Applied-RadioIsotope & Environmental Laboratory (ARIEL)

该项目的主要目标是为英国提供一个独特的，世界级的环境科学研究和培训放射性同位素基础设施。放射性标记的一般技术包括用放射性原子标记分子，以跟踪该分子在特定细胞、特定组织、整个生物体甚至生态系统中的命运（例如使用中生态系统）。目前在医学科学中使用的放射性示踪技术降低了超灵敏分析设备的价格，并使它们能够用于其他知识领域，如生物地球化学、生态毒理学、环境工程以及粮食安全。值得注意的是，放射性标记方法总是使用非常低剂量的辐射，因此被标记的分子不会对被调查的生物体或实验者构成任何威胁。然而，远景设施的设计使放射性同位素永远不会释放到环境中。该项目包括建立一个应用放射性同位素与环境实验室（ARIEL），用于安全处理放射性同位素，并将其作为放射性标签用于各种类型的样品，如沉积物、土壤、水和在环境现实的实验环境中暴露于极低水平辐射的生物体。该实验室将包括：(i)一个生物暴露于放射性示踪剂的实验平台；（ii）用于合成标记分子、制备样品以及色谱分离和冷冻切片的工作空间；（iii）一间装有各种放射性同位素探测器（α、β和γ辐射）的暗室，用于进行定量全身放射自显影。我们提议扩建和翻新萨里大学化学系的放射化学实验室，面积不超过30平方米。目前，我们的放射性示踪剂工作组只能独家使用一个非常小的实验室（约12平方米），在那里我们不能容纳NX 70冷冻组（最近由cams# 600310/10奖学金资助-跟踪生物组织中的纳米塑料授予当前PI）和我们已经拥有的其他设备（即专用手套箱，体内伽马计数器，液体闪烁计数器）。这个空间不能容纳这里提出的放射性示踪剂实验室长期发展所必需的设备。为了完善实验室，我们建议购买新的设备，包括氧化剂，液体伽马计数器，超低水平液体闪烁计数器和带铅屏蔽盒的荧光粉成像仪。ARIEL将通过萨里大学的放射化学学士、硕士和博士课程，为全球培养高素质人才提供独特的机会。实验室将进行的研究将是获取关于水生物种和生态系统在面对环境压力因素（例如有毒投入物和环境变化）时的行为的新知识的关键。因此，该项目提议与大学可持续发展的战略研究主题保持一致。实验室的首要任务是提供塑料颗粒和环境基质中其他危险新出现污染物的命运的完整特征。该实验室将为下一代生态毒理学和环境研究提供最先进的设施。

The primary objective of the project is to provide the United Kingdom with a unique, world-class research & training radioisotope infrastructure for environmental science. The general technique of radiolabelling involves labelling a molecule with radioactive atoms to follow the fate of that molecule within a specific cell, a particular tissue, an entire organism, or even an ecosystem (e.g. using mesocosms). Current use of radiotracer techniques in medicinal sciences has reduced the price of ultra-sensitive analytical equipment and made them accessible to other areas of knowledge such as biogeochemistry, ecotoxicology, environmental engineering as well as food security. It is important to note that radiolabelling approaches always uses very low doses of radiation so that the labelled molecules never pose any threat to the organisms under investigation or to the experimenter. Nevertheless, the envision facility is designed so that radioisotopes are never released into the environment.The project consists of setting up an Applied Radioisotope & Environmental Laboratory (ARIEL) for the safe handling of radioisotopes and their use as radiolabels in various type of samples such as sediments, soils, water, and organisms exposed to very low levels of radiations in environmentally realistic experimental settings. The laboratory will include (i) an experimental bench for organism exposures to radiotracers; (ii) a working space for syntheses of labelled molecules, sample preparations as well as space for chromatographic separation and cryo-microtomy; (iii) a dark analytical room with various radioisotope detectors (alpha, beta and gamma radiation) to perform the Quantitative Whole-body Autoradiography.We are proposing the expansion and refurbishing of the radiochemistry laboratory in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Surrey on a modest surface of no more than 30 m2. Currently, our radiotracer working group has only the exclusive use of a very small laboratory (ca. 12 m2) where we cannot house the NX 70 cryomicrotome (recently funded by CAMS # 600310/10 fellowship - Tracking Nanoplastic in Biological Tissue awarded to the present PI) and other equipment already in our possession (i.e. dedicated Glove box, in vivo gamma counter, liquid scintillation counter). This space could not house the necessary equipment for the long-term development of the radiotracer laboratory herein proposed.To complete the laboratory, we are proposing to acquire new equipment including an oxidizer, a liquid gamma counter, a super low-level liquid scintillation counter and a phosphor imager with lead shielding boxes.ARIEL will offer a unique opportunity world-wide to train highly qualified personnel via the Bachelor, master and doctoral programs in radiochemistry at the University of Surrey. The research that will be generated by the laboratory will be key in terms of acquiring new knowledge on the behaviour of aquatic species and ecosystems in the face of environmental stressors (e.g. toxic inputs and environmental change). As such, the project proposed aligns with the university strategic research theme of sustainability. The priority of the laboratory is to provide a full characterisation of the fate of plastic particles and other hazardous emerging contaminants in environmental matrices. The laboratory will provide a state-of-the-art facility for the next generation of ecotoxicology and environmental studies.