EPSRC Reference: |
GR/S48240/01 |
Title: |
Nanoscale sensors for genomic and proteomic analysis inside the living cell |
Principal Investigator: |
Horrocks, Dr BR |
Other Investigators: |
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Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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Project Partners: |
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Department: |
School of Chemistry |
Organisation: |
Newcastle University |
Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
Starts: |
27 April 2004 |
Ends: |
26 October 2007 |
Value (£): |
333,844
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EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
Analytical Science |
Cells |
Surfaces & Interfaces |
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EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
Chemicals |
Healthcare |
Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology |
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Related Grants: |
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Panel History: |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
The information required by cell biologists includes a description of when and where mRNA transcripts are produced and proteins are synthesized and also how these macromolecules are moved around the cell, activated and located in specific cell compartments. Such information is likely to provide a knowledge base that may be exploited for more effective and directed therapeutic strategies. The aim of this proposal is to develop methods for performing molecular biology experiments inside the living cell with spatial and temporal resolution sufficient to allow biologists to address the fundamental questions of cell biology. We and others have come to the conclusion that conventional fluorescence probes will not achieve this goal because fluorescence spectra are rather broad and that instead Raman spectra which are rich in chemical information and have relatively narrow linewidths are more promising, especially in multianalyte experiments where spectral overlap is likely to be a serious problem. Fluorescence is, however, a sensitive tool for imaging and an ideal nanoscale probe would combine the two. The basic concept is therefore to use indirect-gap sizequantized systems (quantum dots or their agglomerations) which can act as both luminescence probes (for spatial localisation) and Raman probes (to provide time-resolved biochemical information)
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Key Findings |
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 |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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 |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Project URL: |
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Further Information: |
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Organisation Website: |
http://www.ncl.ac.uk |