Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

Analysis and use of nanoparticles is an emerging and important area of research. Nanoparticles have diameters in the nanometer range, which is less than 1/1000th of a millimeter. These particles are so small that they cannot be seen using typical instruments or microscopes because of the limits of detection imposed by the wavelength of light. In biological sciences research, nanoparticles include viruses and viral-like particles, lipid-protein complexes like LDL or HDL, neuronal synaptosomes, as well a newly discovered nanoparticles called extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs are a new way that many cells, including cancer cells, immune cells, and bacteria, use to communicate with each other. It is critical that researchers at Memorial University who study the importance of biological nanoparticles can accurately and precisely quantify and characterize these unique biological objects.*Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) uses the light-scattering of nanoparticles by their Brownian motion to overcome the limits of detection imposed by the wavelengths of light to visualize, size, and quantify biological nanoparticles. Recent advances in fluorescence detection technology also allows researchers to combine NTA with specific detection of proteins or lipids to define sub-populations of EVs, viruses, or lipoproteins. The only technique that is able to accurately and rapidly visualize, size, and quantify mixed populations of nanoparticles is NTA, and the only NTA instrument with fluorescence detection capabilities is the NanoSight NS300 from Malvern Instruments.*The NanoSight NS300 will directly support the research programs of the 10 applicants from the Departments of Biochemistry, Biology, and Ocean Sciences in the Faculty of Science as well as from the Division of BioMedical Sciences in the Faculty of Medicine. In addition, at least four other research groups have a significant need for this NTA technology. The work performed by these groups spans life sciences research from virology to immunology, from neurobiology to aquaculture to nutrition, and more. The applicants and other users of the NS300 will analyze and quantify EVs including exosomes, microvesicles and synaptosomes, as well as lipid droplets, virus particles, experimental lipoprotein preparations, and mitochondria. Thus, acquisition of the NS300 will directly benefit multiple and diverse research programs across Memorial University allowing them to compete on a global stage to provide new and exciting answers to some of life's most fundamental questions.*