Folded, yet Stretchable Polymers as Molecular Yardsticks and Force Sensors: New Molecular Tools

美国国家科学基金会的大分子、超分子和纳米化学（MSN）项目支持亚历山大李教授及其在华盛顿州立大学的研究小组开发新的分子工具来测量分子之间的力。 本研究调查使用折叠的，但可拉伸的低聚物/聚合物作为力传感器，揭示在生物系统中发挥重要作用的分子力。分子力传感器的发展，可以感测力施加在一个定义的距离（在纳米尺度）将提供一个有用的工具，研究化学和生物系统，并将推进我们的知识的结构和自组装系统的动力学。 该项目为学生提供跨学科的研究培训。 举办科学工作坊，以提高初、高中生（包括来自社会经济弱势家庭的学生）对科学的兴趣。

The Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry (MSN) Program at the National Science Foundation supports the research of Professor Alexander Li and his group at Washington State University to develop new molecular tools for measuring forces between molecules. This research investigates the use of folded, yet stretchable oligomers/polymers as force sensors for revealing molecular forces that play important roles in biological systems. The development of a molecular force sensor that can sense force applied over a defined distance (in nanometer scale) would provide a useful tool for studying chemical and biological systems and would advance our knowledge of structure and dynamics of self-assembled systems. This project provides interdisciplinary research training to students. Science workshops will be offered to arouse the interest of middle and high school students (including students from socio-economically disadvantaged families) in science.