MRI: Acquisition of a Universal Optical Tweezer Platform to Probe Nanoscale Structure and Function of Single Polymers Using Force and Optical Spectroscopy

该奖项由主要研究仪器项目和化学研究仪器项目共同支持。波士顿大学正在购买一种用于纳米操纵和纳米级物体的力光谱的光学镊子仪器，以支持玛丽亚·卡梅内茨卡及其同事肯尼斯·罗斯柴尔德和基思·布朗的研究。该仪器促进了化学、材料科学、纳米科学和生物学领域的研究。通常，光学镊子被用于纳米操纵和纳米物体在溶液中的力谱。光学镊子有助于分离和操纵光学陷阱中的单个目标分子。由于捕获发生在光学显微镜的焦平面，分离的分子的光发射可以与力同时被检测到。这允许对材料的操纵，从而可以发展对低至单分子水平的过程的机械理解。该仪器加强了许多部门各级学生的教育、研究和教学努力，并为附近的机构提供了接触这门专业科学的途径。授予用于纳米尺度物体的纳米操纵和力光谱的光学镊子(OT)仪器旨在加强所有级别的研究和教育，特别是在化学、材料和纳米材料以及生物系统等领域。化学和纳米材料的研究集中在探索一维纳米线和二维片的力学性质和电子传输。研究了光激活跨膜离子通道、泵和传感器中单分子的构象变化以及聚合物微纤维的结构-力学关系。生物系统的研究也是通过量化端粒DNA中核小体稳定性的缺陷来进行的。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This award is jointly supported by the Major Research Instrumentation and the Chemistry Research Instrumentation programs. Boston University is acquiring an optical tweezer instrument for nano-manipulation and force spectroscopy of nanoscale objects to support the research of Maria Kamenetska and colleagues Kenneth Rothschild and Keith Brown. This instrument facilitates research in the areas of chemistry, materials science, nanoscience, and biology. In general, optical tweezers are used for nano-manipulation and force spectroscopy of nanoscale objects in solution. Optical tweezers help isolate and manipulate single target molecules in an optical trap. Because trapping occurs at the focal plane of an optical microscope, light emission by the isolated molecule can be detected simultaneously with force. This allows for manipulation of materials so that mechanistic understanding of processes down to the single molecule level can be developed. This instrument enhances the educational, research, and teaching efforts of students at all levels in many departments as well as provides accessibility to this specialized science to nearby institutions. The award of an optical tweezer (OT) instrument for the nano-manipulation and force spectroscopy of nanoscale objects is aimed at enhancing research and education at all levels, especially in areas such as chemistry, materials and nanomaterials, and biological systems. Research in chemistry and nanomaterials focus on probing the mechanical properties of and electron transport in one dimensional nanowires and two dimensional flakes. Conformational changes of single molecules in light-activated transmembrane ion channels, pumps, and sensors are studied as are structure-mechanics relationships of polymer microfibrils. Biological systems are also studied by quantifying defects in nucleosome stability at telomeric DNA.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.