Biomolecular Materials: Structure, Phase Behavior and Interactions

9972246 safinya本项目研究由生物聚合物（如DNA；由丝状蛋白组成的细胞骨架成分：微管、中间丝状蛋白和丝状肌动蛋白）与带相反电荷的化学物质（如多价反离子）凝聚而成的生物分子材料的特性。这些材料是聚电解质统计理论的有用模型。例如，这些研究应该阐明体内DNA凝聚过程中分子作用力的本质（即DNA包装问题）。该项目为研究生提供了一个多样化的、跨学科的项目，使他们能够获得目前工业、国家实验室和大学非常需要的技能。先进的微型化材料将由生物分子在图案表面上自组装而成。下个世纪，生物-半导体混合材料将在制药、生物医学和半导体工业中得到应用，重点是材料的小型化（如纳米导管和纳米导线）。这个项目为研究生提供了很好的研究和教育机会，在一个多样化的跨学科项目中，重点是生物分子材料，特别是在图案表面上自组装的生物材料。这些加工材料的潜在用途包括化学和生物传感器、微型机械元件和分子筛。研究生将获得目前在广泛的行业中非常需要的技能，包括那些将纳米级制造系统与化学，制药和生物技术以及半导体中的生物分子材料相结合的行业。他们将接受最先进的技术培训，包括制备生物分子自组装的方法，半导体表面微米和纳米尺度图案的制造，原子力显微镜和光学显微镜的直接成像，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使用定量x射线衍射方法进行结构测量

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.***