MRI: Phase I of an Advanced Spectromicroscopy Facility: Acquisition of a Combined Confocal Optical and Atomic Force Microscope, and an Enhanced FTIR Imaging Microscope

该提案代表了我们长期计划的第一阶段，该计划旨在开发最先进的光谱显微镜设施，专门研究纳米和微米结构与软材料的相互作用，包括聚合物，无机-有机复合材料和生物系统，如蛋白质，细胞，病毒和细菌。 除了高分辨率的结构表征外，该设施中的仪器还可以研究这些相互作用的动力学，机制和动力学。这些研究对于实现纳米科学在现代材料科学和生物技术中的潜在应用至关重要。在第一阶段，我们提出了一个结合共焦光学和原子力显微镜（CCOAFM）的收购。 CCOAFM是Asylum Research的第一款同类产品，它可以同时获取高分辨率AFM图像和多通道共焦显微镜图像。一个关键的特点是闭环和非管基于AFM扫描仪，有效地减少漂移，提高扫描速度，并允许集成和并发共焦成像。此外，该装置是模块化的，允许在第二阶段中添加先进的光谱功能。科学项目涉及薄膜和纳米结构的操作，晶体生长机制，无机-有机复合材料的生产和性质，免疫过程，如过敏和初始病毒感染，以及使用人工设计的2D纳米结构阵列或纳米和微功能脂质双层作为近天然宿主来探测蛋白质-脂质和蛋白质-脂质动力学的可行性。与细胞表面动力学和信号传导相关的蛋白质相互作用。 这些项目代表了加州大学戴维斯分校有组织研究单位（ORU）的重点领域：环境农业和技术（NEAT）中的纳米材料。 NEAT ORU旨在通过提供跨学科研究项目，最先进的设施和先进的教育计划，将学生带到纳米科学和纳米技术的最前沿。作为对现有硬质材料（如催化剂，磁性和光学材料）研究项目的补充，该提案旨在为NEAT学生提供坚实的基础知识和技能，以识别，接近和理解纳米材料在先进软材料和生物技术背景下的优势和局限性。 在NSF-IGERT的支持下，NEAT提供了46个研究生奖学金，6个博士毕业。度新的设施，与现有的，将提供先进的培训和技术专长，为NEAT学生面对材料表征，纳米技术和纳米生物技术，这是保持我们国家的领导地位，在科学，工业研发和国土安全的现代挑战。 这一拟议中的设施也引起了当地跨学科项目、行业、社区学院和高中的极大热情。 几个推广计划将扩大，因为我们现有的联系是由成像的影响和吸引力加强。 该设施增强了我们与NSF支持的CPIMA计划，由UC Davis和LLNL领导的NSF生物光子学科学技术中心（CBST）计划以及LBNL的分子铸造厂的现有互动和沟通。 此外，许多当地公司（Agilent、Alza、Kovio、Metrolaser、IBM、Integrated Nanosystems和Intermatix）都表示有兴趣通过利用CCOAFM开始或继续与NEAT团队合作。 随着先进的光谱显微镜设施的建立，我们预计NEAT与行业合作的新阶段。该提案是我们长期计划的第一阶段，旨在发展一个专门从事高分辨率成像和光谱学的最先进仪器设施。 在第一阶段，我们提出了一个结合共聚焦光学和原子力显微镜的收购。 该仪器是庇护研究的第一个同类仪器。 这种新的组合提供了，通过使用共聚焦模式，材料的三维可视化到亚细胞水平的分辨率，同时，能够放大到感兴趣的点，并通过原子力显微镜以纳米到分子分辨率进一步成像局部结构。拟议的组合具有上级性能之间的几个竞争对手的稳定性，速度，分辨率和能力，做动态研究，主要是由于革命性的设计，成像扫描仪的庇护研究。 加州大学戴维斯分校的研究小组计划使用这种新仪器来生产和可视化纳米结构，研究晶体生长机制，生产和新型无机-有机复合材料的特性，监测免疫过程，如过敏和初始病毒感染，并测试使用人工工程纳米结构模拟细胞信号的可行性。 我们预计，从这些调查的结果将提供关键信息，在实现纳米科学在现代材料科学和生物技术的潜在应用。 拟议的设备和项目代表了加州大学戴维斯分校有组织研究单位（ORU）的重点领域：环境农业和技术（NEAT）中的纳米材料。新的设施，与现有的，将提供先进的培训和技术专长，为NEAT学生面对材料表征，纳米技术和纳米生物技术，这是保持我们国家的领导地位，在科学，工业研发和国土安全的现代挑战。

This proposal represents phase I of our long-term plan for the development of a state-of-the-art spectromicroscopy facility specializing in investigating the interactions of nano- and micro-structures with soft materials, including polymers, inorganic-organic composites, and biosystems such as proteins, cells, viruses and bacteria. In addition to high-resolution structural characterization, the instruments in the facility allow the studies of the kinetics, mechanism and dynamics of these interactions. These investigations are critical for realizing the potential applications of nanoscience in modern materials science and biotechnology. In phase I, we propose the acquisition of a combined confocal optical and atomic force microscope (CCOAFM). The CCOAFM is the first of its kind from Asylum Research, which allows simultaneous acquisition of high-resolution AFM images and multichannel confocal microscopy images. A key feature is the closed-loop and non-tube based AFM scanner, which effectively reduces drift, increases scanning speed, and allows integrated and concurrent confocal imaging. Moreover, the setup is modular allowing subsequent additions of advanced spectroscopy features in phase II. The scientific projects address manipulation of thin films and nanostructures, crystal growth mechanisms, production and properties of inorganic-organic composite materials, immunoprocesses such as allergy and initial viral infection, and the feasibility of using artificially engineered 2D nanostructure arrays or nano and microfunctional lipid bilayers as near-native hosts to probe the dynamics of protein-lipid and protein-protein interactions related to cell surface dynamics and signaling. These projects represent the thrust areas of an organized research unit (ORU) at UC Davis: Nanomaterials in the Environment Agriculture and Technology (NEAT). The NEAT ORU aims to bring students to the forefront of nanoscience and nanotechnology by providing interdisciplinary research projects, state-of-the-art facilities, and advanced educational programs. Complementary to the existing programs studying hard materials, such as catalysts, magnetic and optical materials, this proposal intends to equip the NEAT students with solid fundamental knowledge and skills to identify, approach, and understand the advantages and limitations of nanomaterials in the context of advanced soft materials, and biotechnology. With the support of NSF-IGERT, NEAT has offered 46 graduate fellowships, graduated 6 Ph.D. degrees. The new facility, together with existing ones, will provide advanced training and technical expertise for NEAT students to face modern challenges in material characterization, nanotechnology, and nanobiotechnology, which are critical for maintaining our nation's leadership in science, industry R&D, and homeland security. This proposed facility has also generated great enthusiasm from local interdisciplinary programs, industry, community colleges, and high schools. Several outreach programs will be expanded, as our existing ties are strengthened by the impact and allure of imaging. The facility enhances our existing interactions and communication with the NSF-supported CPIMA program, the NSF Science and Technology Center for Biophotonics (CBST) program led by UC Davis and LLNL, as well as the Molecular Foundry at LBNL. In addition, many local corporations (Agilent, Alza, Kovio, Metrolaser, IBM, Integrated Nanosystems, and Intermatix) have expressed their strong interests in beginning or continuing collaborations with NEAT teams through the utilization of the CCOAFM. We anticipate a new phase of NEAT-Industry partnership with the establishment of the advanced spectromicroscopy facility. This proposal represents phase I of our long-term plan for the development of a state-of-the-art instrument facility specializing in high-resolution imaging and spectroscopy. In phase I, we propose the acquisition of a combined confocal optical and atomic force microscope. The instrument is the first of its kind from Asylum Research. This new combination provides, by using confocal mode, three-dimensional visualization of materials down to subcellular level resolution, and simultaneously, is able to zoom into points of interests and to further image local structures with nanometer to molecular resolution by atomic force microscopy. The proposed combination has superior performance among the few competitors in stability, speed, resolution and ability to do dynamic studies, mainly due to the revolutionary design of the imaging scanner by Asylum Research. Research teams at UC Davis plan to use this new instrument for production and visualization of nanostructures, for the study of crystal growth mechanisms, for the production and properties of novel inorganic-organic composite materials, for monitoring of the immunoprocesses such as allergy and initial viral infection, and for testing the feasibility of using artificially engineered nanostructures to mimic cell signaling. We anticipate that results from these investigations would provide critical information in realizing potential applications of nanoscience in modern materials science and biotechnology. The proposed equipment and projects represent the thrust areas of an organized research unit (ORU) at UC Davis: Nanomaterials in the Environment Agriculture and Technology (NEAT). The new facility, together with existing ones, will provide advanced training and technical expertise for NEAT students to face modern challenges in material characterization, nanotechnology, and nanobiotechnology, which are critical for maintaining our nation's leadership in science, industry R&D, and homeland security.