Acquisition of Aerosol Particle Analyzers for Interdisciplinary, Collaborative Research and Education in Biomedical Engineering Program at Jackson State University
Abstract
Publicly Releasable This proposal requests items of equipment/instrumentation that comprise a system of aerosolized submicron- and nano-particle generating, characterizing, and analyzing tools that work in tandem. Each instrument contributes to the experimental objective of the studies. Measurement at an individual or stand-alone instrument has no use unless same or part of the sample is evaluated through another instrument successively. The equipment items are: Flow-Focusing Monodisperse Aerosol Generator (FMAG), High Volume Air Sampler (HVAS), Multi-gas Combustion Analyzer (MGCA), Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer Spectrometer (SMPS), Laser Aerosol Spectrometer (LAS), Aerosol Electrometer (AE), Aerosol Neutralizer (AN) and Flow Neutralizer (FN), Optical Particle Sizer (OPS), Q-Trak IAQ Monitor (QT), Bipolar Charge Analyzer (BOLAR), Data processing equipment (DPE), and B2 Biosafety Cabinet (B2BC). The FMAG is an aerosol generator for producing monodisperse nano and submicron aerosol particles. The HVAS collects total particulate matters from the ambient in real time. The MGCA measures O2, CO, CO2, NO and SO2 contents of breathing air in the simulated undersea working environment of increased atmospheric pressure. The SMPS (2.5nm to 1.0µm) and LAS (1.0µm to 10.0µm) simultaneously measures the aerodynamic diameter, scattered-light intensity, and fluorescence intensity. The AE provides total net charge and charge to mass ratio. The AN, a hand-held aerosol charge deactivation tool for non-radioactive workplace environment. The FN, a lab model for charge neutralization on a continuous flow of aerosols. The OPS measures particle number and mass concentration. The QT measures real-time indoor air quality e.g., temp, RH, organic and inorganic contaminants. The BOLAR measures the electrostatic bipolar charge distributions and classifications of aerosolized particles in real-time. The DPE is for storing and analyzing hundreds of experimental run aerosol data into simulation software for 300,000 plus grid points from trachea to bronchioles. The B2BC is to build a working platform for experimental setup of these instruments in order to acquire hazardless operational space while handling biohazardous chemical and biological agents. Research and Education to Support: The major aim of this proposal is to acquire instrument to enhance education programs and research capabilities in bio-, environmental- and therapeutic-aerosols science and engineering (ASE). Five faculty identified in this proposal have expertise in ASE. Their research got stagnant due to unavailability of these instrument at the institution. The submicron- and nano-particles suspended in a gas or air form aerosol. Aerosol particles are involved with many practical problems such as environmental pollution, pulmonary edema and carcinogenicity, and applications such as aerosolized drug delivery. The PI has undertook four summers (2010-11, 2013-14) of research fellowships at the US Air Force and Navy laboratories to study bioaerosol generation, control, protection when exposed as biological weapons that are applicable to national security functions. The proposed instrument will have direct utilization of those understandings in his mentoring and educating students in this research field. Acquired instruments will also enhance Aerosol Research and Pulmonary Drug Delivery, the first laboratory for Biomedical Engineering (BME) program at Jackson State University (JSU), an HBCU institution in the state of Mississippi. The BME students of JSU will have opportunities to experience these instruments through currently NIH-NIGMS funded MS-INBRE summers scholars, NSF funded STEM-Mississippi Academy for Science Teaching, and Federal HBCUSAFRA Title III funded year-round teacher-student scholar model. As a result, they will be trained for internships or fellowships to undertake advance research in various DoD agencies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 11, 2018
- Source ID
- W911NF1610510
Entities
People
- Hui-ru Shih
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Jackson State University
- Office of the Secretary of Defense