CAREER: Molecular Imaging of Protein Adsorption with Immunoassay-Atomic Force Microscopy

化学部的分析和表面化学项目将该职业奖授予北卡罗来纳州查佩尔山大学（UNC-CH），以研究表面上的蛋白质吸附，目的是阐明影响生物相容性的分子水平界面相互作用。 有了这个奖项，Mark Schoenfisch教授将使用抗体修饰的原子力显微镜（AFM）尖端来获得图像和探测吸附到表面的蛋白质的物理特性。 传统免疫分析的原理将被应用于建立分子识别到测量与原子力显微镜，并允许离散的，特异性的抗体-抗原相互作用的调查。 将探讨AFM尖端修饰和抗体修饰尖端与基底之间非特异性相互作用的控制策略。 PI还将在研究生和中学两级实施旨在促进妇女参与科学的方案。 其中一个项目将通过研讨会和圆桌讨论会让女研究生与化学工作者中的妇女接触。 另一个项目将在与UNC-CH Morehead天文馆和科学中心协调的为期两周的夏令营中为中学年龄的女孩提供现代化学分析方法的实践机会。 AFM方法将被开发用于研究蛋白质和合成材料之间的复杂相互作用。 将研究基底表面特性对蛋白质的覆盖率、取向和相关物理性质的影响。 重点将是血浆蛋白，如纤维蛋白原和纤连蛋白，影响植入材料的血液生物相容性。 该教育计划将为青年妇女提供学习和指导机会，目的是增加妇女对科学的参与。

The Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program in the Division of Chemistry makes this Career award to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) to investigate protein adsorption on surfaces with the aim of shedding light on molecular level interfacial interactions that influence biocompatibility. With this award, Professor Mark Schoenfisch will use antibody-modified atomic force microscope (AFM) tips to obtain images and probe physical properties of proteins adsorbed to surfaces. The principles of traditional immunoassay will be applied to build molecular recognition into measurements with the AFM and allow for the investigation of discrete, specific antibody-antigen interactions. Strategies for AFM-tip modification and control of non-specific interactions between the antibody-modified tip and the substrate will be explored. The PI will also implement programs at both the graduate and middle school levels designed to advance the participation of women in science. One program will engage women graduate students with women in the chemical workforce through seminars and roundtable discussions. Another program will provide middle school age girls with hands-on exposure to modern chemical analysis methods in a two week summer camp coordinated with the UNC-CH Morehead Planetarium and Science Center. AFM methods will be developed for studying complex interactions between proteins and synthetic materials. The effects of substrate surface characteristics on the coverage, orientation and related physical properties of proteins will be investigated. Focus will be on blood plasma proteins, such as fibrinogen and fibronectin, which influence the blood biocompatibility of implant materials. The education plan will provide learning and mentoring opportunities for young women with the aim of increasing the participation of women in science.