Long & Medium Term Research: A Study of Adsorbed Protein Interactions Using the Surface Force Apparatus

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Long & Medium-Term Research: A Study of Adsorbed Protein Interactions Using the Surface Force Apparatus This award recommendation is made under the Program for Long & Medium-Term Research at Foreign Centers of Excellence. The program seeks to enable US scientists and engineers to conduct long-term research abroad at research institutions of proven excellence. Awards provide opportunities for the conduct of joint research, and the use of unique or complimentary facilities, expertise and experimental conditions in foreign countries. This award will support a 12 month visit by Dr. Robert D. Tilton to go to Sweden to work with Dr. Per Claesson of the Institute for Surface Chemistry on "A Study of Adsorbed Protein Interactions Using the Surface Force Apparatus." Dr. Tilton plans to use the surface force apparatus to measure the force-distance relationships characterizing the intermolecular interactions experienced by adsorbed proteins. With this recently developed technique, forces as small as 10-to-the-minus-7 N are measured between opposing crossed mica cylinders at separations resolvable to less than 1nm. The extreme sensitivity of the surface force apparatus makes it useful in the study of the forces that govern the behavior of molecular and colloidal systems. This approach is especially useful to characterize non-DLVO forces, such as repulsive hydration and attractive hydrophobic forces, that are important in biological and colloidal systems. Use of the surface force apparatus to quantitatively study the character of the interactions of adsorbed proteins with surfaces and with other biomolecules will improve our understanding of the basic phenomena driving protein adsorption, and thus will assist in the development of materials that contact the biological environment. The award recommendation provides funds to cover, as appropriate, international travel, local travel abroad, stipend, dependents' allowance if applicable, and a flat administrative allowance of $250 for the U.S. home institution.