Isothermal Titration Calorimeter for Bio/Nano-Materials Research and Education

用于生物/纳米材料研究和教育的等温滴定量热仪

• 批准号: 1134371
• 负责人: Marina Tsianou
• 金额: $ 9.9万
• 依托单位: SUNY at Buffalo
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-09-01 至 2015-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1134371&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Isothermal; Titration; Calorimeter; Bio; Nano

1134371TsianouThe objective of this small equipment proposal is to acquire a high-sensitivity Isothermal Titration Calorimeter (ITC) for the study of interactions and physical transformations in systems containing biomolecules, macromolecules, and/or nanomaterials. This equipment will significantly enhance current research capabilities for the PIs and initiate new research projects. ITC can provide fundamental, thermodynamic information on a minority component or on weak enthalpic transitions, using only small sample volumes. Calorimetry can, thus, offer valuable insights in complex, multicomponent and nanostructured systems. No ITC instrument is currently available at the SUNY-Buffalo North (Amherst) campus where all the Engineering and Natural Sciences research laboratories are located, and all undergraduate instruction takes place. The proposed ITC will thus present a new and unique addition to the PIs research and education capabilities. Intellectual Merit: Nanostructured products and devices containing synthetic or biological macromolecules and/or nanoparticles contribute significantly to the quality of life and economic growth. The elucidation of intermolecular interactions in complex, bio/macromolecular systems provides the fundamental underpinning of research advances that support such technological progress. The proposed instrumentation will support high quality scientific research. In particular, this sensitive calorimeter will greatly enhance our current and future research efforts on thermodynamic characterization of: (a) biomolecules in solution, with an emphasis on understanding and optimizing protein-ligand binding; (b) self-assembled systems, with projects ranging from interaction of bioactive molecules with lipidic nanoparticles to structuring in ionic liquid media; and (c) nanomaterials, with specific interests on polyelectrolyte multilayers used in the assembly of functional films, and interactions and phenomena leading to cellulose dissolution. The investigators work in different research areas, but all share common interests in elucidating molecular interactions in the nanoscale and using this knowledge to tackle fundamental research questions. It is important to note that in complex, multi-component and nanostructured systems, calorimetry provides valuable insights supported by quantitative data not attainable by any other technique. At the same time, the proposed calorimeter would prove a powerful complement to the advanced structural characterization techniques currently available on campus. Broader Impacts: The broader impacts of the proposed work will be of two types: (a) societal impacts and improvements in quality of life due to long-term implementation of the science and technology developed in commercial applications; and (b) education and outreach impacts. In education and outreach, the proposed instrument is expected to be used by several Ph.D. students and PostDocs in their research, as well as undergraduate researchers, thereby contributing to the education and research training of a significant number of users. The instrument will also be used in formal science and engineering courses, and will thereby contribute to conventional education. Faculty involved in this proposal will continue their outreach efforts to underrepresented minority students at the high-school, undergraduate, and graduate levels. Finally, this instrument will aid in outreach to local industry by making it availableto local industry and by fostering the intellectual connections that naturally arise when these industrial researchers interact with the engineering staff on possible joint research projects.

1134371Tsianou 这个小型设备提案的目标是获得高灵敏度等温滴定量热计 (ITC)，用于研究包含生物分子、大分子和/或纳米材料的系统中的相互作用和物理变化。该设备将显着增强 PI 目前的研究能力并启动新的研究项目。 ITC 仅使用少量样品即可提供有关少数组分或弱焓转变的基本热力学信息。因此，量热法可以为复杂、多组分和纳米结构系统提供有价值的见解。 纽约州立大学布法罗北（阿默斯特）校区目前没有可用的 ITC 仪器，该校区是所有工程和自然科学研究实验室的所在地，并且所有本科生教学均在该校区进行。因此，拟议的 ITC 将为 PI 的研究和教育能力提供新的、独特的补充。智力价值：含有合成或生物大分子和/或纳米颗粒的纳米结构产品和设备对生活质量和经济增长做出了重大贡献。复杂生物/大分子系统中分子间相互作用的阐明为支持此类技术进步的研究进展提供了基础基础。拟议的仪器将支持高质量的科学研究。特别是，这种灵敏的量热计将极大地增强我们当前和未来在热力学表征方面的研究工作：（a）溶液中的生物分子，重点是理解和优化蛋白质-配体结合； (b) 自组装系统，项目范围从生物活性分子与脂质纳米粒子的相互作用到离子液体介质中的结构化； (c) 纳米材料，特别关注用于组装功能膜的聚电解质多层，以及导致纤维素溶解的相互作用和现象。研究人员在不同的研究领域工作，但都对阐明纳米尺度的分子相互作用并利用这些知识解决基础研究问题有着共同的兴趣。值得注意的是，在复杂的多组分纳米结构系统中，量热法提供了任何其他技术无法获得的定量数据支持的有价值的见解。与此同时，所提出的热量计将证明是对校园目前可用的先进结构表征技术的有力补充。更广泛的影响：拟议工作的更广泛影响有两种类型：(a) 由于商业应用中开发的科学技术的长期实施而产生的社会影响和生活质量的改善； (b) 教育和宣传影响。在教育和推广方面，拟议的工具预计将由几位博士使用。学生和博士后以及本科研究人员参与研究，从而为大量用户的教育和研究培训做出了贡献。该仪器还将用于正规的科学和工程课程，从而为传统教育做出贡献。参与该提案的教师将继续为高中、本科和研究生阶段代表性不足的少数族裔学生开展外展活动。最后，该工具将通过向当地工业提供该工具，并通过促进这些工业研究人员与工程人员就可能的联合研究项目进行互动时自然产生的智力联系，帮助扩大当地工业的影响力。