NanoSight System for Particle Tracking Analysis in Biological Fluids

描述(申请人提供)：所需设备：本提案寻求支持NanoSight有限公司收购用于纳米颗粒跟踪分析(NTA)的NS300集成系统。该系统独特地利用光散射和布朗运动特性来可视化、测量和计数任何液体悬浮液中纳米尺度(10-1000 nm)的颗粒。原理：NTA是最近发展起来的一项技术，它结合了两种方法：光散射显微镜和颗粒在液体悬浮液中运动时的布朗运动特性。该仪器具有广泛的独特应用--包括外切体和微囊、纳米颗粒、病毒和蛋白质聚集体的表征--因此特别适合作为共享仪器，促进我们研究所大量NIH支持的研究人员的工作。用户群体拥有由美国国立卫生研究院资助的大型多学科环境制剂(从颗粒/纳米颗粒到微生物制剂)及其健康影响机制的研究组合，研究外切体和微囊在生物液中的作用。实施：该仪器将位于目前运作良好的核心设施内，并得到NIEHS中心赠款的支持。仪器将由PI管理，他在核心设施运营方面拥有丰富的专业知识，以造福用户。私家侦探及其职员在使用该系统方面已受过良好训练。两名高级技术人员将为用户组实验室成员提供培训、监督和支持。支助包括为核心设施(机构)内的仪器提供空间，覆盖服务合同和系统未来部件更换的范围(机构)，以及核心设施工作人员支助(NIEHS中心赠款)，以提供补贴用户费率。一个内部咨询委员会将监督系统的使用并确保访问该系统。摘要：这种仪器将通过一个制度上支持的、建立良好的核心设施，显著提高NIH支持的大量研究人员的研究能力和生产率。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Equipment Requested: This proposal seeks support for acquisition of a NS300 integrated system for Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) by NanoSight Ltd. The system uniquely utilizes light scattering and Brownian motion properties to visualize, measure, and count particle-by-particle in the nanosize scale (10-1000 nm) in any liquid suspension. Rationale: NTA is a recently developed technology that combines two methods, light scattering microscopy and the Brownian motion properties of particles when moving in a liquid suspension. The instrument has a wide spectrum of unique applications - including characterization of exosomes and microvesicles, nanoparticles, viruses, and protein aggregates - and is therefore particularly well suited to serve as shared instrumentation and promote the work of a high number of NIH-supported researchers at our institution. The user group has a large multidisciplinary NIH-funded portfolio of studies of environmental agents (ranging from particles/nanoparticles to microbial agents) and of the mechanisms of their health effects investigating the roles of exosomes and microvesicles in biological fluids. Implementation: The instrumentation will be situated within a well-established core facility in current operation and supported by a NIEHS Center grant. The instrumentation will be managed by the PI, who has extensive expertise in core facility operation for user benefit. The PI and his staff are already well trained in the use of the system. Two senior technologists will provide training, supervision and support to the user group lab members. Support includes space for the instrumentation within the core facility (institutional), coverage of service contracts and future component replacements for the system (institutional), and core facility staff support (NIEHS Center grant) to provide subsidized user rates. An internal advisory committee will supervise use and assure access to the system. Summary: This instrumentation will significantly improve the research capacity and productivity of a large number of NIH-supported investigators via an institutionally supported, well- established core facility.