CAREER: Magnetic Resonance Characterization and Application of Carbon-Based Quantum Dots as Multimodal Chemical Sensors

在化学系化学测量和成像项目的支持下，罗文大学的Nicholas Whiting和他的团队正在研究小型含碳纳米颗粒，以扩大其作为化学传感器的应用。这些“碳量子点”直径小于10纳米，具有非凡的特性，允许它们用作发光分子“信标”。碳量子点还具有一个重要但未充分利用的特性，可以使用类似于医学磁共振成像（MRI）的技术来检测它们。Whiting实验室正在利用这些磁共振特性来改善碳量子点的合成和纯化，并应用一种专门的技术将其磁共振（MR）信号暂时提高几个数量级。这些进展旨在通过实现荧光和磁共振检测来使可以使用碳量子点研究的系统类型多样化。除了增加女性STEM的招聘和保留外，为了从传统上代表性不足的人群中获得科学、技术、工程和数学专业的学生，Whiting博士还开发了一个新的课程，提供关于磁共振技术的实践学习，并指导学生有效地向公众传播科学主题。虽然碳量子点具有许多有利的光学特性，它们固有的13C MR特性的开发利用限制了它们潜在的广泛应用。Whiting小组正在通过合成富含13 C的碳量子点，使用NMR进行颗粒结构测定，设计和评估样品纯化技术来解决这一缺点。此外，他们正在使用动态核极化将碳量子点的13 C NMR信号增强几个数量级，从而实现真实的高灵敏度MR化学传感。然后，这些方法可以直接转化为其他MR活性纳米材料，以形成跨学科应用的通用网络。研究目标被整合到一个教育计划中，该计划将学生在课堂上动手参与磁共振技术，并指导学生有效地向外行观众传播科学主题。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来支持。

With support from the Chemical Measurement and Imaging Program in the Division of Chemistry, Nicholas Whiting and his group at Rowan University are studying small carbon-containing nanoparticles in order to broaden their application as chemical sensors. These “carbon dots” are smaller than 10 nanometers in diameter and possess extraordinary properties that permit their use as light-emitting molecular “beacons.” Carbon dots also possess an important, yet underutilized, characteristic that allows them to be detected using techniques that are analogous to medical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The Whiting lab is leveraging these magnetic resonance properties to improve the synthesis and purification of carbon dots, as well as applying a specialized technique to temporarily boost their magnetic resonance (MR) signals by several orders of magnitude. These advances aim to diversify the types of systems that can be studied using carbon dots by enabling both fluorescence and magnetic resonance detection. In addition to increasing the recruitment and retention of female STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) majors from traditionally underrepresented populations, Dr. Whiting is also developing a new curriculum that provides hands-on learning about magnetic resonance techniques and guides students to effectively communicate science topics to the public.While carbon dots possess many advantageous optical characteristics, the underdeveloped utilization of their inherent 13C MR properties limits their potentially broad applicability. The Whiting group is addressing this shortcoming by synthesizing 13C enriched carbon dots, using NMR for particle structure determination, devising and evaluating sample purification techniques. Furthermore, they are using dynamic nuclear polarization to enhance the 13C NMR signals of carbon dots by several orders of magnitude, enabling high-sensitivity MR-based chemical sensing in real time. These approaches can then directly translate to other MR-active nanomaterials to grow a versatile network of cross-disciplinary applications. The research objectives are integrated into an educational plan that incorporates hands-on student engagement with magnetic resonance techniques in the classroom and guides students to effectively disseminate science topics to a lay audience.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.