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Content archived on 2024-06-18

Simultaneous Elemental and Molecular Imaging of Biological Targets – A New Paradigm for the Study of Disease and its Treatment

Objective

"This project proposes the development of a technology capable of delivering, high speed, simultaneous elemental and molecular maps of biological targets. Specifically these targets will include plaques associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), tumours treated with Pt-based chemotherapy drugs, and cell populations derived from the FP7 project, the ONE Study. The dual-mode imaging system will enable the analysis of metallo-proteins and their binding sites, or where there is no native metal tag or its abundance is too small to detect, anti-body or specific reactive chemistry metal or nano-particle tags will be added to the target molecules. For the ONE Study, one of the key project aims is to develop cell labelling strategies that will enable therapeutically administered cells to be tracked at low abundance in the host cell populations without toxic impact on either the therapeutic cells or host organism.

The technology will be based on employing a common pulsed laser platform for laser ablation, desorption, or matrix assisted sampling of the target material simultaneously coupled with inductively-coupled plasma elemental mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and ion trap organic mass spectrometry. In the case of the molecular mass spectrometry, electro-spray or matrix assisted charging will be used. The sampling will employ a technology developed in the host laboratory that enables targets to be sampled at atmospheric pressure whilst excluding atmosphere from the sampling point. The technology will be optimised for high speed and high efficiency to enable rapid mapping of targets at very high sensitivity. This will require development of a new high efficiency torch design for ICP-MS and the novel use of micro-jet pumps to deliver samples to the mass spectrometers.

The project will also take advantage of the Fellow’s expertise in synchrotron X-ray techniques to obtain non-destructive and comparative analyses of the specimen materials."

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Topic(s)

Call for proposal

FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IIF
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

MC-IIF - International Incoming Fellowships (IIF)

Coordinator

LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY
EU contribution
€ 210 092,80
Address
ASHBY ROAD
LE11 3TU Loughborough
United Kingdom
Region
East Midlands (England) Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire Leicestershire CC and Rutland
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
No data