在今年秋天成立的初始产品组合。此外，滑铁卢大学，代表主要研究者，和加拿大电子显微镜中心（CCEM）最近正式签署了一份谅解备忘录，将使这种LP-TEM技术广泛地提供给加拿大TEM社区。该团队还与Systems for Research和ThermoFisher Scientific（FEI）签署了保密协议，后者表示有兴趣成为Waterloo技术的beta测试人员。