Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer for ultra-trace element analysis in biological and environmental systems

用于生物和环境系统中超痕量元素分析的电感耦合等离子体质谱仪

• 批准号: RTI-2022-00448
• 负责人: Beauchemin, Diane
• 金额: $ 10.92万
• 依托单位: Queen's University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Research Tools and Instruments
• 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=742951
• 关键词: Inductively; coupled; plasma; mass; spectrometer

The widespread use of metallic particles in a variety of products, such as sunscreen lotions, clothing, toothpaste, food packaging, etc., increases their concentration in biological systems and the environment, including the potable water of rural and indigenous communities without water treatment plants. How these particles affect our environment and influence the health of humans and animals is largely unknown. As a first step, researchers need an accurate, sensitive, and reliable method of measuring individual metallic particles. Similarly, to design metal-containing anti-cancer drugs that target tumors, measurement of drug uptake by individual cells requires a very sensitive technique. Traditional instruments used to take such measurements (such as the one in the applicant's lab) have adequate sensitivity, but most of the particles or cells introduced to the system pass through undetected. This provides an incomplete picture of the situation. Even state-of-the-art instruments cannot analyze all the particles and cells because the sample introduction system (which is the Achilles' heel of this type of instrument) wastes over 90% of the sample. For over 37 years, the applicant has been involved in this field of research and is a leading expert worldwide. Her group has conducted numerous fundamental studies on the sample introduction system and knows how to remedy the situation. No one else in Canada has more in-depth knowledge and experience with this type of instrument. The applicant's laboratory is the only one in the world to use infrared heating of the sample introduction system to eliminate sample waste. This novel approach, when combined with a newer technology, has the potential to ensure that all particles or cells are measured, and no samples are wasted. In essence, a complete picture of the environmental or biological situation would be realized, and from there crucial discoveries can be made. For example, sample introduction systems could be optimized for the analysis of particles and of cells, which will revolutionize how these measurements are currently carried out around the world. The improved instrument with infrared heating of the sample introduction system would also have the potential to measure how metal content influences individual enzymatic activities, which will lead to a better understanding of how bacteria can degrade pollutants and biosynthesize drug--like molecules. Finally, the improved instrument would inform the field of cancer drug discovery via the creation of new copper- and nickel--based anti--cancer medications. These agents would greatly benefit patients' access to more affordable (hence equitable) and safer medication than the current platinum-based medications. The applicant and co-applicants are committed to the training of graduate students in this rapidly growing field and would ensure that all commercialization aspects remain housed at a Canadian company.

在各种产品中，金属颗粒的广泛使用，例如防晒霜，衣服，牙膏，食品包装等，可以增加其在生物系统和环境中的集中度，包括没有水处理厂的农村和土著社区的饮用水。这些颗粒如何影响我们的环境并影响人类和动物的健康是未知的。第一步，研究人员需要一种测量单个金属颗粒的准确，敏感和可靠的方法。同样，要设计靶向肿瘤的含金属抗癌药物，单个细胞对药物摄取的测量需要非常敏感的技术。用于进行此类测量的传统仪器（例如申请人实验室中的一种）具有足够的敏感性，但是引入系统的大多数粒子或细胞都通过未被发现。这为情况提供了不完整的情况。即使是最先进的仪器也无法分析所有颗粒和细胞，因为样品引入系统（这是此类仪器的脚跟）浪费了超过90％的样品。 37多年来，申请人参与了这一研究领域，并且是全球领先的专家。她的小组已经对样本介绍系统进行了许多基本研究，并且知道如何解决情况。加拿大没有其他人对这种工具具有更多的深入知识和经验。申请人的实验室是世界上唯一使用样本简介系统的红外加热来消除样品废物的一个实验室。这种新颖的方法与较新的技术结合使用，有可能确保测量所有颗粒或细胞，并且不会浪费样品。从本质上讲，将实现环境或生物状况的完整情况，从那里可以从那里进行关键发现。例如，可以优化样品引入系统，以分析颗粒和细胞的分析，这将彻底改变这些测量目前在世界范围内如何进行。用样品引入系统的红外加热的改进仪器也有可能衡量金属含量如何影响单个酶活性，这将使对细菌如何降解污染物和生物合成的药物（类似药物）的分子有更好的了解。最后，改进的工具将通过创建新的铜和镍抗癌药物来为癌症药物发现的领域提供信息。与当前基于铂金的药物相比，这些药物将极大地使患者获得更多负担得起（因此公平）和更安全的药物。申请人和共同申请者致力于在这个快速发展的领域对研究生进行培训，并确保所有商业化方面都保留在加拿大公司。