Acquisition of an Atomic Force Microscope for Materials Research and Education

该行动支持从Veeco Instruments购买BioScope原子力显微镜（AFM）。通过专门设计的平台，允许单独进行AFM成像，单独进行光学表征，或结合AFM和光学表征，该仪器将用于研究空气和液体介质中软材料界面层的纳米级结构特性，并确定它们如何响应环境刺激。该仪器还将与光谱技术结合使用，以研究材料表面的动态吸附事件。一组项目，将受益于该仪器的能力，包括生物活性纳米颗粒表面相互作用的努力;环境响应，表面限制聚合物层;混合聚合物层;仿生聚合物基质引导组织再生;和细菌细胞粘附到抗菌聚合物薄膜和发光，抗体连接的纳米颗粒。这些项目影响到重要的科学领域，如开发新的生物材料;纳米器件，如分子阀和开关;治疗慢性，不愈合伤口和受损伤口愈合的有效疗法;抗菌食品包装;和细菌病原体传感器。原子力显微镜仪器将被安置在表面表征实验室，位于化学工程系。该设施由来自化学工程，生物工程，化学，环境工程和材料科学工程的博士后研究人员和研究生和本科生使用。来自食品科学的一个新小组将增加从该设施提供的跨学科培训环境中受益的研究人员名单。AFM仪器和设施将提供给附近的非博士授予学院的教师和学生，这些学院通过研究探索计划与克莱姆森的化学工程系有联系。原子力显微镜还将有助于将表面表征实验室发展成为先进材料研究领域的最先进设施，这是克莱姆森大学的核心研究主题。

This action supports the purchase of a BioScope Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) from Veeco Instruments. With a specially designed stage that allows for AFM imaging alone, optical characterization alone, or combined AFM and optical characterization, this instrument will be used to study the nanoscale structural properties of ultrathin interfacial layers of soft materials in air and liquid media and determine how they respond to environmental stimuli. This instrument will also be used in combination with optical spectroscopy techniques to study dynamic adsorption events at materials surfaces. A set of projects that will benefit from the capabilities of this instrument include efforts on bioactive nanoparticle-surface interactions; environmentally responsive, surface confined polymer layers; hybrid polymer layers; biomimetic polymer matrices for guided tissue regeneration; and bacterial cell adhesion to antimicrobial polymer films and luminescent, antibody-linked nanoparticles. These projects impact important scientific areas such as the development of new biomaterials; nano-devices such as molecular valves and switches; effective therapies for treating chronic, non-healing wounds and impaired wound healing; antimicrobial food packaging; and sensors for bacterial pathogens. The AFM instrument will be housed in the Surface Characterization Laboratory, located in the Department of Chemical Engineering. This facility is used by post-doctoral researchers and graduate and undergraduate students from Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Chemistry, Environmental Engineering and Materials Science & Engineering. A new group from Food Science will add to the list of researchers who benefit from the interdisciplinary training environment that this facility provides. The AFM instrument and facility will be available to faculty and students from nearby non-PhD granting colleges that have an association with Clemson's Department of Chemical Engineering through Research Exploration programs. The AFM will also help to grow the Surface Characterization Laboratory into a state-of-the-art facility in the area of advanced materials research, which is a core research theme of Clemson University.