MRI: ACQUISITION OF AN IMAGING SURFACE PLASMON RESONANCE SPECTROMETER FOR QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF SURFACE ADSORBING SPECIES

表面等离子体共振（SPR）是一种在金属涂层表面进行的倏逝波折射率测量，已被证明是一种定量、敏感和无标记的技术，可用于测量蛋白质、DNA、细胞和小分子与表面固定化捕获剂的结合动力学。成像与SPR （SPRI）的结合允许对细胞区域和细胞-基质相互作用（如膜褶皱）的动态变化进行敏感和准确的定量。SPRI还提供了细胞中蛋白质分泌的定量，以及表面蛋白质密度随时间和地点的变化。定制设计的SPRI将帮助研究人员研究多肽、纳米颗粒、蛋白质和其他生物偶联物在聚合物、自组装单层甚至培养活细胞上的吸附。荧光显微镜配置将能够捕获细胞形态信息，配体和受体的空间分布以及竞争性分子摄取研究，当与SPRi的吸附和动力学数据相结合时，将为细胞物质相互作用的定量和统计测量提供机会。2009年，贝克尔博士发起了与圣文森特/圣玛丽高中（STVM）的长期外展努力。这个团队已经增加了10名UA的教员。独特的是，每年，在每个年级，每个学生都被要求完成一个为期一年的，以探究为基础的科学项目，作为科学课程的一部分。科学探究法鼓励学生提出深入的问题，然后运用自己，包括进行实验，找到答案，而不仅仅是记忆事实。学生研究并确定一个问题，并通过仔细和系统地进行实验、进行研究和咨询教师、研究生、高中教师和学生的团队来解决或回答。结果制定成ACS聚合物预印本风格的手稿。在11个团队（学生、教师、老师）的共同努力下，STVM获得了哈罗德·c·肖杰出学校奖，并在2010年和2011年被评为俄亥俄州优秀高中科学项目。我们的目标是利用学生在科学探究项目中收集的真实数据来展示折射率、光学吸附和蛋白质吸附的物理现象，这些现象将被纳入高中物理课程的新模块中。分子与表面的相互作用在许多生物和物理过程中起着重要作用。这些生物分子的吸附对于设计具有抗菌性能的材料、开发用于组织工程的支架、骨骼生长和药物输送具有重要意义。成像表面等离子体共振仪器（SPR）的获取将提供蛋白质、肽和纳米级颗粒在表面上吸附的信息。阿克伦大学（UA）的这项新能力将为12个研究小组的学生和教师提供机会，研究生物材料领域的基础和应用问题。这种额外的能力将加速新生物材料的开发，并为研究生和本科生提供重要的培训。此外，参加亚利桑那大学为期一年的科学探究项目的当地高中生将使用该仪器研究吸附动力学。我们的目标是用学生收集的真实数据来展示折射率、光学吸附和蛋白质吸附的物理现象，这些物理现象将被纳入高中物理课程的新模块。

Technical AbstractSurface plasmon resonance (SPR) is an evanescent wave refractive index measurement made at a metal-coated surface and has been demonstrated to be a quantitative, sensitive, and label-free technique for measuring the binding kinetics of proteins, DNA, cells, and small molecules to surface-immobilized capture agents. The combination of imaging with SPR (SPRI) allows sensitive and accurate quantification of cell areas and dynamic changes in cell-substrate interactions such as membrane ruffling. SPRI also affords quantification of secretion of proteins from cells, and changes in surface protein density as a function of time and location. The custom-designed SPRI will aid researchers in studying adsorption of peptides, nanoparticles, proteins and other bioconjugates on polymers, self assembled monolayers and even live cells in culture. The fluorescence microscopy configuration will enable the capture of cell morphology information, spatial distributions of ligands and receptors and competitive molecular uptake studies which when coupled to the adsorption and kinetic data from SPRi will provide opportunities for quantitative and statistical measurements of cell material interactions. In 2009, Dr. Becker initiated a long-term outreach effort with St. Vincent / St. Mary High School (STVM). It has grown to include 10 additional faculty members at UA. Uniquely, EVERY year, at each grade level, EVERY student is required to complete a year-long, inquiry-based science project as part of the science curriculum. The science inquiry method encourages students to ask in depth questions and then to apply themselves, including conducting experiments, to find the answers, rather than merely memorize facts. The students research and identify a problem that they proceed to solve or answer by carefully and methodically performing experiments, conducting research and consulting with the teams of faculty, graduate students, high school teachers and students. Results are formulated into ACS POLYMER PREPRINT style manuscripts. Collectively the efforts of 11 teams (student, faculty, teacher) led to STVM in winning the Harold C. Shaw Outstanding School Award and named as the outstanding high school science program in the State of Ohio in both 2010 and 2011. We aim to use real data collected by the students in the science inquiry program to demonstrate physical phenomena of refractive index, optical adsorption and protein adsorption which will be incorporated into new modules in the high school physics curriculum.Non-Technical AbstractThe interactions of molecules with surfaces play an important role in many biological and physical processes. The adsorption of these biomolecules are important for designing materials that have antimicrobial properties, developing scaffolds for tissue engineering, bone growth, and drug delivery. The acquisition of Imaging Surface Plasmon Resonance Instrumentation (SPR) will provide information on adsorption of proteins, peptides and nanometer-size particles on surfaces. This new capability at the University of Akron (UA) will provide opportunities for students and faculty members in twelve research groups to investigate fundamental and applied problems in the area of biomaterials. This additional capability will accelerate the development of new biomaterials and provide important training to graduate and undergraduate students. In addition local high school students participating in a year-long science inquiry program at UA will use the instrumentation to study kinetics of adsorption. We aim to use real data collected by the students to demonstrate physical phenomena of refractive index, optical adsorption and protein adsorption which will be incorporated into new modules in the high school physics curriculum.