Metals in Environmental and Biological Systems. A Rational Approach to Sample Pretreatment and Analysis

化学系的分析和表面化学项目支持德克萨斯大学阿灵顿分校的Purnendu（桑迪）Dasgupta，Xiyun Guan，Subhrangsu Mandal和Kevin Schug教授的研究小组与中国沈阳东北大学的科学家合作研究，设计，测试，并实现涉及新颖的纳米孔感测和电荷检测技术以及独特的金属选择性样品制备技术的现场便携式和负担得起的金属检测系统，利用室温离子液体和新型纳米吸附剂。 研究人员使用他们开发的质谱技术快速表征金属与其他试剂（包括蛋白质）的结合。 如果发现细胞分泌的特异性金属结合剂，它们将被用作通往其他非特异性传感器的通道。 衍生的选择性检测和测量有害金属如砷和必需营养素如锌的能力可能在环境，医学和生物化学研究中具有重要的应用。 这项国际合作研究项目由美国国家科学基金会和中国国家科学基金会共同支持。 这项研究也得到了NSF国际科学与工程办公室（OISE）的支持。 由此产生的仪器进步将纳入教学课程。 工程本科生的跨学科培训、少数民族的参与以及每年4-5名竞争性选择的高中生的参与是该项目的一个组成部分，旨在传达开展有意义的前沿研究并以有用的方式将其应用于真实的样本的经验和乐趣。

The Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program in the Division of Chemistry supports the research groups of Professors Purnendu (Sandy) Dasgupta, Xiyun Guan, Subhrangsu Mandal, and Kevin Schug at the University of Texas - Arlington for collaborative research with scientists at the Northeastern University in Shenyang, China, to design, test, and implement field-portable and affordable metal detection systems involving novel nanopore sensing and charge detection technologies and unique metal-selective sample preparation techniques, utilizing room temperature ionic liquids and novel nanosorbents. The researchers use mass spectrometry techniques that they have developed for rapid characterization of binding of metals to other agents, including proteins. If cell-secreted specific metal binding agents are found, they will be used as gateways to otherwise nonspecific sensors. The derived ability to selectively detect and measure both harmful metals such as arsenic and essential nutrients such as zinc may have important applications in environmental, medical, and biochemical research. This international collaborative research project is supported jointly by NSF and the National Science Foundation of China. The study is also supported by the Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE) at NSF. Resulting instrumental advancements will be incorporated into teaching curricula. Cross-disciplinary training of engineering undergraduates, minority participation, and the annual participation of 4-5 competitively chosen high school students are an integral part of this project, designed to convey both the experience and the pleasure of carrying out meaningful frontline research and applying it to real samples in a useful manner.