Mass spectrometer for the radiation sciences

核医学和放射生物学系是一个多学科的小组，研究辐射引起DNA损伤的机制，低能电子和动热离子的物理化学。同样重要的是，该小组致力于正电子发射断层扫描(PET)和磁共振成像(MRI)的新型成像试剂的开发和应用。我们的团队需要一台质谱仪来识别和量化几种类型的研究中的产品，包括：DNA损伤、浓缩表面研究和有机合成。对于某些实验，我们必须检测到相对少量的产物，这些产物是由修饰的寡核苷酸的光解或分子薄膜对凝聚表面的轰击产生的。目前，对产物的检测主要采用高效液相色谱-紫外检测法，但这种方法不能给我们提供重要的结构信息。除了上述研究外，我们团队还进行了广泛的有机合成，特别是用于PET和MRI的修饰寡肽。为了优化化学反应，我们需要用质谱仪监测中间体、产物和副反应的形成。购买质谱仪是培养高素质人才和开展辐射科学研究项目所必需的。

The department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiobiology is a multidisciplinary group which studies the mechanism of radiation induced DNA damage, the physical chemistry of low energy electrons and kinetically hot ions. Equally important, this group works on the development and application of novel imaging agents for positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Our group needs a mass spectrometer to identify and quantify products in several types of studies including: DNA damage, condensed surface studies, and organic synthesis. For certain experiments, we must detect relatively small amounts of products generated by the photolysis of modified oligonucleotides or the bombardment of thin films of molecules on condensed surfaces. Presently, the products are detected by liquid chromatography with UV detection; however, this method does not give us important structural information. In addition to the above studies, our group does extensive organic synthesis particularly of modified oligopeptides for PET and MRI. To optimize the chemical reactions, we need to monitor the formation of intermediates, products and side-reactions by mass spectrometry. The purchase of a mass spectrometer is necessary to train highly qualified personnel and pursue our research programs in the radiation sciences.