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
Li X
(2011)
Low-Temperature Preparation of Single Crystal Titanium Carbide Nanofibers in Molten Salts
in Crystal Growth & Design
Li X
(2008)
The Preparation and CVD Densification of Multi-walled Carbon Nanotube Felt Synthesized by a Catalytic CVD Method
in Chemical Vapor Deposition
LI X
(2008)
Water assisted synthesis of clean single-walled carbon nanotubes over a Fe2O3/Al2O3 binary aerogel catalyst
in New Carbon Materials
Manshian BB
(2013)
Single-walled carbon nanotubes: differential genotoxic potential associated with physico-chemical properties.
in Nanotoxicology
McCrohan C
(2008)
Response to Comment on "Avoidance of Aluminum Toxicity in Freshwater Snails Involves Intracellular Silicon-Aluminum Biointeraction"
in Environmental Science & Technology
Mu Q
(2014)
Systematic investigation of the physicochemical factors that contribute to the toxicity of ZnO nanoparticles.
in Chemical research in toxicology
Mu Q
(2012)
Mechanism of cellular uptake of genotoxic silica nanoparticles.
in Particle and fibre toxicology
Pan Y
(2013)
Quantification of absolute iron content in mineral cores of cytosolic ferritin molecules in human liver
in Materials Science and Technology
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
Pele L
(2015)
Artefactual nanoparticle activation of the inflammasome platform: in vitro evidence with a nano-formed calcium phosphate.
in Nanomedicine (London, England)
Pereira DI
(2013)
Caco-2 cell acquisition of dietary iron(III) invokes a nanoparticulate endocytic pathway.
in PloS one
Powell JJ
(2015)
An endogenous nanomineral chaperones luminal antigen and peptidoglycan to intestinal immune cells.
in Nature nanotechnology
Powell JJ
(2014)
A nano-disperse ferritin-core mimetic that efficiently corrects anemia without luminal iron redox activity.
in Nanomedicine : nanotechnology, biology, and medicine
Qaisar S
(2010)
Sol-gel synthesis and TEM-EDX characterisation of hydroxyapatite nanoscale powders modified by Mg, Sr or Ti
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Raza M
(2012)
Performance of graphite nanoplatelet/silicone composites as thermal interface adhesives
in Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics
Raza M
(2012)
Texture, transport and mechanical properties of graphite nanoplatelet/silicone composites produced by three roll mill
in Composites Science and Technology
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
Rozita Y
(2013)
A Study of Commercial Nanoparticulate ?-Al 2 O 3 Catalyst Supports
in ChemCatChem
Sader K
(2010)
Quantitative analysis of image contrast in phase contrast STEM for low dose imaging
in Ultramicroscopy
Sader K
(2008)
Structural characterisation of protein-caged iron minerals in biological systems
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Sader K
(2010)
Smart Acquisition EELS
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Sader K
(2010)
Smart acquisition EELS
in Ultramicroscopy
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
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 |