Langmuir Blodgett Micro Trough for membrane biophysics and nanotechnology research

这项提案寻求资金，以获得一个朗缪尔-布洛杰特微槽(LBMT)系统，以支持NSERC资助的纳米生物物理和生物纳米技术研究。该设备将能够在空气/水界面形成单分子膜，多方面地研究其性质及其与其他生物分子的相互作用，并将单分子膜沉积在各种固体衬底上。LBMT系统将与生物物理技术结合使用，如原子力显微镜(AFM)、开尔文(KPFM)探针力显微镜、表面等离子体共振和纳米级电生理学。该仪器将构成滑铁卢大学独特的尖端设备，用于解决从基础生物物理学到生物传感和纳米技术应用的重要研究问题。所要求的设备将推动几个前沿研究方向，如：研究阿尔茨海默病中淀粉样毒性的分子机制；了解与呼吸系统疾病和感染有关的肺表面活性物质的结构和功能；探索仿生膜在生物传感和生物纳米技术中的应用，例如用于癌症研究的新基因输送系统和用于隐形眼镜技术的新解决方案。这些研究将极大地促进膜生物物理学领域的知识，预计将对加拿大人面临的许多健康、社会和经济挑战产生重大影响，例如阿尔茨海默病的压倒性上升，目前尚无治愈方法；呼吸道感染和肺部疾病日益严重；诊断、生物传感和药物输送需要新的纳米平台。滑铁卢的LBMT与先进的AFM/KPFM设备的独特结合在加拿大任何地方都是买不到的。它将支持我们与学术界和工业界的多个国内和国际合作，并鼓励新的合作。由脂类和合成或生物表面活性剂组成的双分子薄膜的纳米尺度研究对制药工业具有重要意义，而在固体衬底上以高度可控的速度和精度沉积薄膜对于生物传感和生物医学工程具有重要意义。在滑铁卢大学资助这样的仪器将在安大略省和加拿大为生物物理学和纳米技术之间的跨学科创新研究打开新的机会。拟议的LBMT与其他纳米级生物物理技术的独特结合，将为滑铁卢大学未来5年内约100名各级学生的跨学科培训提供一个精致的平台，并将在他们为未来的物理、生物或纳米技术职业生涯做好准备方面发挥核心和重要的作用。

This proposal seeks funding to acquire a Langmuir-Blodgett micro-trough (LBMT) system to support NSERC-funded research in nanoscale biophysics and bionanotechnology. This equipment will enable the formation of monomolecular films at the air/water interface, the multifaceted study of their properties and their interaction with other biomolecules, and the deposition the monolayer films on various solid substrates. The LBMT system will be used in combination with biophysical techniques, such as atomic force microscopy (AFM), Kelvin (KPFM) probe force microscopy, surface plasmon resonance and nanoscale electrophysiology. This instrumentation will constitute a unique cutting-edge facility at the U. of Waterloo which will be used to address important research questions spanning from fundamental biophysics to applications in biosensing and nanotechnology. The requested equipment will empower several forefront research directions such as: studying the molecular mechanisms of amyloid toxicity in Alzheimer's disease; understanding the structure and function of lung surfactants in relation to respiratory diseases and infections; exploring applications of biomimetic membranes for the development of novel approaches in biosensing and bionanotechnology such as new gene delivery systems for cancer research and novel solutions for contact lens technologies. These studies will significantly advance knowledge in the field of membrane biophysics and are anticipated to have a high impact on numerous health, social and economic challenges facing Canadians, such as the overwhelming rise of Alzheimer's disease, for which no cure is available; growing respiratory infections and lung diseases; and the need for new nanoscale platforms for diagnostics, biosensing and drug delivery. The unique combination of LBMT with advanced AFM/KPFM facility at Waterloo is not available anywhere in Canada. It will support our multiple national and international collaborations with academia and industry and stimulate new ones. The nanoscale studies of bimolecular films composed of lipids and synthetic or biological surfactants is of interest to the pharmaceutical industry, while thin film deposition on solid substrates with highly controlled speed and precision is important for biosensing and biomedical engineering. Funding such instrument at the U. of Waterloo will open new opportunities in Ontario and Canada for interdisciplinary innovative research at the interface of biophysics and nanotechnology. The proposed LBMT with its unique combination with other nanoscale biophysical techniques, will provide an exquisite platform for the interdisciplinary training of ~100 students of all levels at the U. of Waterloo in the next 5 years and will play a central and essential role in preparing them for their future careers in Physics, Biology or Nanotechnology.