Research areas
Bioanalytical science
Matrix assisted laser desorption ionisation mass spectrometry imaging
Imaging matrix assisted laser desorption ionisation mass spectrometry (MALDI-MSI) is a bioanalytical technique that can be used to study the distribution of both endogenous and xenobiotic compounds in biological tissue. In this technique, a laser is used to sample the surface of the tissue and images are generated that contain information about both the amount of material present and its spatial distribution.
Research in the Biomedical Research Centre is concerned with both the fundamental aspects of the technique and with its application. A number of our projects are concerned with imaging the distribution of xenobiotics in biological tissue and measuring toxico/pharmacodynamic responses to exposure/treatment within in it.
Current projects are being supported by Cancer Research UK, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Medical Research Council, GlaxoSmithKline and Stiefel.
Studies in this area are led by Professor Malcolm Clench and Dr Simona Francese.
Analysis of latent fingermarks
Identification of suspects via fingermark analysis is one of the mainstays of forensic science. Conventionally adopted techniques to enhance, recover and analyse crime scene fingermarks ultimately leads to an image of the fingermark ridge pattern which is then inputted in the Police Database for comparison and suspect identification. However there are a number of scenarios in which the desired output cannot be achieved. For instance, the suspect has not been previously convicted, therefore the fingerprint will not be present in the database; the crime scene fingermark could be heavily smudged or distorted with scarce possibility of obtaining a clear ridge pattern image to compare. Finally the successful choice of the fingerprinting technique requires many factors to be taken into account such as the components present in the fingermarks (which will change over time), the environmental conditions the fingermark was exposed to and the surface of deposition.
Within the BMRC, MALDI-MSI is being used to produce multiple images of the same recovered fingermark to generate a high quality image to input in the police database (by overlaying multiple images or selecting the best quality one) independently from many of the factors above cited. At the same time, chemical information is generated which could provide important investigative leads when the fingermark comparison is unavailable this information can include detection of both endogenous compounds normally found in fingermarks and exogenous contaminants (for example drugs, explosives and condom lubricants).
The research is supported by BMRC, the Home Office and EPSRC (Engineering for Life).
Studies in this area are led by Dr Simona Francese, with Dr Rosalind Wolstenholme.
Ion mobility mass spectrometry of non-covalent complexes
Electrospray ionisation - ion mobility spectrometry - mass spectrometry (ESI-IMS-MS) is an emerging technique and can be utilised to characterise the conformational states of monomeric proteins and large non-covalent complexes. ESI-IMS-MS has the unique advantage of allowing the structural characterisation of transient non-covalent protein complexes and co-populated conformational states to be monitored in real time.
Detailed knowledge of the tertiary and quaternary structure of proteins and protein complexes is of immense importance in understanding their functionality. Similarly, variations in the conformational states of proteins underlie many biomolecular processes, numerous of which are disease-related, for example, cystic fibrosis, some forms of cancer, and the amyloid diseases including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD).
Studies in this area are led by Dr David Smith.
Spectrometric techniques in chemical speciation
Plasma emission and mass spectrometry coupled with biochemical separation techniques are used to study the distribution of trace element-containing compounds in human body fluids and tissues. These investigations are of particular importance in the study of the distribution of metal-containing drugs and metabolites in biological tissues, and in the elucidation of the absorption mechanisms of both essential and toxic trace elements in human health and disease.
Studies in this area are led by Dr Philip Gardiner, along with Dr Vikki Carolan.
