Liquid Nanoliter Calorimetry for Ultrafast Analysis of Proteins

这项提议的目标是开发一种用于蛋白质分析的液态量热计，其体积比传统仪器小1000倍，扫描速度高达常规仪器的1000倍。这项提议应用了成功制造计算机芯片的技术，目的是创造一种新的用于生物研究的液体纳卡计仪器。了解蛋白质的基本性质是了解其功能的基础。液体纳米量热仪的高速率将使研究人员能够观察到蛋白质折叠的快速中间步骤。该设备的设计还将使在一片硅片上开发100英寸S这样的设备成为可能。这种芯片上实验室配置非常适合自动化，是组合研究的必需品。极小的样本量也是合成新蛋白质的表征所必需的，新蛋白质的合成通常是有限数量的。这项研究将为研究生提供广泛的教育，让他们在未来的器件设计和制造中获得实践经验。该项目在拓宽化学家和生物学家的仪器方面也具有广泛的技术影响。蛋白质研究的进步直接影响到国家的健康和医疗行业，这是经济中增长最快的部分。这项研究很重要，因为它有助于为蛋白质的发现提供基础设施。合成新型蛋白质是医学进步的关键，而表征这些新蛋白质是实现其潜力的第一步。

The objective of this proposal is to develop a liquid calorimeter for protein analysis and designed to have volumes one-thousand times smaller and scanning rates up to one-thousand times faster than conventional instruments. This proposal applies the technology which has been so successful for making computer chips for the purpose of creating a new liquid Nanocalorimeter instruments for biological research.Understanding the underlying basic properties of proteins is fundamental to understanding their function. The high rates of the liquid Nanocalorimeter will allow researchers to observe the fast intermediate steps of protein folding. The design of this device will also enable the development of 100's of these devices on a single wafer of silicon. This Lab on a Chip configuration, which is ideal for automation, is a necessity for combinatorial studies. The extremely small sample sizes are also much needed for characterization for the synthesis of new proteins which are usually made at limited quantities. This research will provide a broad education for graduates students giving them practical hands-on experience in designing and fabricating devices of the future. The project also has broad technical impact in broadening the instrumentation for chemists and biologists. Advances in protein research directly impact the nation's health and medical industry, the most expanding segment of the economy. This research is important because it helps provide the infrastructure for protein discoveries. Synthesizing new types of protein is critical for advances in medicine and characterizing these new proteins is the first step in realizing their potential.