Engineering Research Equipment: A Photon Counting Spectrofluorometer for Studies in Materials Processing and Bioscience

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9310932 Santore This research equipment grant (REG) project provides in part for the purchase of a high resolution photon counting spectrofluorometer (Spex FL 112) and for the materials for home- built accessories are requested. The instrument's main role will be in the development of novel probes and experimental techniques for advanced materials processing and biosciences; however, it will also facilitate workhorse fluorescence assays for students in Chemical Engineering, Molecular Biology, Emulsion Polymers Institute, Polymer Interfaces Center, and the Center for Molecular Biology and Biosciences. Novel probe development requires an internal sample cell, the construction of a total internal reflection shear cell, and an optical interface to external experiments. These configurations have been designed for rapid interchange, facilitating several projects in the immediate future: (1) Development of non- radiative energy transfer (NET) to probe the evolution of segment-surface contacts and provide insight into the molecular mechanisms for adsorption and desorption of polymers. (2) Development of a spectroscopic pH-ruler to monitor slow relaxations of adsorbed polymers. (3) Development of a homogeneous immunoassay relying on a quenching mechanism and comparison of this assay to one exploiting polarization. (4) Studies of enzyme adsorption and activity changes on hydrophobic surfaces. (5) Solution structures of hydrophobically-modified comb polymers and their impact on rheology and (6) The effect of swelling, ion and water transport, and physical aging on the mechanical properties of films on rigid substrates.