Characterisation of Nano-Particulates in Natural Systems
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: Institute of Materials Research
Abstract
Characterisation of the primary nano-particulate crystallites that make up natural and synthetic structures is of increasing importance in industrial, biological and environmental application. This Advanced Fellowship aims to build on existing studies by the applicant, his collaborators, and his PhD students, and will focus on the determination of the surface characteristics that appear to differentiate nano-particle minerals in natural systems (environmental and biological) from those in synthetic systems. In particular the underlying hypothesis is that dynamic exchangeable (or thermodynamically unstable) surfaces are a consistent feature of primary particles in natural systems that then shape the physical characteristics at the macroscopic level, in particular explaining aspects of exchangeability, turnover, mechanical strength and interaction with organic molecules. The application draws on the latest analytical electron microscopy techniques available in the physical sciences and, with novel application, applies them to the environments of natural systems which are very sensitive to electron beam irradiation. This leading edge structural analysis will provide fundamental data that will then be used to probe the function of the particle in the system. Therefore the application truly serves to advance potential understanding and cross-disciplinary interaction.
People |
ORCID iD |
Andrew Brown (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Pan YH
(2009)
3D morphology of the human hepatic ferritin mineral core: new evidence for a subunit structure revealed by single particle analysis of HAADF-STEM images.
in Journal of structural biology
Powell JJ
(2014)
A nano-disperse ferritin-core mimetic that efficiently corrects anemia without luminal iron redox activity.
in Nanomedicine : nanotechnology, biology, and medicine
Rozita Y
(2013)
A Study of Commercial Nanoparticulate ?-Al 2 O 3 Catalyst Supports
in ChemCatChem
Vallina B
(2013)
Amorphous dysprosium carbonate: characterization, stability, and crystallization pathways
in Journal of Nanoparticle Research
Powell JJ
(2015)
An endogenous nanomineral chaperones luminal antigen and peptidoglycan to intestinal immune cells.
in Nature nanotechnology
Brydson R
(2014)
Analytical Transmission Electron Microscopy
in Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry
Pele L
(2015)
Artefactual nanoparticle activation of the inflammasome platform: in vitro evidence with a nano-formed calcium phosphate.
in Nanomedicine (London, England)
White KN
(2008)
Avoidance of aluminum toxicity in freshwater snails involves intracellular silicon-aluminum biointeraction.
in Environmental science & technology
Pereira DI
(2013)
Caco-2 cell acquisition of dietary iron(III) invokes a nanoparticulate endocytic pathway.
in PloS one
Vaughan G
(2012)
Characterisation of Synthetic Two-line Ferrihydrite by Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Wallace R
(2012)
Characterisation of ZnO nanoparticle suspensions for toxicological applications
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Whittleston RA
(2011)
Chromate reduction in Fe(II)-containing soil affected by hyperalkaline leachate from chromite ore processing residue.
in Journal of hazardous materials
Bilton M
(2012)
Comparison of Hydrothermal and Sol-Gel Synthesis of Nano-Particulate Hydroxyapatite by Characterisation at the Bulk and Particle Level
in Open Journal of Inorganic Non-metallic Materials
Doak SH
(2009)
Confounding experimental considerations in nanogenotoxicology.
in Mutagenesis
Booth M
(2012)
Determining the Concentration of CuInS 2 Quantum Dots from the Size-Dependent Molar Extinction Coefficient
in Chemistry of Materials
Scott A
(2008)
Effects of aerosol heating rate on the properties of aggregates of lead zirconate titanate nanoparticles produced by spray pyrolysis
in Journal of Materials Science
Aslam Z
(2008)
Electronic property investigations of single-walled carbon nanotube bundles in situ within a transmission electron microscope: an evaluation.
in Journal of microscopy
Vallina B
(2014)
Enhanced magnetic coercivity of a-Fe2O3 obtained from carbonated 2-line ferrihydrite
in Journal of Nanoparticle Research
Bots P
(2014)
Formation of stable uranium(VI) colloidal nanoparticles in conditions relevant to radioactive waste disposal.
in Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids
Wills JW
(2016)
Genetic toxicity assessment of engineered nanoparticles using a 3D in vitro skin model (EpiDermâ„¢).
in Particle and fibre toxicology
Raza MA
(2012)
Graphite nanoplatelets produced by oxidation and thermal exfoliation of graphite and electrical conductivities of their epoxy composites.
in Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology
Jugdaohsingh R
(2013)
High-aluminum-affinity silica is a nanoparticle that seeds secondary aluminosilicate formation.
in PloS one
Eddisford P
(2008)
Identifying and quantifying the mechanism of electron beam induced damage and recovery in hydroxyapatite
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Ward MB
(2013)
Investigating the role of microbes in mineral weathering: nanometre-scale characterisation of the cell-mineral interface using FIB and TEM.
in Micron (Oxford, England : 1993)
Vaughan G
(2010)
Low-electron fluence STEM-EELS analysis of ferrihydrite nano-particles approaching the Ångstrom scale
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Li X
(2011)
Low-Temperature Preparation of Single Crystal Titanium Carbide Nanofibers in Molten Salts
in Crystal Growth & Design
Brown A
(2014)
Measuring in vitro cellular uptake of nanoparticles by transmission electron microscopy
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Mu Q
(2012)
Mechanism of cellular uptake of genotoxic silica nanoparticles.
in Particle and fibre toxicology
Ward M
(2010)
Microscopical analysis of synovial fluid wear debris from failing CoCr hip prostheses
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Brydson R
(2015)
Microscopy of nanoparticulate dispersions.
in Journal of microscopy
Simoes T
(2014)
Microstructural characterization of low and high carbon CoCrMo alloy nanoparticles produced by mechanical milling
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Brown A
(2013)
Nanomedicine
Raza M
(2012)
Performance of graphite nanoplatelet/silicone composites as thermal interface adhesives
in Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics
Bonneville S
(2009)
Plant-driven fungal weathering: Early stages of mineral alteration at the nanometer scale
in Geology
Lear G
(2010)
Probing the biogeochemical behavior of technetium using a novel nuclear imaging approach.
in Environmental science & technology
Pan Y
(2013)
Quantification of absolute iron content in mineral cores of cytosolic ferritin molecules in human liver
in Materials Science and Technology
Sader K
(2010)
Quantitative analysis of image contrast in phase contrast STEM for low dose imaging
in Ultramicroscopy
Hondow N
(2012)
Quantitative characterization of nanoparticle agglomeration within biological media
in Journal of Nanoparticle Research
McCrohan C
(2008)
Response to Comment on "Avoidance of Aluminum Toxicity in Freshwater Snails Involves Intracellular Silicon-Aluminum Biointeraction"
in Environmental Science & Technology
Churchman AH
(2013)
Serum albumin enhances the membrane activity of ZnO nanoparticles.
in Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)
Manshian BB
(2013)
Single-walled carbon nanotubes: differential genotoxic potential associated with physico-chemical properties.
in Nanotoxicology
Description | I have developed methods to characterise nanoparticles in natural environments such as cells and frozen fluids by electron microscopy. Thus we can explore the structure and chemistry of these particles to explore how these environments might affect the particles' properties. |
Exploitation Route | I have progressed to a full academic in this area of electron microscopy. Others will use the microscopy techniques developed in this work for similar nano particle, nano toxicology and nano medicine investigations. |
Sectors | Chemicals,Environment,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |