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Postgraduate and honours research projects - infrared spectroscopyHigh resolution synchrotron spectroscopy of atmospheric species and transientsProfessor Don McNaughton, Dr Evan Robertson, Dr Chris Thompson (School of Chemistry) Dr Mark Tobin (Australian Synchrotron IR beamline scientist), Dr Dominique Appadoo (Australian Synchrotron IR beamline scientist) High-resolution FTIR spectroscopy has applications in:
Our high resolution infrared spectroscopy laboratory is well equipped with multipath cells, jet and pyrolysis equipment, which together allows us to tackle a number of problems in the areas listed above. One of the areas of interest where we have already carried out a number of projects is the generation and study of short lived species and investigations of hydrofluorocarbons. From 2008 the Australian synchrotron provides an added advantage for this work with a new spectrometer coupled to the bright synchrotron source. In collaboration with the beamline scientists at the Australian synchrotron we will optimize the high resolution beamline, characterize the beam and gather useful data on HFC and CFC molecules. In order to stop the depletion of atmospheric ozone halocarbons such as Chloro Fluoro Carbons, CFC's were banned some years ago. Their replacements, the Hydro Fluoro Carbons, HFC's however are usually contributors to the enhanced greenhouse effect and there is a need to monitor these species. FTIR provides such a technique and this project is aimed at assigning and understanding the IR spectra of fluorocarbons with a view to providing the essential information for atmospheric monitoring. Another target is ethylene oxide (c-CH2CH2O), an important industrial chemical used as an intermediate in the production of ethylene glycol and other chemicals, and as a sterilant for foodstuffs and medical supplies. This molecule is a potential hazard in the workplace environment, so that it is desirable to obtain high quality IR spectral data that could assist with IR monitoring. Targeted interstellar species are propynal, formamide, N2S, methyleneimine. Spectroscopic approaches to disease and analysis in biology and medicineProfessor Don McNaughton and Dr Bayden Wood (School of Chemistry) This project has a number of aspects and the focus will depend on the availability of samples in 2008 and the interests of the student. We expect the following to be available. Monitoring the reverse sickling phenomenon with FT-IR synchrotron imaging/ Raman micro imaging spectroscopy Sickle cell disease is one of the most common genetic diseases in the US, affecting 1 in 400 African Americans. Unlike normal erythrocytes, which are rounded and doughnut shaped, sickle red blood cells become hard, sticky and shaped like sickles used to cut wheat. The sickling is induced when the cell becomes deoxygenated and the haemoglobin is polymerised into fibres. Over the past 2 years we have developed methodology to enable in vivo Raman microscopic analysis of single living red blood cells using a micro-Raman spectrometer coupled to a water immersion objective. The project will investigate the nature of haem stacking and its association with the reverse sickling phenomenon that characterizes the homozygous sickle-cell trait using Raman and FT-IR imaging spectroscopy on living cells. These techniques may provide a molecular insight into the dynamical nature of the "haem pocket" throughout this extraordinary morphological transition and play an important role in drug design strategies. The use of infrared spectroscopy and imaging in the diagnosis of disease These projects involve collaborations with medical researchers and surgeons, e.g. Cervical cancer with Assoc. Prof. Michael Quinn at the Royal Women's hospital, brain cancer with Dr Elizabeth Schultke, Saskatchewan, Canada, Multiple Sclerosis with Prof Claude Bernard of the Monash Immunological and stem cell centre. The research will involve IR imaging of tissue samples and cervical cells and the correlation of IR spectra with pathological results. Much of this research involves the use of synchrotron sources. For further information please contact:
Professor Don McNaughton |