Isothermal titration calorimeter for molecular interactions

此申请的目的是购买一台设备进行等温滴定量热法（ITC）。ITC是一种用于获得表征分子相互作用的热力学参数的最先进技术。基于测量分子物种之间相互作用期间释放或吸收的热量，单个ITC实验可以产生所有必要的热力学参数;结合常数（Kb）、反应化学计量（n）、焓（H）、熵（S）和吉布斯自由能（G）。这些参数的关系为：G = RTlnKb = H-TS，其中R和T分别是气体常数和温度。这些参数可以从单个计算机化实验获得，而不需要标记所涉及的分子种类、固定化或在分子相互作用期间使用报告分子。由于ITC产生了关于分子相互作用的基本信息，阿尔伯塔大学化学与材料工程系的几个研究小组将从这种设备中受益。将依赖ITC设备的研究途径是：（i）设计新型药物递送系统，其中广泛的治疗剂之间的相互作用（ii）肽自组装，其中基于自组装肽的生物材料支架将被设计用于生物医学应用;（iii）蛋白质对生物材料的吸附，其中将研究细胞粘附蛋白质在机械应力玻璃上的结合;（iv）分子筛的设计，其中将设计具有受控结构的沸石用于广泛的工业过程，例如催化和分子分离;（v）石油热力学，其中重油-沥青-工业溶剂之间的相互作用将被表征以改进石油加工，以及;（vi）聚合物热力学，其中聚合物-聚合物和聚合物-溶剂相互作用将被研究为聚合物结构性质的函数。ITC的可用性将在这些不同的研究领域产生重大影响，并加速我们的研究工作。

The purpose of this application is to purchase an equipment to conduct isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). ITC is a state-of-the-art technique used to obtain the thermodynamic parameters characterizing molecular interactions. Based on the measurement of heat released or absorbed during the interactions among the molecular species, a single ITC experiment can yield all of the necessary thermodynamics parameters; binding constants (Kb), reaction stoichiometry (n), enthalpy (H), entropy (S) and Gibb's free energy (G). These parameters are related by: G = RTlnKb = H -TS, where R and T are Gas Constant and Temperature, respectively. These parameters can be obtained from a single, computerized experiment, without the need to label the molecular species involved, immobilization or using reporter molecules during the molecular interactions. Becasue the ITC generates such a fundamental information about molecular interactions, several research groups at the Chemical & Materials Engineering Department of the University of Alberta will benefit from this equipment. The research avenues that will rely on the ITC equipment are; (i) design of novel drug delivery systems, where the intraction between a wide spectrum of therapeutic agents (nucleic acids and organic molecules) and designer materials will be investigated; (ii) peptide self-assemply, where biomaterials scaffolds based on self-assembling peptides will be engineered for biomedical applications; (iii) protein adsorption to biomaterials, where binding of cell-adhesive proteins on mechanically streesed bioglass will be studied; (iv) design of molecular sieves, where zeolites with controlled architecture will be enginered for a wide array of industrial processes, such as catalysis and molecular seperations; (v) petroleum thermodynamics, where the interaction among heavy oils-bitumen-industrial solvents will be characterized to improve petroleum processing, and; (vi) polymer thermodynamics, where polymer-polymer and polymer-solvent interactions will be investigated as a function of polymer architectural properties. The availability of ITC will make a significant impact in these diverse research areas and accelerate our research endeavors.