MRI: Acquisition of an Atomic Force Microscope/Confocal Imaging System for Research and Training at the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。授予奥尔巴尼大学获得原子力显微镜（AFM）-激光扫描共聚焦显微镜（LSCM）用于纳米科学工程学院（CNSE）的研究和培训。纳米和微米尺度的生物学研究需要越来越复杂的仪器。 生物研究的一个特别需要是将高分辨率光学成像与生物物理力测量相结合的能力。这可以通过将生物AFM与LSCM结合来实现。 LCSM能够实现高分辨率光学成像，而AFM提供纳米级形貌信息和超灵敏的机械测量。这两种技术的整合产生了一个强大的研究工具，能够在复杂的生物样品中的特定位置进行高分辨率成像和纳米级机械测量。一个跨学科的研究项目组合将利用这个AFM/LSCM系统。实验侧重于观察和测量细胞和分子相互作用，细胞分化的机械研究，单分子相互作用的测量，以及3D组织发育中涉及的机制的阐明。对于这些工作中的每一项，研究人员在进行非侵入性3D光学切片的同时测量机械性能、粘附力或绘制物理3D地形图是至关重要的。这些研究工作的共同目标是理解细胞和分子系统中的机械相互作用。对这些系统的进一步了解将为组织工程、治疗学和生物分子机器的合理设计提供重要信息。这个AFM/LSCM系统将支持广泛的跨学科研究工作，并将成为CNSE、UAlbany生物科学系、沃兹沃斯研究所（NYS Dept.）和GE*NY*SIS癌症生物学卓越中心。 它将使尖端的研究工作，从细胞表面相互作用的动态测量，核酸-蛋白质相互作用的测量，干细胞分化的机械研究，以及3D组织发育的阐明。参与这项工作的高级人员跨越广泛的学科，包括物理学、纳米工程、化学工程、生物物理学、发育生物学、分子生物学、癌症生物学和神经学。 这个高度跨学科的团队将利用拟议的仪器来大大推进他们当前的研究工作，从而产生新的研究提案、科学出版物和新型生物医学技术的开发。 该AFM/LSCM系统将作为研究生和博士后研究人员的独特培训工具，还将为本科生和高中生提供一种培训。将为参与综合暑期实习计划的本科生提供实践培训，并通过在为期一年的嵌入式实习中使用该仪器。 高中生将参加综合发现计划，作为与城市奥尔巴尼学区的“纳米高”和“工程探索计划”正在进行的伙伴关系的一部分。“使用拟议的仪器，令人兴奋的，动手实验室活动，为这些学生将开发汇集纳米技术，生物学，物理学和工程的原则。 这些研究和外展活动的一系列亮点将通过CNSE的新闻专栏和互联网帖子向社区广播。 这样，拟议的文书将对研究、培训和社区外联工作产生深远影响。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).A grant is awarded to the University at Albany to acquire an atomic force microscope (AFM)-laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM) for research and training at the College of Nanoscale Science & Engineering (CNSE). Biological research at the nano- and micro-scale requires increasingly sophisticated instrumentation. A particular need for biological research is the capability to combine high resolution optical imaging with biophysical force measurements. This can be achieved by incorporating biological AFM with LSCM. LCSM enables high-resolution optical imaging, while AFM provides nanoscale topographical information and ultra-sensitive mechanical measurements. The integration of these two techniques yields a powerful research tool capable of high-resolution imaging and nanoscale mechanical measurements at specific locations within complex biological samples. A cross-disciplinary portfolio of research projects will utilize this AFM/LSCM system. Experiments focus on the observation and measurement of cellular and molecular interactions, mechanical studies of cell differentiation, measurement of single molecular interactions, and elucidation of mechanisms involved in 3D tissue development. For each of these efforts, it is critical for investigators to perform non-invasive 3D optical sectioning while simultaneously measuring mechanical properties, adhesion forces, or mapping physical 3D topography. These research efforts are collectively aimed at the understanding of mechanical interactions in cellular and molecular systems. Improved understanding of these systems will provide important information for tissue engineering, therapeutics, and rational design of biomolecular machines.This AFM/LSCM system will support a wide range of interdisciplinary research efforts and will become a focal point for bridging collaborations between CNSE, the UAlbany Department of Biological Sciences, the Wadsworth Institute (NYS Dept. of Health), and the Ge*NY*sis Center for Excellence in Cancer Biology. It will enable cutting-edge research efforts ranging from the dynamic measurement of cell-surface interactions, measurement of nucleic acid - protein interactions, mechanical studies of stem cell differentiation, and the elucidation of 3D tissue development. The senior personnel involved with this effort span a wide range of disciplines including physics, nanoengineering, chemical engineering, biophysics, developmental biology, molecular biology, cancer biology and neurology. This highly-interdisciplinary team will utilize the proposed instrumentation to greatly advance their current research efforts, resulting in new research proposals, scientific publications and the development of novel biomedical technologies. This AFM/LSCM system will serve as a unique training tool for graduate students and post doctoral researchers, and will also provide one-of-a-kind training for undergraduate and high-school students in outreach programs. Hands-on training will be provided for undergraduate students involved in an integrated summer internship program and through use of the instrument in year-long embedded internships. High school students will participate in integrated discovery programs as part of ongoing partnerships with the urban Albany School District's "Nano High" and "Engineering Explorations Program." Using the proposed instrument, exciting, hands-on laboratory activities for these students will be developed to bring together principles of nanotechnology, biology, physics, and engineering. A series of spotlights on these research and outreach activities will be broadcast to the community through CNSE's news columns and internet postings. In this way, the proposed instrument will have a profound impact on research, training, and community outreach efforts.