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（BIO Directorate）的生物研究仪器开发（IDBR）项目授予，由化学、生物工程、环境和运输系统部（CBET, Engineering Directorate）的微粒和多相过程（PMP）项目共同资助。摘要本课题的主要目标是建立一种帧率为100帧/秒的新型高速原子力显微镜（AFM）成像系统。虽然该仪器的创建可能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。极快的帧率和远距离将允许动态过程的直接可视化，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的培训提供了极好的机会，并通过纳米和生物技术的暑期课程扩展到初高中学生。【技术摘要】仪器的速度增益可通过两种方式实现。第一种方法是用一种反馈算法取代AFM的标准光栅扫描，该算法可以引导尖端停留在感兴趣的区域。这将通过减少扫描量来减少成像时间，但要成像的样品必须具有潜在的线状结构，例如在生物聚合物中发现的结构。第二种方法是创建双级扫描系统，使非光栅扫描能够以超快的速度进行。在部署用于研究分子运动肌球蛋白v的动力学之前，将建立一个原型系统并在各种标准样品上进行演示。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AFM公司的合作将技术集成到他们的下一代设备中。

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.