# Multispectral Sensor for Chemical Composition Analysis of Ultrafine Aerosols in Air Quality Assessment

> **NIH NIH R42** · SPECTREE INC. · 2024 · $904,304

## Abstract

Project Summary
 We propose developing and validating a novel platform technology that combines the collection and
chemical analysis of ultrafine particles using an in-situ multispectral technique. The sample, collected directly
onto the analysis substrate, is analyzed via excitation-emission matrix (EEM) spectroscopy. This approach will
be validated against laboratory combustion-generated aerosols, such as diesel exhaust, wood smoke, tobacco
smoke, and against a mixture of environmental pollutants. Within the respiratory tract, particle size determines
the region of deposition and tissue uptake; the chemistry of the particle also affects solubility and determines the
potential for biochemical reaction with tissues and cells. There is a growing awareness that exposure scenarios
are very complex, consisting of time-varying concentrations and chemical composition over a broad range of
particle sizes. Long-term exposure to air pollution has also been linked to increased mortality rates for infectious
diseases, including COVID-19. The proposed research addresses the need for improved personal exposure
assessment and characterization of ultrafine particles in the environment. Low-cost, miniaturized exposure
monitoring devices can shed insight into the relationships between exposure to pollutants and health impact.
Source apportioned measurements of PM concentration with high temporal and spatial resolution can facilitate
the implementation of optimal air pollution mitigation strategies. The anticipated outcome of this project is the
development of a miniaturized spectroscopic sensor that provides an analysis of the chemical composition of
combustion-generated ultrafine particles, which both reflects the particle sources and determines their toxic
potential. The machine-learning algorithms will enable the deconvolution of the complex spectra and
identification of the PM source from the EEM analysis. The broader applications of the technology are
environmental and regulatory monitoring, personal exposure assessment for the consumer market, and
epidemiological studies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10925399
- **Project number:** 5R42ES034684-03
- **Recipient organization:** SPECTREE INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** ALEXANDER V MAMISHEV
- **Activity code:** R42 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $904,304
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-09-13 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10925399

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10925399, Multispectral Sensor for Chemical Composition Analysis of Ultrafine Aerosols in Air Quality Assessment (5R42ES034684-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10925399. Licensed CC0.

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