MRI: Acquisition of an Atomic Force Microscope to Enhance Research and Teaching in the Physical and Biological Sciences at the University of Michigan-Dearborn

技术摘要密歇根大学迪尔伯恩分校(UM-D)自然科学系是一所非授予博士学位的机构，它将获得一名新的AFM，以建立一个物理和生物科学相结合的综合研究和教学计划。目前的仪器提供了全方位的扫描探针(SPM)技术，非常适合从材料科学到聚合物表征等研究领域。仪器中的液体成像组件扩展了其在生物研究中的适用性，可选的MFM成像模式将促进其在涉及磁性材料的研究中的应用。该仪器将被用于支持几个跨学科的研究计划，包括(1)在单层模板上原位合成金属纳米颗粒，(2)在金属和半导体表面垂直排列的碳纳米管阵列，以开发一种新的灵敏和快速的DNA检测方法，(3)通过两嵌段共聚物的自组装产生纳米结构以创建DNA/蛋白质纳米阵列，(4)基于单分子的金属结合蛋白在酵母中的活性，(5)自旋电子学研究和(6)稀磁半导体材料。这一计划的发展将为本科生提供参与纳米技术和纳米生物技术多学科研究领域的独特机会，并促进未被充分代表的少数群体参与生物和物理科学。作为一项推广计划，拟议的仪器将提供一个机会，以发展新的科学活动/讲习班，向底特律大都市区的高中生介绍生物学和纳米技术的跨学科方面，并将为他们积极参与暑期研究创造机会。纳米技术是利用当尺寸减小到0.1到100纳米(一纳米相当于十亿分之一米)时发生的新颖和不寻常的特性、现象和过程，纳米技术的出现将物理、化学、材料和生物科学结合在一起。它已经带来并进一步承诺将带来新的设备，这些设备将彻底改变我们技术的许多领域。纳米生物技术是将纳米技术与生物系统联系起来的新兴科学领域。原子力显微镜(AFM)被认为是纳米技术的眼睛，由于其独特的直接观察和理解存在于化学和生物系统中的纳米级分子结构的能力，是这一交叉学科领域的重要组成部分。密歇根大学迪尔伯恩分校(UM-D)自然科学系的AFM将吸引有意在涉及纳米技术/纳米生物技术等物理和生物科学的跨学科研究领域工作的潜在学生。此外，这一工具将对我们开发一系列涉及纳米技术的课程的计划产生重大影响，并将进一步扩大本科生参与教师研究项目的机会。AFM还将极大地支持该系目前与当地社区学院的外展计划，并改善底特律大都市区的K-12科学教育。

Technical AbstractThe Department of Natural Sciences at the University of Michigan-Dearborn (UM-D), a non-Ph.D. granting institution, will acquire a new AFM to build a comprehensive research and teaching program at the interface of physical and biological sciences. The present instrument offers full range of scanning probe (SPM) techniques ideal for research areas ranging from material science to polymer characterization. The liquid imaging package included in the instrument expands its applicability to biological research and the optional MFM mode of imaging will facilitate its application in the research involving magnetic materials. This instrument will be used to support several interdisciplinary research programs including (1) in situ synthesis of metal nanoparticles on monolayer templates, (2) vertically aligned carbon nanotube arrays on metal and semiconductor surfaces to develop a new sensitive and rapid DNA-detection method, (3) nanostructures generated from self-assembly of diblock copolymers to create DNA/protein nanoarrays, (4) single molecule-based activity of metal binding protein like Metallothioneins (MTs) or metallothionein-like (MT-L) proteins in yeast, (5) research on spintronics and (6) dilute magnetic semiconductor materials. Development of such a program will lead to unique opportunities for undergraduates to participate in multidisciplinary research areas of nanotechnology and nanobiotechnology and also promote the participation of under-represented minorities in biological and physical sciences. As an outreach program, the proposed instrument will provide an opportunity to develop new science activities/workshops to introduce the interdisciplinary aspect of biology and nanotechnology to high-school students in the Detroit metropolitan area, and will also create opportunities for them to actively participate in summer research. Lay AbstractNanotechnology is the use of novel and unusual properties, phenomena, and processes that occur when size is reduced to 0.1 to 100 nanometer (one nanometer is one billionth of a meter), and the advent of nanotechnology brings together physics, chemistry, material and biological sciences. It has already brought and further promises to bring new devices that will revolutionize many areas of our technology. Nanobiotechnology is an emerging area of science which connects nanotechnology to biological systems. An Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), which is considered as the "eye of nanotechnology", is an integral part of this interdisciplinary area of science owing to its unique capability of direct observation and understanding of nanometer scale molecular structures present in chemical and biological systems. The AFM in the Department of Natural Sciences at the University of Michigan-Dearborn (UM-D) will attract prospective students intending to work in the interdisciplinary research areas involving physical and biological sciences like nanotechnology/nanobiotechnology. In addition, this instrument will have a major impact on our plan to develop a number of courses involving nanotechnology and will further expand the opportunity of undergraduate student participation in faculty research programs. The AFM will also be of great support to the current outreach program of the department with local community colleges and to improve the K-12 science education of Detroit metropolitan area.