SGER: The Structure of Water at Biological Interfaces

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This exploratory research project will investigate the nature of solid-water interfaces that are essential for many processes related to biomaterials and biological function. It will explore the potential for applying new tools such as x-ray spectroscopic techniques utilizing synchrotron radiation for studying self assembled monolayers (SAM) on gold as functionalized surfaces with different chemical end groups that interact with water differently. Probing the hydrogen-bonding network in water using x-ray absorption spectroscopy will reveal how water restructures itself around different chemical terminations of the SAM overlayer. The underlying question to be addressed is how biological water differs in comparison with bulk water, and how it affects the functioning of different biomaterials. Several fundamental questions of an interdisciplinary nature involving material science, chemistry and biology will be addressed. Understanding the solid-water interface is essential for many processes related to biomaterials and biological function. Functionalizing surfaces with biologically active molecules has important technological applications relevant to biomaterials, biocatalysis, biocompatibility and bioelectronics and biosensors.