SGER: Development of Levitated Drop Reactor for Chemical, Enzyme, and Nonlinear Dynamics

该奖项是根据2009年《美国复苏和再投资法案》(公法111-5)提供资金的。实验物理化学计划支持伊利诺伊大学厄巴纳-香槟分校的Alexander Scheeline教授开发一种悬浮下落反应器，以研究髓过氧化物酶的非线性反应动力学，髓过氧化物酶是一种存在于中性粒细胞和巨噬细胞(白细胞)中的酶。这种反应器避免了可能会困扰其他微流控系统的表面反应、吸附和污染。由于液滴的表面积体积比大，气液传质非常容易。超声波被用来使液滴悬浮，确保液滴的均匀混合。最适合该微反应器使用的诊断方法包括分子荧光、吸收和计时安培。这项研究通过更清楚地了解先天免疫系统中心的一种酶的化学动力学，获得了广泛的影响。髓过氧化物酶化学与供水氯化有许多相似之处，但抗菌、抗病毒化学是人类历史上延长寿命的两个最大因素之一(另一个是卫生和卫生保健专业人员的洗手)，人们对此还不太了解。支持的研究将测量免疫化学这一方面的核心反应速率。Scheeline教授的团队通过面向高中教师、高中生和代表性不足的群体的外联活动，以及本科生和研究生、女性和代表性不足的群体积极参与研究，解决了国家基础设施对多样化的科学素养劳动力的需求。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). The Experimental Physical Chemistry Program supports Professor Alexander Scheeline of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to develop a levitated drop reactor to study the nonlinear reaction dynamics of myeloperoxidase, an enzyme found in neutrophils and macrophages (white blood cells). Such a reactor avoids surface reactions, adsorption, and contamination which may trouble other microfluidic systems. Gas/liquid mass transfer is facile because of the large surface area-to-volume ratio of the drop. Ultrasound is used to levitate the drop, ensuring that the drop is well-mixed. Diagnostics to be optimized for use with this microreactor include molecular fluorescence, absorption, and chronoamperometry. This research gains broad impact by allowing clearer understanding of the chemical dynamics of an enzyme central to the innate immune system. Myeloperoxidase chemistry has much in common with that in chlorination of water supplies, yet that anti-bacterial, anti-viral chemistry, one of the two greatest contributors to increased longevity in human history (the other is sanitation and hand washing by health care professionals), is not well understood. Supported research will measure rates of reactions central to this aspect of immunochemistry. Professor Scheeline's group addresses the national infrastructure needs for a diverse scientifically-literate work force through outreach activities to high school teachers, high school students, and underrepresented groups, and via active research participation by undergraduate and graduate students, women, and underrepresented groups.