MRI: Development of a COIFM with Lateral Modulation for Studying Interfacial Water

技术摘要本项目的目的是研制一种基于光学显微镜的横向调制光学界面力显微镜（COIFM），用于研究环境和流体环境中两个表面之间的界面水。CLM使我们能够测量两个表面之间的法向力和摩擦力，而不会出现与传统原子力显微镜系统相关的接触问题，通过使用电压激活的力反馈。这个为期三年的项目包括两年的开发阶段和一年的使用该仪器的研究阶段。在开发阶段，PI和学生将设计和构建CLM，并通过揭示界面水的隐藏结构来展示其功能。在研究阶段，CLM将为多个学科的不同界面水研究项目做出贡献，包括物理学，生物学，化学和生物化学。CLM的成功开发将使我们能够探索我们现有的COIFM最近发现的令人惊讶的振荡力的起源，因为两个表面之间的纳米级距离是不同的。CLM还将用于研究水在分子间/表面间摩擦中的作用，以及在人造软骨等水基生物材料中减少摩擦的作用。通过这个项目获得的实践经验将帮助学生准备在纳米/生物技术行业的研究生课程或职业竞争性安置。三名研究生和三名本科生将参与为期三年的研究项目。此外，该项目将有助于为未来的跨学科博士学位开发生物物理学课程链。在博伊西州立大学的生物分子科学项目。非技术摘要本计画的目的是发展一种具有侧向调变（CLM）的光学界面力显微镜（COIFM），以在分子尺度上研究界面水。该CLM将使我们能够测量两个表面之间所有距离范围内的界面水产生的界面力。CLM的力-距离曲线将提供前所未有的界面水信息，以了解其结构和机械性能。这个为期三年的项目包括两年的开发阶段和一年的使用该仪器的研究阶段。在开发阶段，PI和学生将设计和构建CLM，并通过揭示界面水的隐藏结构来展示其功能。在研究阶段，CLM将用于研究水在（1）介导两个表面之间的分子间相互作用，以及（2）减少水基生物材料（如人工软骨）中的摩擦方面的作用。该仪器将促进学科之间的研究合作，包括物理学，生物学，化学和生物化学。它将大大改善博伊西州立大学（BSU）和周边地区的研究基础设施，因为BSU是爱达荷州西南部唯一的研究级教育机构，该州是该州的人口中心。此外，该项目将有助于为未来的博士生开发生物物理学课程。在BSU的节目。该项目将在三年内为三名研究生和三名本科生提供研究机会。

Technical AbstractThe purpose of this project is to develop a cantilever-based optical interfacial force microscope (COIFM) with lateral modulation (CLM) to study interfacial water confined between two surfaces both in ambient and fluid environments. The CLM enables us to measure both normal and friction forces between two surfaces without the snap-to-contact problem associated with conventional atomic force microscope systems, by using a voltage-activated force feedback. The three-year project consists of two years of development phase and one year of research phase using the instrument. During the development phase, the PI and students will design and construct the CLM, and will demonstrate its capability by revealing the hidden structure of interfacial water. During the research phase, the CLM will contribute to diverse interfacial water research projects across several disciplines, including physics, biology, chemistry, and biochemistry. The successful development of the CLM will allow us to explore the origin of the surprising oscillatory forces found recently by our existing COIFM, as the nanoscale distance between two surfaces was varied. The CLM will also be applied to investigate the roles of water in inter-molecular/ inter-surface friction and in the reduction of the friction in water-based bio-materials such as artificial cartilage. The hands-on experience acquired through this project will help prepare students for competitive placement in graduate programs or careers in nano/biotech industries. Three graduate and three undergraduate students will be involved in the research project for over a three-year period. In addition, the project will help develop a biophysics curriculum strand for a future interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in Biomolecular Sciences at Boise State University. Non-technical AbstractThe purpose of this project is to develop a cantilever-based optical interfacial force microscope (COIFM) with lateral modulation (CLM) to study interfacial water at the molecular scale. This CLM will enable us to measure interfacial forces generated by interfacial water for all distance ranges between two surfaces. The CLM's force-distance curves will provide unprecedented information on interfacial water to understand its structure and mechanical properties. The three-year project consists of two years of development phase and one year of research phase using the instrument. During the development phase, the PI and students will design and construct the CLM, and will demonstrate its capability by revealing the hidden structure of interfacial water. During the research phase, the CLM will be applied to investigating the roles of water in (1) mediating inter-molecular interactions between two surfaces, and in (2) reducing the friction in water-based bio-materials, such as artificial cartilage. This instrument will promote research collaborations among disciplines, including physics, biology, chemistry, and biochemistry. It will greatly improve the research infrastructure at Boise State University (BSU) and the surrounding areas, as BSU is the only research-level educational institution in southwestern Idaho, which is the population center of the state. In addition, the project will help develop a biophysics curriculum strand for a future Ph.D. program at BSU. This project will provide research opportunities for three graduate and three undergraduate students over a three-year period.