Academic Travel Support for Organizing 2007 MRS Workshop on Multi-scale Materials at the Biological Interface

CBET- 0735915;为组织2007年生物界面多尺度材料MRS研讨会提供学术旅行支持PI：John X. J. Zhang，生物医学工程系助理教授，机构：德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校这是一笔旅行补助金，用于部分支持10个美国生物医学，生物机械工程，和化学工程初级教师和研究生与界面方面的研究，参加2007年11月26日至30日，马萨诸塞州波士顿的生物界面固体MRS研讨会。材料科学和生物学的界面在从整个组织结构的力学到引入纳米材料的细胞反应的应用中是重要的。生物和生理系统的独特属性产生关键的相互作用，必须考虑在实验方案或模型的开发中，以及在复杂的盐，免疫系统和细胞的存在下使用固体材料的环境中，优先响应材料的模量，组成和表面特性。包括硅衬底、金属、陶瓷和聚合物的固态材料越来越多地应用于MEMS/NEMS、纳米级技术和材料以及可植入诊断医疗设备和组织替代和/或药物递送系统中。固体材料由于其在生物系统中的广泛应用而特别令人感兴趣。骨骼、牙齿、植物材料和外骨骼在结构、保护或咀嚼功能中起作用。四个关键主题在以下领域，重点是生物环境中材料界面的检查：在多个尺度下的机械表征和/或建模，特别关注材料之间的模量失配;材料-流体相互作用;具有相似或高度不相似的超微结构的两种材料的界面;固体复合材料中的时间依赖性行为;仿生材料;以及多尺度下结构的重要性。生物学对材料的耐受程度，包括生物相容性或毒性、细胞粘附、生物污染或材料与周围液体或细胞环境之间的化学相互作用等问题。如何通过自然适应改善界面特性;通过改变表面化学;和/或添加氨基酸，肽，酶或细胞。生物启发材料系统的合成和表征广泛影响：本次研讨会将汇集生物力学，生物物理学，化学工程，组织工程和分子成像领域的领先专家和年轻学者，以及来自更传统的生命科学领域的研究人员（例如，解剖学，生物学，化学和医学），以促进生物系统中固体材料的作用的独特和必要的话语。本次研讨会旨在探讨这些问题，通过研究从整个组织到单个生物分子尺度上的固态界面与生物环境的物理化学相互作用。NSF CBET的支持将帮助青年学者和学生参加这次国际会议，以促进科学，知识和实践知识的交流，特别是与来自工业界的工程师和科学家。参与的学生将通过参加这次活动获得宝贵的经验;而且，在许多情况下，这将是他们第一次有机会展示和出版他们的作品。组织者还希望确保讨论的主题与CBET的优先事项保持一致。

CBET- 0735915; Academic Travel Support for Organizing 2007 MRS Workshop on Multi-scale Materials at the Biological Interface PI: John X.J. Zhang, Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institution: The University of Texas of Austin Intellectual Merit: This is a travel grant for partial support for ten U.S. biomedical, biomechanical engineering, and chemical engineering junior faculty and graduate students with research on interfacial aspects to participate in the 2007 MRS Symposium on Solids at the Biological Interface, November 26-30, Boston, MA. The interface of materials science and biology is significant in applications ranging from the mechanics of whole tissue constructs to the cellular response from introduced nanoscale materials. Unique attributes of biological and physiological systems generate critical interactions that must be considered in the development of experimental protocols or models and in the use of solid materials in an environment complicated by the presence of salts, an immune system, and cells with preferential responses to material modulus, composition, and surface properties. Solid-state materials including silicon substrates, metals, ceramics, and polymers are increasingly being implemented in MEMS/NEMS, nanoscale technologies and materials, and in implantable diagnostic medical devices and tissue replacement and/or drug delivery systems. Solid materials are of particular interest due to their wide range of applications within biological systems. Bones, teeth, plant materials, and exoskeletons act in structural, protective, or masticatory functions. The four key topics are in the following areas, focusing on examinations of material interfaces in biological environments with respect to: . Mechanical characterization and/or modeling at multiple scales with particular focus on modulus mismatch between materials; material-fluid interactions; interface of two materials with like or highly dissimilar ultrastructures; time-dependent behavior in solid, composite materials; biomimetic materials; and the importance of structure at multiple scales . How well the material is tolerated by biology, including issues of biocompatibility or toxicity, cell adhesion, biofouling, or chemical interactions between the material from the surrounding fluid or cellular milieu . How interface characteristics are improved via natural adaptation; through the alteration of surface chemistry; and/or the addition of amino acids, peptides, enzymes, or cells . Synthesis and characterization of bioinspired materials systems Broad Impact: This workshop will bring together leading experts and young scholars in biomechanics, biophysics, chemical engineering, tissue engineering, and molecular imaging with researchers from more traditional life-science fields (e.g., anatomy, biology, chemistry, and medicine) to facilitate a unique and necessary discourse on the roles of solid materials in biological systems. This workshop seeks to explore these issues by examining the physico-chemical interaction of solid-state interfaces with biological environments at scales ranging from whole tissues to single biomolecules. The support from NSF CBET will help junior academics and students to participate in this international conference to facilitate an exchange of scientific, intellectual and practical knowledge, in particular with engineers and scientists from industry. Students involved will gain invaluable experience through participation in this event; and, in many cases, this will be their first opportunity to present and publish their work. The organizers also want to ensure the discussion topics align well with CBET priorities.