Organization, Dynamics and Translocation at Fluid Interfaces

在分析和表面化学计划的支持下，本研究对支持的脂类双层膜的组织和动力学进行了研究。脂质双层对于生命是必不可少的，而支撑的双层结构在生物传感应用中是至关重要的。这些分子层已经得到了广泛的研究，但这些膜内的分子相互作用与其宏观行为之间的联系仍有待建立。密歇根州立大学的Blanchard教授和他的团队致力于了解单层囊泡和支持的脂双层的结构、动力学和相分离行为作为层组成和底物化学结构的函数。该小组评估了模型双层内以及双层和底物之间的分子相互作用，包括使用荧光探针分子，这些相互作用负责双层的组织和动力学。所有这些努力的一个共同主线是这样一个假设，即双层动力学和组织是由双层内的结构缺陷位置调节的。除了了解脂质双层组织和动力学之外，该研究计划的更大目的是教育界面科学前沿的学生，以培养一批具有全球竞争力的学生，反映国家在科学职业方面的人口统计学特征。这项研究充当了这一努力的载体。这项工作的结果将形成本科生研究报告，硕士论文，博士论文，并将在同行评议文献中报告。这项研究计划面向本科生和研究生参与，PI的母校强烈支持本科生参与研究，确保早日接触多学科科学。密歇根州立大学化学研究生项目和该机构作为一个整体，长期以来一直致力于纳入代表性不足的群体，在过去的七年里，布兰查德研究小组50%以上是女性。该小组正在与Pawel Krysiñski教授(华沙大学)进行国际合作，重点是使用生物和仿生界面进行化学传感。Krysiñski小组的专业知识与Blanchard小组的专业知识相吻合，这种合作扩大了两个实验室的广度。来自这两个小组的学生定期在合作者实验室工作，培养美国和波兰学生的全球科学观，并加快基础知识的传播。

In this research supported by the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program, the organization and dynamics of supported lipid bilayer films are investigated. Lipid bilayers are essential to life and supported bilayer structures are of critical importance in biosensing applications. These molecular layers have been studied widely but the connection between molecular interactions within these films and their macroscopic behavior remains to be established. Prof. Blanchard and his group at Michigan State University focus in this research on understanding the structure, dynamics and phase separation behavior in unilamellar vesicles and supported lipid bilayers as a function of layer composition and substrate chemical structure. The group evaluates, including with fluorescent probe molecules, the molecular interactions within model bilayers and between the bilayer and substrate that are responsible for bilayer organization and dynamics. A common thread to all of these efforts is the hypothesis that bilayer dynamics and organization are mediated by structural defect sites within the bilayers.The larger purpose of this research program, beyond understanding lipid bilayer organization and dynamics, is to educate students at the cutting edge of interfacial science to train a globally competitive cohort of students that reflects the demographic of the Nation for careers in science. This research serves as a vehicle in that effort. Results from this work will form undergraduate research reports, MS theses, PhD dissertations and will be reported in the peer-reviewed literature. This research program is geared for participation by undergraduate and graduate students, and the PI's home institution is strongly supportive of the inclusion of undergraduates in research, ensuring early exposure to multidisciplinary science. The MSU Graduate Program in Chemistry and the Institution as a whole has a long-standing commitment to the inclusion of under-represented groups, and for the past seven years the Blanchard research group has been more than 50% female. The group has an ongoing International collaboration with Professor Pawel Krysiñski (University of Warsaw) that focuses on the use of biological and biomimetic interfaces for chemical sensing. The Krysiñski group expertise dovetails with the Blanchard group, and this collaboration enhances the breadth of both labs. Students from both groups work regularly in the collaborator labs, fostering a global scientific outlook for both US and Polish students and accelerating the movement of fundamental knowledge.