| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/E065414/1 |
| Title: |
Reaction Control on Single Magnetic Particles with Temporal and Spatial Precision |
| Principal Investigator: |
Pamme, Professor N |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Physical Sciences |
| Organisation: |
University of Hull |
| Scheme: |
First Grant Scheme |
| Starts: |
01 February 2008 |
Ends: |
31 July 2011 |
Value (£): |
203,368
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Fluid Dynamics |
Microsystems |
| Reactor Engineering |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Modern society has many demands for quick analytical chemistry, including applications in health and disease monitoring, environmental pollution or crime scene investigation. Analytical chemistry ultimately is based on chemical reactions between analytes and marker molecules. Most reactions are carried out in flasks with vigorous agitation for turbulent mixing or in microwells for many hours to allow for diffusion based mixing. Over the last decade, fluid handling in microchannels has revolutionised analytical chemistry. Analytical reactions can be performed quickly due to short diffusion distances and large surface to volume ratios; other advantages include minute consumption of samples and reagents as well as the potential to integrate several analysis steps into one device. The goal of this research is to study chemical reactions in highly specified environments by combining the unique features of microfluidic technology, functionalised particles and magnetic forces.Fluid behaviour in microchannels however is characterised by laminar flow regimes and diffusion based mixing and is thus well characterised and controllable. Surface functionalised micro- and nanoparticles are employed in many areas of chemistry including catalysis, (bio)analytical assays and as stationary phase for chromatographic separations and can be effectively combined with microfluidic systems to obtain a very large surface to volume ratio. In this particular study, magnetic particles will offer the additional advantage of external control by magnetic forces which do not interfere with the chemical activity of the beads.In this proposal, a microfluidic tool will be delivered featuring parallel flow streams. Magnetic particles with chemical functional groups on their surfaces can be pulled through the streams by external magnetic forces. Reactions on the particles' surface in specific flow streams can be studied in real time; the influence of varying reagent concentrations, fluid viscosity and solvent composition can be investigated in continuous flow; with the reaction product being isolated from the reagents at the same time. Such a platform would also be feasible for studies on surface tension between the particle surface and flow streams. Ultimately, the multi-flow chip could be employed as a research tool in biomedical chemistry or as an integrated device for point-of-care and in-the field analysis.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
http://www2.hull.ac.uk/science/chemistry/staff/academic_staff/dr_nicole_pamme/research.aspx |
| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.hull.ac.uk |