Subventions et des contributions :

Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier. (2017-2018 à 2018-2019)

The core technology of Fluidigm Canada Inc. is mass cytometry that enables real-time quantitative analysis ofx000D
biomarkers in single cells. The technology is premised on the use of stable isotopes as labels whereby thex000D
tagged cells are introduced into an inductively coupled plasma and the ion cloud is analyzed by time-of-flightx000D
mass spectrometry. Amplification methods based on a cascaded hybridization assay are employed for analyzingx000D
messenger RNA and proteins; however, this approach is ineffective for short nucleic acid targets such asx000D
microRNA. Hence alternative signal amplification strategies with high specificity and high detection signalsx000D
are of interest. The proposed work investigates DNA-functionalized nanoparticles that will cross-link in vitrox000D
in the presence of microRNA as probes for mass cytometry. The cellular uptake, cross-linking and subsequentx000D
excretion or removal of the nanoparticles will be investigated. With each nanoparticle consisting of thousandsx000D
of atoms, variations in the number of nanoparticles in cells as a result of differences in the extent ofx000D
aggregation will give large differences in the signal. The correlation between microRNA level and massx000D
cytometry signal will be examined. The project will expand the applicability of mass cytometry beyondx000D
proteomics and messenger RNA and further empower biomedical research that investigates the role of miRNAx000D
in various diseases, including cancer, pre-eclampsia and cardio vascular diseases.