MRI: Acquisition of an Atomic Force Microscope for Undergraduate Research and Education

太平洋路德大学将获得一台新的原子力显微镜(AFM)。该仪器将由一个控制站、一个多模式扫描探针显微镜和两个探针扫描器组成，以允许通过垂直样品接合进行各种模式的采集。这种最先进的原子力显微镜将用于多个本科研究项目，以解决纳米尺度上的各种科学问题，包括：调查用于聚合物共混薄膜的各种共聚物添加剂，对表面拓扑和粗糙度的测量将有助于了解聚合物共混物中的增容作用；研究脂膜结合的两亲性阳离子抗菌肽(称为鱼青素)，从而更好地了解鱼毒素抗病原体的作用机制；对聚集态纳米金颗粒的表征，以使其与表面增强拉曼光谱的表面增强因子相关联。显微镜将被整合到我们的本科课程中，包括从一年级到四年级的本科生接触纳米科学。最后，显微镜还将被纳入我们系为MESA(数学、工程和科学成就)计划中未被充分代表的高中生而举办的外展讲习班。摘要原子力显微镜通过提供一种在纳米尺度上将科学样品显示在表面上的方法，已经成为科学和工程中的一种非常重要的仪器。目前的许多产品以及在新材料开发方面的进展与我们对人类尺度上的物体的性质与纳米尺度上的结构之间的关系的理解直接相关。纳米尺度上的物体大约比一根头发的直径小1000倍。原子力显微镜是这项工作的重要仪器之一，因为它可以测量纳米级的特征。该显微镜将把第一台纳米科学仪器带到太平洋路德大学的化学项目中，并允许本科生动手使用这一重要仪器。新的原子力显微镜将极大地增强我们的学生在他们的本科研究项目以及他们的课程工作中的体验。该显微镜还将被纳入我们实验室已经为塔科马梅萨(数学、工程和科学成就)计划中代表人数不足的高中生举办的外展研讨会。最后，使用新仪器的研究项目的例子包括：更好的设计高性能塑料的能力；更好的抗菌肽来对抗广泛的病原体；开发纳米颗粒的方法，最终用于化合物的低水平检测。

Technical AbstractPacific Lutheran University will acquire a new atomic force microscope (AFM). The instrument will consist of a control station, a multi-mode scanning probe microscope, and two probe scanners to allow various modes of acquisition with vertical sample engagement. This state-of-the-art AFM will be used in multiple undergraduate research programs to address a wide range of scientific questions at the nanoscale, including: the investigation of various copolymer additives used in polymer blend thin films where measurements of the surface topology and roughness will aid in the understanding of compatibilization in polymer blends; the study of lipid membrane-bound amphipathic cationic antimicrobial peptides called piscidins resulting in a better understanding of the mechanism of action used by piscidins against pathogens; the characterization of aggregated gold nanoparticles to correlate morphology with surface enhancement factors for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy. The microscope will be integrated into our undergraduate curriculum and include exposure to nanoscience by first year through fourth year undergraduate students. Lastly, the microscope will also be incorporated into outreach workshops in our department for underrepresented high school students in the MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement) program.Lay AbstractThe atomic force microscope has become a very important instrument in science and engineering by providing a method to visualize scientific samples on surfaces at the nanoscale. Many current products as well as progress in the development of new materials are directly related to our understanding of the relation between the properties of objects on the human scale compared to structures on the nanoscale. Objects that are on the nanoscale are about 1,000 times smaller than the diameter of a hair. The atomic force microscope is one of the important instruments for this work since it can measure nanoscale features. The microscope will bring the first nanoscience instrument to the chemistry program at Pacific Lutheran University and allow undergraduate students hands-on use of this important instrument. The new atomic force microscope will greatly enhance our students' experiences in their undergraduate research projects as well as in their coursework. The microscope will also be incorporated into outreach workshops that already take place in our laboratories for underrepresented high school students in the Tacoma MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement) program. Lastly, examples of research programs using the new instrument include studies leading to: better ability to design high performance plastics; better antimicrobial peptides for the fight against a broad range of pathogens; methods of developing nanoparticles for eventual use in low level detection of compounds.