MRI: Acquisition of an Atomic Force Microscope System to Further Research and Educational Goals of the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

技术摘要费城科学大学(USP)是一所非授予博士学位的机构，它将获得一套原子力显微镜(AFM)系统，以加强物理和生物科学交叉学科的教育和研究计划。该仪器成像分子复合体和测量(非)结合力的能力将使来自不同学科的USP研究人员能够研究各种类型的分子相互作用。这些项目包括(A)RNA-RNA和RNA-蛋白质相互作用在解剖病毒和亚病毒复制复合体组装中的影响(B)聚合物包被胶体颗粒在运输和聚集过程中的空间相互作用(C)炭疽杆菌中拓扑异构酶和解旋酶之间的相互作用以及这些酶的催化机制(D)上皮细胞与其底物之间的相互作用。原子力显微镜的高分辨率将使研究微米和纳米结构的物理和化学性质成为可能。这些研究包括(A)硅和AlGaAs/GaAs中图案化微米和纳米尺度区域的电隔离和物理性质的研究(B)成功的MALDI斑点的可视化，以研究样品制备对寡核苷酸复合体检测的影响。AFM仪器将为学生创造一个独特的机会，让他们参与跨学科的研究和教育活动，并促进生物物理和材料科学领域新的USP项目的发展。随着本科生和研究生积极参与USP的研究，这一仪器将帮助该大学通过其面向K-12费城学校的推广计划吸引更多的少数族裔学生。原子力显微镜是对小于头发直径数千倍的纳米结构物体成像和测量分子之间微妙作用力的基本现代工具。这些力在物理和生物系统中发生的基本过程中发挥着重要作用。费城科学大学(USP)获得了一台原子力显微镜，这将有助于其研究人员揭开各种分子相互作用的机制。最终，这些研究将有助于更好地理解导致丙型肝炎、流感和脊髓灰质炎等疾病的病毒是如何复制或复制自身的。这些研究还将有助于理解细小颗粒，如地下水系统中的污染物，如何移动和组装成聚集体。另一个关键的应用是研究与抗生素耐药性有关的微生物酶的结构。这些发现将有助于设计和开发对抗炭疽和其他致命感染的新型抗生素。利用该仪器的成像能力的重要研究将调查图案化纳米结构的物理性质，作为开发明天的计算机技术的一步。在将化学、物理和生物学的研究人员聚集在一起的过程中，仪器的多样化使用将有助于在USP创造一个强大的跨学科环境。获得原子力显微镜所带来的令人兴奋的可能性无疑将使USP的学生受益，他们将作为未来的科学家和专业人员受到更好的教育。

Technical AbstractThe University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP), a non-PhD granting institution, will acquire an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) system to enhance interdisciplinary educational and research programs at the crossroads of physical and biological sciences. The instrumentation's ability to image molecular complexes and to measure (un-) binding forces will allow USP investigators from different disciplines to study various types of molecular interactions. The projects include (a) the influence of RNA-RNA and RNA-protein interactions in dissecting viral and sub-viral replication complex assembly (b) steric interactions of polymer coated colloidal particles in transport and aggregation processes (c) interactions among the topoisomerases and helicases in Bacillus anthracis and the catalytic mechanisms of these enzymes (d) interaction between epithelial cells and their underlying substratum. The AFM high resolution will allow studies of physical and chemical properties of micro- and nano- structures. These include (a) studies of electrical isolation and physical properties of patterned micro- and nano- scale areas in Silicon and AlGaAs/GaAs (b) visualization of successful MALDI spots to study of the influence of sample preparation on the detection of oligonucleotide complexes. The AFM instrumentation will create a unique opportunity for students to participate in interdisciplinary research and educational activities as well as to nurture the development of the new USP program in biophysics and materials science. With the robust involvement of undergraduate and graduate students in research at USP this instrumentation will help the University to attract more minority students through its outreach programs for K-12 Philadelphia schools.Lay AbstractThe Atomic Force Microscope is an essential modern tool for imaging nanostructures' objects thousands of times smaller than the diameter of a hair and for measuring the delicate forces between molecules. These forces play an important role in fundamental processes occurring in physical and biological systems. The acquisition of an Atomic Force Microscope by the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP) will help its investigators unravel the mechanisms by which molecules of various types interact with each other. Ultimately these studies will lead to a better understanding of how the viruses responsible for diseases such as hepatitis C, influenza and polio replicate, or create copies of themselves. These studies will also help in the comprehension of how small particles, such as contaminants in groundwater systems, move and assemble themselves into aggregates. Another critical application is the study of the structures of microbial enzymes involved in antibiotic resistance. These findings will benefit the design and development of novel antibiotics against anthrax and other lethal infections. Important studies making use of the imaging capability of the instrumentation will investigate the physical properties of patterned nanostructures as a step toward developing the computer technology of tomorrow. In bringing together researchers from chemistry, physics and biology, the diverse uses of the instrumentation will help generate a strong interdisciplinary environment at USP. The exciting possibilities made possible by the acquisition of an Atomic Force Microscope will undoubtedly benefit the students at USP, who will become better educated as future scientists and professionals.