COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: HIGH-SPEED AFM IMAGING OF DYNAMICS ON BIOPOLYMERS THROUGH NON-RASTER SCANNING

该奖项由生物基础设施部的生物研究仪器开发（IDBR）计划授予。（生物理事会）是共同资助的颗粒和多相过程（PMP）计划在化学，生物工程，环境和运输系统司（CBET，非技术摘要本项目的主要目的是建立一种新型的高速原子力显微镜（AFM）成像系统具有大约100帧/秒的帧速率。虽然该仪器的创建可能会对广泛的应用领域产生重大影响，但主要目标是研究生物分子过程。极快的帧速率和长距离将允许直接可视化动态过程，而以前只能通过间接手段进行研究。该项目的跨学科性质为研究生和本科生培训提供了极好的机会，并通过纳米和生物技术暑期课程向初中和高中年龄的学生提供了推广机会。第一种方法是用反馈算法取代AFM的标准光栅扫描，该算法控制针尖停留在感兴趣的区域。这将通过减少要完成的扫描量来减少成像时间，其中要成像的样品必须具有诸如在生物聚合物中发现的底层线状结构。第二种方法是创建双级扫描系统，该系统将允许以超快的速度执行非光栅扫描。一个原型系统将建立和演示各种标准样品，然后部署到研究分子马达肌球蛋白V的动力学的仪器和基础技术将通过期刊出版物和会议出版物传播，并通过与现有的AFM公司合作，将技术集成在他们的下一代设备。

This award by the Instrument Development for Biological Research (IDBR) program in the Division of Biological Infrastructure (BIO Directorate) is co-funded by the Particulate and Multiphase Processes (PMP) program in the Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems (CBET, Engineering Directorate).Non Technical AbstractThe primary aim of this project is to create a novel high-speed atomic force microscope (AFM) imaging system with frame rates of on the order of 100 frames/second. While the creation of this instrument may have a significant impact on a broad range of application areas, the primary target is the study of biomolecular processes. The extremely fast frame rate and long range will allow for the direct visualization of dynamic process that previously could be studied at best only through indirect means. The interdisciplinary nature of the project provides excellent opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate student training as well as outreach to middle- and high-school age students through summer programs on nano- and biotechnology.Technical AbstractThe speed gains of the instrument will be achieved in two ways. The first way is to replace the standard raster-scan of AFM with a feedback algorithm that steers the tip to stay in the region of interest. This will reduce imaging time by reducing the amount of scanning to be done, with the tradeoff that the sample to be imaged must have an underlying string-like structure such as is found in biopolymers. The second way is to create dual-stage scanning systems that will allow the non-raster scanning to be performed at ultra-fast speeds. A prototype system will be built and demonstrated on a variety of standard samples before being deployed to study the dynamics of the molecular motor myosin V. The instrument and underlying techniques will be disseminated through journal publication and conference publication and through collaboration with an existing AFM company to integrate the techniques in their next generation devices.