SGER: The Structure of Water at Biological Interfaces

该探索性研究项目将调查固体-水界面的性质，这些界面对于与生物材料和生物功能相关的许多过程至关重要。它将探索应用新工具的潜力，例如利用同步辐射的X射线光谱技术，用于研究金上的自组装单分子层（SAM），作为具有不同化学端基的功能化表面，与水的相互作用不同。使用X射线吸收光谱探测水中的氢键网络将揭示水如何围绕SAM覆盖层的不同化学终端进行重组。要解决的根本问题是生物水与散装水相比有何不同，以及它如何影响不同生物材料的功能。涉及材料科学，化学和生物学的跨学科性质的几个基本问题将得到解决。了解固体-水界面对于许多与生物材料和生物功能相关的过程是必不可少的。用生物活性分子官能化表面具有与生物材料、生物催化、生物相容性和生物电子学以及生物传感器相关的重要技术应用。

This exploratory research project will investigate the nature of solid-water interfaces that are essential for many processes related to biomaterials and biological function. It will explore the potential for applying new tools such as x-ray spectroscopic techniques utilizing synchrotron radiation for studying self assembled monolayers (SAM) on gold as functionalized surfaces with different chemical end groups that interact with water differently. Probing the hydrogen-bonding network in water using x-ray absorption spectroscopy will reveal how water restructures itself around different chemical terminations of the SAM overlayer. The underlying question to be addressed is how biological water differs in comparison with bulk water, and how it affects the functioning of different biomaterials. Several fundamental questions of an interdisciplinary nature involving material science, chemistry and biology will be addressed. Understanding the solid-water interface is essential for many processes related to biomaterials and biological function. Functionalizing surfaces with biologically active molecules has important technological applications relevant to biomaterials, biocatalysis, biocompatibility and bioelectronics and biosensors.