CAREER: Molecular Imaging of Protein Adsorption with Immunoassay-Atomic Force Microscopy

化学系的分析和表面化学项目将这一职业奖项授予北卡罗来纳大学教堂山分校(UNC-CH)，以研究蛋白质在表面上的吸附，目的是揭示影响生物相容性的分子水平界面相互作用。马克·舍恩费希教授将获得这一奖项，他将使用抗体修饰的原子力显微镜(AFM)提示来获取图像并探测吸附在表面的蛋白质的物理性质。传统免疫分析的原理将被应用于将分子识别构建到原子力显微镜的测量中，并允许研究离散的、特定的抗体-抗原相互作用。将探索AFM-TIP的修饰策略以及抗体修饰的TIP和底物之间的非特异性相互作用的控制。该研究所还将在研究生和中学两级实施旨在促进妇女参与科学的方案。其中一个项目将通过研讨会和圆桌讨论让女性研究生与化学工作者中的女性接触。另一个项目将在与北卡罗来纳大学莫尔黑德天文馆和科学中心协调的为期两周的夏令营中，为中学年龄的女孩提供接触现代化学分析方法的实践机会。将开发原子力显微镜方法来研究蛋白质和合成材料之间的复杂相互作用。将研究底物表面特征对蛋白质的覆盖率、取向和相关物理性质的影响。重点将放在影响植入材料血液生物相容性的血浆蛋白，如纤维蛋白原和纤维连接蛋白上。该教育计划将为年轻妇女提供学习和指导机会，目的是增加妇女对科学的参与。

The Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program in the Division of Chemistry makes this Career award to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) to investigate protein adsorption on surfaces with the aim of shedding light on molecular level interfacial interactions that influence biocompatibility. With this award, Professor Mark Schoenfisch will use antibody-modified atomic force microscope (AFM) tips to obtain images and probe physical properties of proteins adsorbed to surfaces. The principles of traditional immunoassay will be applied to build molecular recognition into measurements with the AFM and allow for the investigation of discrete, specific antibody-antigen interactions. Strategies for AFM-tip modification and control of non-specific interactions between the antibody-modified tip and the substrate will be explored. The PI will also implement programs at both the graduate and middle school levels designed to advance the participation of women in science. One program will engage women graduate students with women in the chemical workforce through seminars and roundtable discussions. Another program will provide middle school age girls with hands-on exposure to modern chemical analysis methods in a two week summer camp coordinated with the UNC-CH Morehead Planetarium and Science Center. AFM methods will be developed for studying complex interactions between proteins and synthetic materials. The effects of substrate surface characteristics on the coverage, orientation and related physical properties of proteins will be investigated. Focus will be on blood plasma proteins, such as fibrinogen and fibronectin, which influence the blood biocompatibility of implant materials. The education plan will provide learning and mentoring opportunities for young women with the aim of increasing the participation of women in science.