MRI: Acquisition of an Upright Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope to Advance Research and Education at the University of California, Merced

获得材料研究部(DMR)主要研究仪器(MRI)项目的这一奖项后，加州大学默塞德分校将购买一台最先进的共焦激光扫描显微镜，作为基于生物材料的研究和教学的主要工具。在共焦显微镜中，一个针孔可以拒绝平面外的光，从而可以获得比传统光学显微镜更高的分辨率。这种光学切片允许从光学切片重建三维图像。这台显微镜将极大地增强加州大学默塞德分校现有的材料研究设施，特别是允许进行以下研究：a)细胞如何控制其膜中脂质区域的大小，b)我们如何设计合成细胞，c)我们如何设计和表征用于能量和药物输送的纳米组装系统，d)机械力对干细胞分化的影响，e)亲水性聚合物对根际流体传输的影响，f)生物膜的短期和长期动态，以及g)真菌和细菌之间如何在混合生物膜中发生合作。在少数族裔服务机构加州大学默塞德分校，来自不同背景的大量学生的显微镜研究活动和研究培训受益于这一奖项。此外，关于该仪器的教师培训将增加大学前对周围社区的科学和工程的接触。该显微镜将允许PI和高级人员进行需要多模式成像能力的研究，例如高分辨率多通道(最多同时六个通道)荧光显微镜、激光反射显微镜、亮场显微镜、光谱成像和高信噪比成像的组合。该探测器具有线性扫描和卓越的信噪比，因此可以对暗淡和标记较浅的样品进行定量成像。直立配置允许使用长工作距离物镜对表面上的半导体芯片、纳米薄膜和纳米颗粒进行反射成像。竖直构型还将允许研究方向性很重要的现象，如气液界面上生物膜膜的形成，以及重力和毛细作用驱动的液体通过根际的运输。该仪器还将允许学生接受关于使用和应用最先进的显微镜技术的实践培训；这对加州大学默塞德分校尤其重要，该校拥有全国最高的研究型大学第一代大学生入学率之一。这一工具创造的教育机会将通过投资机构资源来招收和留住来自代表性不足的社会和经济群体的学生，从而进一步促进大学对多样性的承诺。

With this award from the Division of Materials Research (DMR) Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program, the University of California, Merced will acquire a state-of-the-art confocal laser-scanning microscope to serve as primary tool for biomaterials-based research and teaching. In a confocal microscope, a pinhole that rejects out-of-plane light allows imaging at a higher resolution than achievable through conventional optical microscopy. This optical sectioning allows reconstruction of three-dimensional images from optical slices. This microscope will dramatically augment the materials research facilities existing at UC Merced, specifically allowing research into: a) how do cells control the size of lipid domains in their membranes, b) how do we engineer synthetic cells, c) how do we design and characterize nano-assembled systems for energy and drug delivery, d) what are the effects of mechanical forces on the differentiation of stem cells, e) what are the effects of hydrophilic polymers on fluid transport in the rhizosphere, f) what are the short- and long-term dynamics of biofilms, and g) how do cooperation between fungi and bacteria occur in mixed biofilms. Research activities and research training on the microscope, of a large number of students from diverse backgrounds at UC Merced, a minority serving institution, benefits from this award. Furthermore, teacher training on the instrument will increase pre-college exposure to science and engineering in the surrounding communities. The microscope will allow the PIs and senior personnel to conduct research requiring multi-modal imaging capabilities, such as a combination of high-resolution multichannel (up to six simultaneous channels) fluorescence microscopy, laser reflectance microscopy, bright-field microscopy, spectroscopic imaging, and high-signal-to-noise ratio imaging. The detectors feature linear scanning and superior signal-to-noise ratios thus allowing quantitative imaging of dim and lightly-labeled samples. The upright configuration allows reflective imaging of semiconductor chips, nanofilms, and nanoparticles on surfaces using long-working distance objectives. The upright configuration will also allow studies of phenomena where directionality is important, such as the formation of biofilm pellicles on air-water interfaces, and gravity and capillarity driven transport of liquids through the rhizosphere. This instrument will also allow students to receive hands on-training on the use and application of state-of-the-art microscopy techniques; particularly important for UC Merced, which has one of the nation's highest enrollment of first generation college students in a research university. The educational opportunities created by this instrument will further the university's commitment to diversity by investing institutional resources to recruit and retain students from underrepresented social and economic groups.