Isothermal Titration Calorimeter for Bio/Nano-Materials Research and Education

1134371 Tsianou该小型设备提案的目的是获得高灵敏度等温滴定量热仪（ITC），用于研究包含生物分子，大分子和/或纳米材料的系统中的相互作用和物理转化。这一设备将大大提高PI目前的研究能力，并启动新的研究项目。ITC可以提供基本的，热力学信息的少数组成部分或弱的双晶转变，只使用小的样品体积。因此，量热法可以为复杂的、多组分的和纳米结构的系统提供有价值的见解。 目前，所有工程和自然科学研究实验室都位于纽约州立大学布法罗北部（阿默斯特）校区，所有本科教学都在该校区进行。因此，拟议的国际贸易中心将为项目研究所的研究和教育能力提供一个新的独特补充。智力优势：含有合成或生物大分子和/或纳米颗粒的纳米结构产品和装置对生活质量和经济增长做出了重大贡献。阐明复杂的生物/大分子系统中的分子间相互作用为支持这种技术进步的研究进展提供了根本基础。拟议的仪器将支持高质量的科学研究。特别是，这种灵敏的量热计将大大提高我们目前和未来的研究工作的热力学表征：（a）在溶液中的生物分子，重点是理解和优化蛋白质配体结合;（B）自组装系统，项目范围从生物活性分子与纳米粒子的相互作用到离子液体介质中的结构化;和（c）纳米材料，特别关注功能膜组装中使用的多层膜，以及导致纤维素溶解的相互作用和现象。研究人员在不同的研究领域工作，但在阐明纳米尺度下的分子相互作用并利用这些知识解决基础研究问题方面都有共同的兴趣。重要的是要注意，在复杂的，多组分和纳米结构的系统中，量热法提供了任何其他技术都无法获得的定量数据支持的有价值的见解。与此同时，拟议的热量计将证明是一个强大的补充，先进的结构表征技术，目前在校园。更广泛的影响：拟议工作的更广泛影响将有两类：（a）由于长期实施商业应用中开发的科学和技术而产生的社会影响和生活质量的改善;（B）教育和外联影响。在教育和推广方面，拟议的工具预计将被几个博士使用。在他们的研究中，学生和博士后，以及本科生研究人员，从而有助于大量用户的教育和研究培训。该仪器还将用于正规的科学和工程课程，从而有助于常规教育。参与这项建议的教师将继续努力，在高中，本科和研究生阶段代表性不足的少数民族学生。最后，这一工具将有助于与当地工业的联系，使其可用于当地工业，并通过促进这些工业研究人员与工程人员就可能的联合研究项目进行互动时自然产生的知识联系。

1134371TsianouThe objective of this small equipment proposal is to acquire a high-sensitivity Isothermal Titration Calorimeter (ITC) for the study of interactions and physical transformations in systems containing biomolecules, macromolecules, and/or nanomaterials. This equipment will significantly enhance current research capabilities for the PIs and initiate new research projects. ITC can provide fundamental, thermodynamic information on a minority component or on weak enthalpic transitions, using only small sample volumes. Calorimetry can, thus, offer valuable insights in complex, multicomponent and nanostructured systems. No ITC instrument is currently available at the SUNY-Buffalo North (Amherst) campus where all the Engineering and Natural Sciences research laboratories are located, and all undergraduate instruction takes place. The proposed ITC will thus present a new and unique addition to the PIs research and education capabilities. Intellectual Merit: Nanostructured products and devices containing synthetic or biological macromolecules and/or nanoparticles contribute significantly to the quality of life and economic growth. The elucidation of intermolecular interactions in complex, bio/macromolecular systems provides the fundamental underpinning of research advances that support such technological progress. The proposed instrumentation will support high quality scientific research. In particular, this sensitive calorimeter will greatly enhance our current and future research efforts on thermodynamic characterization of: (a) biomolecules in solution, with an emphasis on understanding and optimizing protein-ligand binding; (b) self-assembled systems, with projects ranging from interaction of bioactive molecules with lipidic nanoparticles to structuring in ionic liquid media; and (c) nanomaterials, with specific interests on polyelectrolyte multilayers used in the assembly of functional films, and interactions and phenomena leading to cellulose dissolution. The investigators work in different research areas, but all share common interests in elucidating molecular interactions in the nanoscale and using this knowledge to tackle fundamental research questions. It is important to note that in complex, multi-component and nanostructured systems, calorimetry provides valuable insights supported by quantitative data not attainable by any other technique. At the same time, the proposed calorimeter would prove a powerful complement to the advanced structural characterization techniques currently available on campus. Broader Impacts: The broader impacts of the proposed work will be of two types: (a) societal impacts and improvements in quality of life due to long-term implementation of the science and technology developed in commercial applications; and (b) education and outreach impacts. In education and outreach, the proposed instrument is expected to be used by several Ph.D. students and PostDocs in their research, as well as undergraduate researchers, thereby contributing to the education and research training of a significant number of users. The instrument will also be used in formal science and engineering courses, and will thereby contribute to conventional education. Faculty involved in this proposal will continue their outreach efforts to underrepresented minority students at the high-school, undergraduate, and graduate levels. Finally, this instrument will aid in outreach to local industry by making it availableto local industry and by fostering the intellectual connections that naturally arise when these industrial researchers interact with the engineering staff on possible joint research projects.