Overview
Topic status: We're looking for students to study this topic.
Pollution in the atmosphere may involve the presence of many components including gases, vapours, smoke and dust (aerosols). Of these, the presence of fine and ultra fine particles can be harmful to human health, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) which provide a direct source of oxidative stress.
Hypothesis/Aims
There is currently no method for continuous routine monitoring of ROS. To fill this need the project will develop a novel method for continuous measurements of ROS associated with ambient particulate matter. The basis of the approach is use of a novel fluorescent probe developed at QUT which has been shown to provide a sensitive and quantitative response related to oxidative capacity of particulate pollution.
Approaches
The student will integrate a nanoparticle sampler with a portable spectrometer. The Nanoparticle sampler will sample the airborne nanoparticles into a liquid. There the particles will react with the ROS probe and become fluorescent. This fluorescence's will be measured in real time with a mini spectrometer. The project will suit students that would like to develop experimental skills in instrument development.
- Study level
- Honours
- Supervisors
- QUT
- Organisational unit
Science and Engineering Faculty
- Research area
- Contact
- Please contact the supervisor.
Professor Zoran Ristovski
