MRI: Development of a COIFM with Lateral Modulation for Studying Interfacial Water

技术摘要：本项目旨在研制一种基于悬臂梁的横向调制光学界面力显微镜（COIFM），用于研究环境和流体环境中两个表面之间的界面水。通过使用电压激活力反馈，CLM使我们能够测量两个表面之间的法向力和摩擦力，而不会出现与传统原子力显微镜系统相关的咔-接触问题。该项目为期三年，包括两年的开发阶段和一年的使用仪器的研究阶段。在开发阶段，PI和学生将设计和建造CLM，并通过揭示界面水的隐藏结构来展示其能力。在研究阶段，CLM将参与多个学科的界面水研究项目，包括物理学、生物学、化学和生物化学。CLM的成功开发将使我们能够探索现有COIFM最近发现的令人惊讶的振荡力的起源，因为两个表面之间的纳米级距离是变化的。CLM还将应用于研究水在分子间/表面间摩擦中的作用，以及减少水基生物材料（如人工软骨）中的摩擦。通过该项目获得的实践经验将帮助学生为研究生课程或纳米/生物技术行业的职业生涯做好准备。三名研究生和三名本科生将参与为期三年的研究项目。此外，该项目还将为博伊西州立大学未来的跨学科生物分子科学博士课程开发生物物理学课程链。摘要本项目的目的是研制一种基于悬臂梁的横向调制光学界面力显微镜（COIFM），用于在分子尺度上研究界面水。该CLM将使我们能够在两个表面之间的所有距离范围内测量由界面水产生的界面力。CLM的力距曲线将提供前所未有的界面水信息，以了解其结构和力学特性。该项目为期三年，包括两年的开发阶段和一年的使用仪器的研究阶段。在开发阶段，PI和学生将设计和建造CLM，并通过揭示界面水的隐藏结构来展示其能力。在研究阶段，CLM将用于研究水在以下方面的作用：(1)介导两个表面之间的分子间相互作用，以及(2)减少水基生物材料（如人工软骨）中的摩擦。该仪器将促进各学科之间的研究合作，包括物理学、生物学、化学和生物化学。这将大大改善博伊西州立大学（BSU）及其周边地区的研究基础设施，因为BSU是爱达荷州西南部唯一的研究级教育机构，爱达荷州是该州的人口中心。此外，该项目还将为BSU未来的博士课程开发生物物理学课程链。该项目将为三名研究生和三名本科生提供为期三年的研究机会。

Technical AbstractThe purpose of this project is to develop a cantilever-based optical interfacial force microscope (COIFM) with lateral modulation (CLM) to study interfacial water confined between two surfaces both in ambient and fluid environments. The CLM enables us to measure both normal and friction forces between two surfaces without the snap-to-contact problem associated with conventional atomic force microscope systems, by using a voltage-activated force feedback. The three-year project consists of two years of development phase and one year of research phase using the instrument. During the development phase, the PI and students will design and construct the CLM, and will demonstrate its capability by revealing the hidden structure of interfacial water. During the research phase, the CLM will contribute to diverse interfacial water research projects across several disciplines, including physics, biology, chemistry, and biochemistry. The successful development of the CLM will allow us to explore the origin of the surprising oscillatory forces found recently by our existing COIFM, as the nanoscale distance between two surfaces was varied. The CLM will also be applied to investigate the roles of water in inter-molecular/ inter-surface friction and in the reduction of the friction in water-based bio-materials such as artificial cartilage. The hands-on experience acquired through this project will help prepare students for competitive placement in graduate programs or careers in nano/biotech industries. Three graduate and three undergraduate students will be involved in the research project for over a three-year period. In addition, the project will help develop a biophysics curriculum strand for a future interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in Biomolecular Sciences at Boise State University. Non-technical AbstractThe purpose of this project is to develop a cantilever-based optical interfacial force microscope (COIFM) with lateral modulation (CLM) to study interfacial water at the molecular scale. This CLM will enable us to measure interfacial forces generated by interfacial water for all distance ranges between two surfaces. The CLM's force-distance curves will provide unprecedented information on interfacial water to understand its structure and mechanical properties. The three-year project consists of two years of development phase and one year of research phase using the instrument. During the development phase, the PI and students will design and construct the CLM, and will demonstrate its capability by revealing the hidden structure of interfacial water. During the research phase, the CLM will be applied to investigating the roles of water in (1) mediating inter-molecular interactions between two surfaces, and in (2) reducing the friction in water-based bio-materials, such as artificial cartilage. This instrument will promote research collaborations among disciplines, including physics, biology, chemistry, and biochemistry. It will greatly improve the research infrastructure at Boise State University (BSU) and the surrounding areas, as BSU is the only research-level educational institution in southwestern Idaho, which is the population center of the state. In addition, the project will help develop a biophysics curriculum strand for a future Ph.D. program at BSU. This project will provide research opportunities for three graduate and three undergraduate students over a three-year period.