Biomolecular Materials: Structure, Phase Behavior and Interactions

9972246 Safinya该项目研究由生物聚合物组成的生物分子材料的性质（例如DNA;由中间蛋白质组成的细胞骨架的组成部分：微管，中间丝和中间肌动蛋白）与带相反电荷的化学物质如多价反离子缩合。 这些材料是聚电解质统计理论的有用模型。例如，这些研究应阐明DNA在体内凝聚的分子力的性质（即DNA包装问题）。该项目为研究生提供了一个多样化的跨学科课程，使他们能够获得目前在工业，国家实验室和大学中需求量很大的技能。先进的微型材料将由生物分子在图案化表面上自组装而成。生物-半导体杂化材料将在下个世纪被应用于制药、生物医学和半导体工业，重点是微型化材料（如纳米管道和纳米线）。该项目为研究生提供了良好的研究和教育机会，在一个多样化的，跨学科的计划，专注于生物分子材料，特别是生物材料，自组装图案表面。这些加工材料的潜在用途包括化学和生物传感器、微机械元件和分子筛。研究生将获得目前在广泛的行业，包括那些结合联合收割机纳米级制造系统与生物分子材料在化学，制药和生物技术，和半导体的巨大需求的技能。 他们将接受最先进技术的培训，其中包括生物分子自组装的制备方法、在半导体表面上制造微米和纳米尺度图案的方法、原子力显微镜和光学显微镜的直接成像方法，以及在斯坦福大学和阿贡国家实验室的国家同步加速器设施中使用定量X射线衍射方法进行结构测量的方法。

9972246SafinyaThis project investigates the properties of biomolecular materials consisting of biological polymers (e.g. DNA; components of the cell cytoskeleton which consists of the filamental proteins: microtubules, intermediate filaments, and filamental-actin) condensed with oppositely charged chemical species such as multivalent counter-ions. These materials are useful models for statistical theories of polyelectrolytes. For example, the studies should shed light on the nature of the molecular forces in the condensation of DNA in vivo (i.e. the DNA packing problem). The project provides excellent training for graduate students within a diverse, interdisciplinary program enabling them to acquire skills that are currently in great demand in Industry, National Laboratories, and Universities. Advanced miniaturized materials will be produced from biological molecules self-assembled on patterned surfaces. The biological-semiconductor hybrid materials should be utilized in the next century in pharmaceutical, biomedical, and semiconductor industries emphasizing miniaturized materials (e.g. nano-conduits and nano-wires).%%%This project offers excellent research and education opportunities for graduate students within a diverse, interdisciplinary program, focused on biomolecular materials, in particulal biological materials that self-assembled on patterned surfaces. Potential uses of these processed materials include chemical and biological sensors, micro-machine elements, and molecular sieves. The graduate students will acquire skills that are currently in great demand in a broad range of industries including those which combine nanometer scale fabrication systems with biomolecular materials in chemicals, pharmaceutical and biotechnology, and semiconductors. They will be trained in state-of the-art techniques which include, methods for preparing biomolecular self-assemblies, fabrication of micron and nanometer scale patterns on semiconducting surfaces, direct imaging with Atomic Force Microscopes and optical light microscopes, and structural measurements using quantitative x-ray diffraction methods at the National Synchrotron Facilities at Stanford and Argonne National Laboratories.***