MRI: Acquisition of an Atomic Force Microscope/Confocal Imaging System for Research and Training at the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering

MRI：采购原子力显微镜/共焦成像系统，用于纳米科学与工程学院的研究和培训

• 批准号: 0922830
• 负责人: James Castracane
• 金额: $ 60.97万
• 依托单位: SUNY at Albany
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-09-01 至 2012-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0922830&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: MRI; Acquisition; Atomic; Force; Microscope

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).A grant is awarded to the University at Albany to acquire an atomic force microscope (AFM)-laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM) for research and training at the College of Nanoscale Science & Engineering (CNSE). Biological research at the nano- and micro-scale requires increasingly sophisticated instrumentation. A particular need for biological research is the capability to combine high resolution optical imaging with biophysical force measurements. This can be achieved by incorporating biological AFM with LSCM. LCSM enables high-resolution optical imaging, while AFM provides nanoscale topographical information and ultra-sensitive mechanical measurements. The integration of these two techniques yields a powerful research tool capable of high-resolution imaging and nanoscale mechanical measurements at specific locations within complex biological samples. A cross-disciplinary portfolio of research projects will utilize this AFM/LSCM system. Experiments focus on the observation and measurement of cellular and molecular interactions, mechanical studies of cell differentiation, measurement of single molecular interactions, and elucidation of mechanisms involved in 3D tissue development. For each of these efforts, it is critical for investigators to perform non-invasive 3D optical sectioning while simultaneously measuring mechanical properties, adhesion forces, or mapping physical 3D topography. These research efforts are collectively aimed at the understanding of mechanical interactions in cellular and molecular systems. Improved understanding of these systems will provide important information for tissue engineering, therapeutics, and rational design of biomolecular machines.This AFM/LSCM system will support a wide range of interdisciplinary research efforts and will become a focal point for bridging collaborations between CNSE, the UAlbany Department of Biological Sciences, the Wadsworth Institute (NYS Dept. of Health), and the Ge*NY*sis Center for Excellence in Cancer Biology. It will enable cutting-edge research efforts ranging from the dynamic measurement of cell-surface interactions, measurement of nucleic acid - protein interactions, mechanical studies of stem cell differentiation, and the elucidation of 3D tissue development. The senior personnel involved with this effort span a wide range of disciplines including physics, nanoengineering, chemical engineering, biophysics, developmental biology, molecular biology, cancer biology and neurology. This highly-interdisciplinary team will utilize the proposed instrumentation to greatly advance their current research efforts, resulting in new research proposals, scientific publications and the development of novel biomedical technologies. This AFM/LSCM system will serve as a unique training tool for graduate students and post doctoral researchers, and will also provide one-of-a-kind training for undergraduate and high-school students in outreach programs. Hands-on training will be provided for undergraduate students involved in an integrated summer internship program and through use of the instrument in year-long embedded internships. High school students will participate in integrated discovery programs as part of ongoing partnerships with the urban Albany School District's "Nano High" and "Engineering Explorations Program." Using the proposed instrument, exciting, hands-on laboratory activities for these students will be developed to bring together principles of nanotechnology, biology, physics, and engineering. A series of spotlights on these research and outreach activities will be broadcast to the community through CNSE's news columns and internet postings. In this way, the proposed instrument will have a profound impact on research, training, and community outreach efforts.

该奖项是根据2009年的《美国回收与再投资法》（公法111-5）资助的。纳米和微型尺度的生物学研究需要越来越复杂的仪器。 生物学研究的特殊需求是将高分辨率光学成像与生物物理力测量相结合的能力。这可以通过将生物AFM与LSCM合并来实现。 LCSM启用高分辨率光学成像，而AFM提供纳米级地形信息和超敏感的机械测量。这两种技术的整合产生了一种强大的研究工具，能够在复杂的生物样品内的特定位置进行高分辨率成像和纳米级机械测量。研究项目的跨学科投资组合将利用此AFM/LSCM系统。实验侧重于观察和测量细胞和分子相互作用，细胞分化的机械研究，单分子相互作用的测量以及阐明参与3D组织发展的机制。对于这些努力，研究人员必须同时测量机械性能，粘附力或映射物理3D形貌，同时进行非侵入性3D光学切片。这些研究工作集体旨在理解细胞和分子系统中的机械相互作用。对这些系统的深入了解将为组织工程，治疗学和生物分子机器的合理设计提供重要信息。此AFM/LSCM系统将支持广泛的跨学科研究工作，并将成为CNSE，CNSE，UALBANY INDERCE INDERTION，WADSWORTISTISTINT，WADSWORTH INSTIRE，GEIS INFERITISTIST和GEISS DEPT。在癌症生物学中。 它将实现从细胞表面相互作用的动态测量，核酸 - 蛋白质相互作用的测量，干细胞分化的机械研究以及3D组织发育的阐明等最先进的研究工作。参与这项工作的高级人员涵盖了各种各样的学科，包括物理学，纳米工程，化学工程，生物物理学，发育生物学，分子生物学，癌症生物学和神经病学。 这个高度相互学科的团队将利用拟议的工具来大大推动他们当前的研究工作，从而导致新的研究建议，科学出版物和新型生物医学技术的发展。 该AFM/LSCM系统将为研究生和博士研究人员提供独特的培训工具，还将为大学和高中生提供一种培训，以培训在外展计划中。将为参与综合暑期实习计划的本科生提供动手培训，并通过在长达一年的嵌入式实习中使用该乐器。 高中生将参加综合发现计划，作为与城市奥尔巴尼学区的“纳米高”和“工程探索计划”的持续合作伙伴关系的一部分。 将使用拟议的工具，为这些学生开发令人兴奋的动手实验室活动，以汇集纳米技术，生物学，物理和工程学原则。 有关这些研究和外展活动的一系列聚光灯将通过CNSE的新闻栏和互联网发布向社区广播。 这样，拟议的工具将对研究，培训和社区外展工作产生深远的影响。