Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

One of the greatest challenges to understanding how molecules and polymers in living biological tissues interact is the inability to characterize both chemical structure and function in undisturbed biological tissues. Chemical additives enable contrast in biological tissues however, with limitations such as requiring genetic manipulation or dyes suffering from photobleaching, quick digestibility, or cytotoxicity and unintended alterations. Importantly, effects of structural heterogeneity between neighbouring proteins or polymers are difficult to assess since structural analysis techniques typically require purified samples or lack biocompatibility. In the proposed research, we will take advantage of the nonlinear optical properties of molecules and polymers to discover how biologically relevant polymers assemble, degrade and repair in undisturbed tissues. To achieve this goal, we will use a combination of different advanced nonlinear optical analysis techniques and develop novel instrumentation for characterizing the structural properties of polymers. The proposed instrumentation will be the first system in Canada and one of a handful in the world to perform fast nonlinear optical characterization of polymer structural properties. This research will allow advanced and world class training opportunities for students. Understanding how biologically relevant polymers assemble, degrade and repair will provide new developments in agricultural and pharmaceutical research. For instance, insight into the structural changes of collagen in the extracellular matrix during ageing will be studied which has applicability in developing organ scaffolds, and new pharmaceuticals. Further, novel insights into the complex structure and digestion properties of cellulose, chitin and starch has tremendous impact on global food, biofuels, pulp and paper, textile and biodegradable materials industries, with potential for spin-off companies enabling the next generation of Canadian entrepreneurs. Finally, an improved understanding of photosynthesis has applications in increasing plant growth efficiency, growing plants in colder climates and increasing global food supply. This knowledge may also be implemented to develop advanced artificial solar cells, enabling solar cells with dynamic antenna for improved efficiency collection during low light conditions.