MRI: Acquisition of a Cryoprobe Equipped Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer for Studying Macromolecules, Bioactive Isolates, and Dynamic Processes

该奖项由化学研究仪器(CRIF)计划、刺激竞争性研究的既定计划(EPSCoR)和主要研究仪器(MRI)计划共同资助。阿拉巴马大学塔斯卡卢萨分校的保罗·鲁帕尔教授和他的同事伊丽莎白·帕皮什、杰森·巴拉、马尔科·博尼佐尼和卢卡斯·西斯拉正在获取一台配备了冷冻探头的500 MHz核磁共振光谱仪。核磁共振(核磁共振)光谱仪测量在强磁场存在下无线电波与样品原子核的相互作用。核磁共振光谱仪提供的信息使研究人员能够识别未知物质，确定分子、大分子和生物分子的结构，并监测溶液中的反应动力学。由于其多功能性、易用性和非破坏性，核磁共振波谱支持许多现代基于化学的研究，对有机化学、无机化学、生物学、化学工程、生物化学和材料科学领域至关重要。相对于标准的核磁共振探头，低温探头的灵敏度显著提高。该仪器还用于培训本科生和研究生如何使用这一强大的工具。该光谱仪可供塔斯基吉大学和桑福德大学等其他机构的研究人员使用。该奖项旨在加强各级研究和教育。许多研究项目都是在这台光谱仪的帮助下取得进展的。其中一个项目对用于化学传感器、三维(3D)打印和非病毒基因转基因的聚合物进行结构研究。过渡金属催化二氧化碳还原的研究也在进行中。另一个研究小组的工作重点是铬的生物无机化学，铬作为铬酸盐存在时是一种强大的诱变剂和致癌物。利用目前的3D打印技术开发纯纤维素塑料的路线正在研究中。使用Ru络合物作为催化剂的二氧化碳还原也在进行中，包括在还原过程中消除光敏剂的努力。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This award is jointly funded by the Chemical Research Instrumentation (CRIF) program, the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), and the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program. Professor Paul Rupar from the University of Alabama Tuscaloosa and colleagues Elizabeth Papish, Jason Bara, Marco Bonizzoni and Lukasz Ciesla are acquiring a 500 MHz NMR spectrometer equipped with a cryoprobe. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometers measure the interaction of radio waves with a sample's atomic nuclei in the presence of a strong magnetic field. The information provided by NMR spectrometers allows researchers to identify unknown substances, determine the structure of molecules, macromolecules, and biomolecules, and monitor reaction dynamics in solution. Because of its versatility, ease of use, and non-destructive nature, NMR spectroscopy supports much of modern chemical-based research and is critical to the fields of organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, biology, chemical engineering, biochemistry and materials science. The cryogenic probe provides a significant increase in sensitivity relative to standard NMR probes. The instrument is also used to train undergraduate and graduate students in the use of this powerful tool. The spectrometer is available for use by researchers at other institutions including Tuskegee University and Samford University.The award is aimed at enhancing research and education at all levels. Many research projects are progress and aided by this spectrometer. One project conducts structural studies of polymers used in chemical sensors, three-dimensional (3D) printing and in non-viral gene-transfection. Studies of the reduction of carbon dioxide catalyzed by transition metals are also being carried out. Work in another research group focuses on the bioinorganic chemistry of chromium, a potent mutagen and carcinogen when present as chromate. Routes to the development of pure cellulose-based plastics using current 3D printing technology are under study. Carbon dioxide reduction using ruthenium complexes as catalysts is also being investigated including efforts to eliminate the photosensitizer in the reduction process.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.