A high sensitivity fluorescence spectrophotometer for advanced characterization of nanomaterials, biomaterials, and biocolloids

我们需要一种高灵敏度的荧光分光光度计，能够对许多不同类型的介质(例如淡水、土壤孔隙、缓冲液、培养介质、溶剂)中的各种颗粒、生物胶体和分子(例如纳米塑料、金属、碳点、细菌、病毒、蛋白质)进行量化和表征。这项技术将使我们能够推进由NSERC资助的正在进行的研究活动，并在许多具有全球意义的领域取得新发现：例如，微塑料污染、环境纳米技术、生物材料、药物输送、能源收集和储存材料以及病原体检测。这一最先进的系统提供世界上最高的有保证的灵敏度规格，并将支持麦吉尔化学、材料工程和化学系的3名共同申请者以及麦吉尔和魁北克其他地方的工程和科学的其他几个用户的积极研究计划。该系统的其他主要优点是将样品污染物的影响降至最低、无损分析、超低样品体积测量能力、包括吸光度、化学发光和生物发光在内的多种分析模式。在我们现有的材料表征工具套件中增加高灵敏度分光光度计，确保了一个独特和最先进的环境，在这个环境中，至少有27名学生将有机会立即进行荧光材料表征和生物分析方面的动手培训。这些都是非常有市场价值的技能，可以在许多研究和开发领域转让：例如，纳米技术、生物医学科学、化学品制造、油漆和涂料、制药、个人护理产品、食品和饮料以及环境行业。因此，资助这一仪器将是将最先进的设备和专业知识带给加拿大研究界的一种相对廉价的手段。这一仪器带来的研究将对加拿大人的生活产生积极影响，因为它将提供必要的信息，以规范潜在有害物质的生产、使用和处置，彻底改变用于治疗和诊断疾病的生物材料的开发，减缓有害病原体的传播，并改变能源储存和收集设备的效率。

We are requesting a high sensitivity fluorescence spectrophotometer with the capability to quantify and characterize a wide range of particles, biocolloids, and molecules (e.g., nanoplastics, metals, carbon dots, bacteria, viruses, proteins) in many different types of media (e.g., freshwaters, soil porewaters, buffers, culture media, solvents). This technology will allow us to advance our ongoing NSERC-funded research activities and make new discoveries in many areas of global significance: e.g., microplastic pollution, environmental nanotechnology, biomaterials, drug delivery, materials for energy harvesting and storage, and pathogen detection. This state-of-the-art system offers the world's highest guaranteed sensitivity specification and will support the active research programs of 3 co-applicants in the Departments of Chemical and Materials Engineering and Chemistry at McGill and several other users in Engineering and Science at McGill and elsewhere in Quebec. Additional major advantages of this system are the minimization of the influence of sample contaminants, non-destructive analysis, ultra-low sample volume measurement capability, multiple analysis modes including absorbance, chemiluminescence and bioluminescence. The addition of the high sensitivity spectrophotometer to our existing suite of materials characterisation tools ensures a unique and state-of-the-art environment where at least 27 students will have the opportunity for immediate hands-on training in characterization of fluorescent materials and conduct of biological assays. These are highly marketable skills that are transferrable in many areas of research and development: e.g., nanotechnologies, biomedical sciences, manufacturing of chemicals, paints and coatings, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, food and beverage, and environmental industries. Thus, funding of this instrument would be a relatively inexpensive means to bring state-of-the-art equipment and expertise to the Canadian research community. The research enabled by this instrument will positively impact the lives of Canadians by providing the information needed to regulate the production, use, and disposal of potentially harmful materials, revolutionize the development of biomaterials for treatment and diagnosis of diseases, mitigate the spread of harmful pathogens and transform the efficiency of energy storage and harvesting devices.