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

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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.