Collaborative Research: Direct Exploration of New Nanoscale Structures using a Microfluidic Chip Integrated with Cryo-TEM

合作研究：使用与 Cryo-TEM 集成的微流控芯片直接探索新的纳米级结构

• 批准号: 0854097
• 负责人: Anubhav Tripathi
• 金额: $ 18.94万
• 依托单位: Brown University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-08-01 至 2013-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0854097&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Direct; Exploration; New

0854097Tripathi"This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5)."Intellectual meritThis nano related collaborative research program develops a new device integrating a microfluidic chip with a controlled environment vitrification system (CEVS) to understand self assembly of organic and inorganic nanostructures in important, but previously unexplored regimes. Cryogenic transmission electron microscopy will be used to directly image nanoscale structures that are formed under the highly controlled conditions that are characteristic of microfluidics. Using the first version of such an integrated system, we have already uncovered a new structural pathway for a micelle-vesicle transition that has important implications. The specific aims of the proposed research are:(1) Design and develop a new microfluidic chip-cryo-TEM setup to enable short time (sub-second) sample screening. The new design will automate sample delivery and eliminate the blotting step used to thin the sample prior to vitrification. This change will be transformative as it will allow one to explore nanostructures formed in new temporal regimes that are vital for a fundamental new understanding of several important physical processes, two classes of which will be investigated in this work.(2) Explore the early stages of structure formation (preceding nucleation) in inorganic systems and how the structural evolution can be controlled by polymers understanding precursor structures is essential for progress in the field of biomineralization as well as for the development of new hybrid materials and additives used in water treatment (for example, encrustation inhibitors for seawater desalination).(3) Determine transition states and dynamics of structural evolution insurfactant systems. This work will lead to a better comprehension of fundamental properties that affect microstructures in soft colloidal systems, eventually allowing more precise control of the final properties of these materials.Broader impactThe impact of this research will be broad, ranging from surfactant self-assembly to materials science. In terms of long range applications, the work could also assist in developing drug delivery techniques and water treatment. This research expands a strong collaboration between a microfluidics group at Brown University and a soft matter group at URI with a polymer physics/crystal growth group at BASF, working at Harvard University through the BASF/Harvard initiative. The graduate students working on this project will be involved in experimental design and fabrication and key experiments that provide new fundamental understanding of processes that also have significant applications. Given the typical reliance on expensive commercially available analytical devices, this range of experience will be unique. Material from this research is directly relevant for two courses taught at URI and Brown, and will be incorporated into coursework as it becomes available. The PIs will develop an educational program that demonstrates key features of microfluidics and the thermodynamics and kinetics of self-assembling systems for high school and undergraduate students, with the goal of raising and maintaining their interest in science and engineering. Using both Browns and URIs offices for minority student development, graduate and undergraduate students from underrepresented groups will be sought for this project.

0854097 Tripathi“该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助。该纳米相关的合作研究项目开发了一种新的设备，将微流体芯片与受控环境玻璃化系统（CEVS）集成在一起，以了解有机和无机纳米结构在重要但以前未探索的制度中的自组装。低温透射电子显微镜将用于直接成像纳米级结构，这些结构是在高度受控的条件下形成的，这是微流体的特征。使用这样一个集成系统的第一个版本，我们已经发现了一个新的结构途径的胶束囊泡过渡，具有重要意义。本研究的具体目标是：（1）设计和开发一种新的微流控芯片-低温-透射电镜系统，以实现短时间（亚秒级）的样品筛选。新的设计将自动化样品输送，并消除了在玻璃化之前用于稀释样品的印迹步骤。这种变化将是变革性的，因为它将允许人们探索在新的时间制度中形成的纳米结构，这对于对几个重要物理过程的基本新理解至关重要，其中两类将在这项工作中进行研究。(2)探索无机系统中结构形成的早期阶段（成核之前）以及结构演变如何通过聚合物控制了解前体结构对于生物矿化领域的进展以及开发用于水处理的新型混合材料和添加剂（例如，用于海水淡化的结壳抑制剂）至关重要。(3)确定表面活性剂体系的过渡态和结构演化动力学。这项工作将导致更好地理解影响软胶体系统中微观结构的基本性质，最终允许更精确地控制这些材料的最终性质。更广泛的影响这项研究的影响将是广泛的，从表面活性剂自组装到材料科学。在长期应用方面，这项工作还可以帮助开发药物输送技术和水处理。这项研究扩大了布朗大学的微流体小组和URI的软物质小组与巴斯夫的聚合物物理/晶体生长小组之间的密切合作，通过巴斯夫/哈佛倡议在哈佛大学工作。从事该项目的研究生将参与实验设计和制造以及关键实验，这些实验提供了对具有重要应用的过程的新的基本理解。鉴于通常依赖昂贵的商业分析设备，这一系列的经验将是独一无二的。这项研究的材料与URI和Brown教授的两门课程直接相关，并将在可用时纳入课程。PI将开发一个教育计划，展示微流体的关键特征以及高中和本科生自组装系统的热力学和动力学，目的是提高和保持他们对科学和工程的兴趣。利用布朗和URI办公室为少数民族学生的发展，研究生和本科生从代表性不足的群体将寻求这个项目。