MRI: Acquisition of an Interfacial Characterization Lab for Biophysical and Biotechnology Systems in Research and Education

本杰明·L·斯托特鲁普及其同事Ronald Fedie、奥格斯堡学院的Z·维维安·冯、明尼苏达大学的王平和圣托马斯大学的亚当·S·格林将获得这项来自主要研究仪器项目(MRI)的奖项，他们将获得朗缪尔胶片平衡和成像系统。该建议旨在加强研究，以研究：(1)多组分相分离系统中结构域形态的基本问题，即模型细胞膜；(2)可能影响工业的产品表征的新度量的开发；(3)聚合物共轭酶的堆积；(4)生物材料的结构和行为，如蝴蝶翅膀。由此产生的信息被广泛应用于纳米技术、膜生物物理学、材料科学和流变学等领域，以了解乳化剂、酶聚集和薄膜等应用。本科生和研究生将在明尼阿波利斯/圣保罗地区的机构，包括圣保罗社区学院的研究和课程工作中使用该仪器。

With this award from the Major Research Instrumentation program (MRI), Benjamin L. Stottrup and colleagues Ronald Fedie, and Z. Vivian Feng from Augsburg College, Ping Wang from the University of Minnesota and Adam S. Green from the University of St. Thomas will acquire a Langmuir film balance and imaging system. The proposal is aimed at enhancing research to investigate: (1) basic questions of domain morphology in multi-component phase separated systems, i.e., model cell membranes; (2) the development of new metrics for product characterization which could impact industry; (3) the packing of polymer conjugated enzymes; and (4) the structure and behavior of biogenic materials, such as butterfly wings.Lagmuir-Blodgett techniques are employed to study the interface between two phases such as air-liquid, liquid-liquid or oil-water interfaces and to characterize surface morphologies. The resulting information is used extensively in the fields of nanotechnology, membrane biophysics, materials science, and rheology to understand emulsifiers, enzyme congregation and thin films among other applications. The instrumentation will be used by undergraduates and graduate students in research and course work at institutions in the Minneapolis /St Paul area including Saint Paul community colleges.