Award details

The development of biomedical applications of raman microscopy

Reference	REI18471
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Duncan Craig
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Dr Susan Barker, Professor Joseph Elborn, Professor Madeleine Ennis, Dr Vicky Louise Kett, Professor John J. McGarvey, Professor Alan Stitt
Institution	Queen's University of Belfast
Department	Sch of Pharmacy
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	86,900
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	01/04/2003
End date	30/09/2003
Duration	6 months

Abstract

Raman microscopy is an analytical technique that involves the coupling of Raman spectroscopy to optical microscopy, thereby enabling the operator to perform spectroscopic studies on highly specific regions within complex samples with a spatial resolution of ca. 1 micrometre. While the method has attracted considerable interest in a number of fields, it may be argued that the technique could be used considerably more extensively within the biomedical arena, as the issues pertaining to the delivery of therapeutic agents and the pathology of disease states almost invariably involve the understanding of the spatial distribution of contributing species and the chemical assessment of interactions on a highly localised basis, often within complex samples. This proposal involves a collaboration between pharmaceutical scientists, Raman chemists and clinical investigators in order to develop the use of the technique within the biomedical field. More specifically we will be exploring the use of the technique as a means of studying the following: a) Drug loaded polymer systems; b) The solid state properties of pharmaceutical peptides; c) Freeze dried therapeutic proteins; d) Drug interactions with cystic fibrosis mucus; e) Early prediction of lung cancer; f) Monitoring of the effects of age and diabetes in physiological changes in the eye. In this manner we believe that not only will significant contributions be made in terms of the specific subject areas but in addition the use of the technique within the biomedical field in a general sense will be significantly advanced.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Engineering & Biological Systems (EBS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	Research Equipment Initiative 2002 (REI) [2002]
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

I accept the terms and conditions of use (opens in new window)

export PDF file

back to list new search