High Performance Analysis of Complex Organic Mixtures

我们的研究计划的主要重点是设计高度自动化的小型化和集成仪器，用于从复杂基质中分离有机材料，以及随后对这些物种进行分离，鉴定和定量。发展新的分析分离方法，快速有效地测定痕量有机物质，对当代分析化学家提出了重大挑战，不仅对化学，而且对生物和环境科学以及医学都有重大影响。传统上，追踪方法的一个关键组成部分是缓慢、劳动密集型的取样和样品制备步骤。我们正在积极寻求无溶剂、“绿色”的方法，这种方法可以将取样和样品制备步骤结合起来。这一努力将导致高通量的实验室测定，以及方便的现场和体内分析。我们努力的长期目标是将分析化学“现场”，即样品所在地，以促进低成本、快速和准确的测量和监测。为此，我们正在研究膜，针和纤维配置。我们研究的一个重要的基本组成部分是通过调查主要的传质步骤，开发数学模型，并通过使用实验数据验证所述模型来增加我们对提取过程的理解。这种方法使我们能够开发方便的提取设备，有效的方法和适当的校准程序。在Discovery基金支持的下一个5年研究计划中，我们建议对直接SPME采样中的位移现象进行基本理解，以将其应用范围扩大到更具挑战性的任务，包括不稳定癌症生物标志物的代谢组学研究，微生物学中的代谢组学研究，唾液的体内和体外微创SPME采样，和水下SPME富集生物重要分子。我们还将开发冷纤维纳米颗粒收集和吸附界面膜提取（MESI）用于呼吸分析的应用。研究的另一个主要方向是设计高效短毛细管分离技术的全柱成像检测方法。成像工作的扩展将导致纹影显微镜技术，其中信号与浓度梯度而不是浓度水平成比例，这将强调所研究的生命系统中的动态。这种方法可能成为生命系统微观研究的标准特征。该计划将涉及研究合作，只要它有助于实现我们的研究目标。例如，与来自新加坡的南洋理工大学的纽曼斯教授在黑色素瘤生物标志物发现方面的联合研究工作将有助于我们与多伦多总医院的Marcelo Cypel教授小组的工作，该医院的外科医生开发了独特的原位癌症治疗方法。我们将与滑铁卢大学的Mark Servos教授在格兰德河生态系统调查中，与维多利亚大学的Verena Tunnicliffe教授在使用遥控水下航行器的水下发现中，以及与墨西拿大学的Luigi Mondello教授在地中海大型蛤蜊污染物积累调查中合作，实际探索水下SPME采样的基础工作。一名本科生，四名研究生，三名博士后和一名研究助理将接受突破性分析技术开发和应用方面的培训。

The primary focus of our research program is to design highly automated miniaturized and integrated instrumentation for the isolation of organic materials from complex matrices, as well as the subsequent separation, identification and quantification of these species. The development of new analytical separation methodology for rapid and efficient determination of organic substances in trace amounts poses a significant challenge to the contemporary analytical chemist, and has major implications not only for chemistry, but also for the biological and environmental sciences as well as medicine. Traditionally, a key component of trace methodology has been slow, labour-intensive sampling and sample preparation steps. We are actively pursuing solvent-free, “green” approaches that can integrate both sampling and sample preparation steps. This effort will lead to high throughput laboratory determination, as well as convenient field and in-vivo analysis. Long-term objective of our efforts is to move analytical chemistry "on-site", where the sample is located to facilitate low cost, rapid and accurate measurement and monitoring. We are investigating membrane, needle, and fibre configurations for this purpose. A significant, fundamental component of our research is to increase our understanding of the extraction processes by investigating primary mass transfer steps, developing mathematical models, and verifying said models by using experimental data. This approach allows us to develop convenient extraction devices, effective methods, and appropriate calibration procedures. In the next 5-year research program supported by the Discovery grant, we propose to develop a fundamental understanding of displacement phenomenon in direct SPME sampling to broaden the scope of its application to more challenging tasks, including metabolomics investigation of unstable cancer biomarkers, metabolomics investigations in microbiology, in-vivo and ex-vivo minimum invasive SPME sampling of saliva, and underwater SPME enrichment of biologically significant molecules. We will also develop an application of cold-fibre nanoparticle collection and Membrane Extraction with Sorbent Interface (MESI) for breath analysis. The other major direction of the research is to design whole column imaging detection methods for high efficiency short capillary separation techniques. The extension of the imaging work will result in the Schlieren Microscope technique, where the signal is proportional to concentration gradient rather than concentration level, which will emphasize the dynamics in the investigated living system. This approach could become a standard feature of microscopic investigation of living systems. The program will involve research collaboration whenever it assists in achieving our research objective. For example, the joint research effort with Professor Newman Sze from Nanyang Technological University from Singapore on melanoma biomarker discovery will assist our work with Professor Marcelo Cypel’s group at Toronto General Hospital, where surgeons develop unique in situ cancer treatment. Our fundamental work on underwater SPME sampling will be explored practically in collaboration with Professor Mark Servos from University of Waterloo in the Grand River ecosystem investigation, Professor Verena Tunnicliffe, from the University of Victoria in underwater discovery using remotely operated underwater vehicle, and Professor Luigi Mondello, from the University of Messina in investigation of accumulation of contaminants by large clams in Mediterranean Sea. One undergraduate, four graduate, three postdoctoral students and a research associate will be trained in the development and application of groundbreaking analytical technologies.