X-ray Spectromicroscopy Studies of Magnetic Iron Biominerals related to Alzheimer’s Disease

该项目将利用新型同步加速器X射线技术来研究纳米级生物衍生铁矿物与阿尔茨海默病（AD）中的肽聚集体的起源和作用。最近的研究表明，铁矿物质沉积物的形成和淀粉样β肽的聚集可能与疾病的发展密切相关。此外，磁性铁矿物的发展可能有助于提供早期诊断，因为它们对磁共振图像（MRI）的影响。该项目将建立在申请人最近在瑞士光源和加拿大光源设施进行的一些成功实验的基础上，并将利用申请人在应用同步加速器技术分析磁性材料和生物矿物方面的良好记录。由于联合王国尚不具备这些实验所需的设施，因此需要为主要研究人员的海外旅行提供资金。这将使他能够进行进一步的实验，与国际同步加速器实验室的科学家建立合作，并为参与该项目的博士生提供重要的现场培训。此外，该项目中获得的专业知识和技术成果可以转化为计划中的设施，这些设施将在未来3-4年内在钻石光源实验室投入使用。

This proposed project will utilise novel synchrotron x-ray techniques to investigate the origin and role of nanoscale biologically derived iron minerals together with peptide aggregates in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent research suggests that the formation of iron mineral deposits and the aggregation of the amyloid-beta peptide could be intimately linked with the development of the disease. Further, the development of magnetic iron minerals may help to provide early diagnosis due to their affect on magnetic resonance images (MRI). The project will build on some recent successful experiments performed by the applicants at the Swiss Light Source and Canadian Light Source facilities, and will utilise the strong track record of the applicants in the application of synchrotron techniques to the analysis of magnetic materials and biominerals. As the facilities required for these experiments do not yet exist within the UK, funding is requested for overseas travel for the principle investigator. This will enable him to perform further experiments, build collaborations with scientists at international synchrotron laboratories, and provide crucial on-site training for a PhD student involved in the project. Further to this, the expertise and technical achievements attained in the project could be translated to planned facilities that will become available at the Diamond Light Source laboratory in the next 3-4 years.