RUI: Structural Determinants of Permeation and Nucleation at a Self-Assembled Interface

在这项研究项目中，在化学系高分子、超分子和纳米化学项目的支持下，爱奥纳学院的李成熙教授和她的本科生对活细胞如何维持水分平衡有了更基本的了解-这是一种对生命至关重要的属性。他们使用受自然启发的技术来创造定制的颗粒-这些颗粒是细胞大小的水滴，用作自然细胞系统的模型。大量本科生参与了这项研究，其中许多学生发表了同行评议的手稿。举办了有高中生和教师参加的各种外展研讨会和科学专题讨论会，以激励和鼓励下一代STEM教育工作者。李教授特别向代表不足的群体伸出援手。除了了解活细胞中的水平衡外，这项研究还可以在反渗透系统的设计中应用于净水。本项目的重点是了解在液-液界面(包括表面活性剂双层)聚集的超分子聚集体如何调节小分子的通过和直接的生物矿化。系统的研究确定了双层材料(例如纳米材料)对水通过液滴界面双层(DIB)的传输特性的影响。实验活动主要集中在获取渗透流的水渗透参数以及电学性质的确定，以及通过拉曼定量进行成分研究。实验策略通过对生物矿物形成的成核研究，深入了解双层超分子组装如何促进重要目标(生物矿物和蛋白质)的结晶。生物矿化是生物有机体产生矿物质的过程，矿物质通常被用来硬化或硬化现有组织。

In this research program, with support from the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry Program of the Division of Chemistry, Professor Sunghee Lee of Iona College and her undergraduate students gain greater fundamental understanding of how living cells maintain their water balance - a property that is essential to life. They use nature-inspired techniques to create tailor-made particles - these particles are cell-sized water droplets which are used as models for natural cellular systems. A large number of undergraduate students are engaged in this research and many of these students publish peer-reviewed manuscripts. Diverse outreach seminars and science symposia involving high school students and teachers are conducted to inspire and encourage the next generation of STEM educators. Professor Lee reaches out to underrepresented groups in particular. In addition to understanding the water balance in living cells, the research could also have industrial applications in the design of reverse osmosis systems used to purify water.This project focuses on understanding how supramolecular aggregates assembled at liquid-liquid interfaces (including surfactant bilayers) mediate the passage of small molecules and direct biomineralization. Systematic studies determine the effect of bilayer-incorporated materials (e.g., nanomaterials) upon the characteristics of water transport through the droplet interface bilayer (DIB). Experimental activities primarily focus on acquisition of water permeability parameters for osmotic flow in conjunction with the determination of electrical properties, and compositional studies via Raman quantification. Experimental strategies provide insight into how bilayered supramolecular assemblies promote the crystallization of important targets (biominerals and proteins), through nucleation studies of biomineral formation. Biomineralization is the process by which living organisms produce minerals that are often used to harden or stiffen existing tissues.