Isothermal Titration Calorimeter for Bio/Nano-Materials Research and Education

这项小型设备计划的目标是获得一台高灵敏度的等温滴定热量计(ITC)，用于研究含有生物分子、大分子和/或纳米材料的体系中的相互作用和物理转化。该设备将极大地增强当前的私人投资机构的研究能力，并启动新的研究项目。ITC仅使用少量样品即可提供有关少数组分或弱热转变的基本热力学信息。因此，量热法可以在复杂、多组分和纳米结构的系统中提供有价值的见解。目前，所有工程和自然科学研究实验室所在的纽约州立大学布法罗北部(阿默斯特)校区目前没有国际贸易中心的仪器，所有本科生都在进行教学。因此，拟议的国贸中心将为采购经理人的研究和教育能力提供一个新的、独特的补充。智力价值：含有合成或生物大分子和/或纳米颗粒的纳米结构产品和设备对生活质量和经济增长有重大贡献。阐明复杂的生物/大分子系统中的分子间相互作用为支持这种技术进步的研究进展提供了基本的基础。拟议的仪器将支持高质量的科学研究。特别是，这种灵敏的量热仪将极大地加强我们目前和未来在以下方面的热力学表征工作：(A)溶液中的生物分子，重点是了解和优化蛋白质与配体的结合；(B)自组装系统，从生物活性分子与脂类纳米颗粒的相互作用到在离子液体介质中的结构；以及(C)纳米材料，特别关注用于组装功能膜的聚电解质多层膜，以及导致纤维素溶解的相互作用和现象。研究人员在不同的研究领域工作，但在阐明纳米尺度上的分子相互作用并利用这一知识解决基本研究问题方面都有共同的兴趣。值得注意的是，在复杂、多组分和纳米结构的系统中，量热法提供了有价值的见解，而定量数据是任何其他技术无法获得的。同时，拟议的量热计将被证明是对目前校园内先进的结构表征技术的有力补充。更广泛的影响：拟议工作的更广泛影响将分为两类：(A)由于长期实施商业应用中开发的科学和技术而产生的社会影响和生活质量的改善；(B)教育和外联影响。在教育和外联方面，预计若干博士生和博士后以及本科生研究人员将使用拟议的工具进行研究，从而为大量用户的教育和研究培训作出贡献。该仪器还将用于正规的科学和工程课程，从而为传统教育做出贡献。参与这项提议的教职员工将继续努力在高中、本科生和研究生水平上向未被充分代表的少数民族学生提供帮助。最后，这一工具将有助于扩大与当地工业的联系，使之适用于当地工业，并促进当这些工业研究人员与工程人员就可能的联合研究项目进行互动时自然产生的智力联系。

1134371TsianouThe objective of this small equipment proposal is to acquire a high-sensitivity Isothermal Titration Calorimeter (ITC) for the study of interactions and physical transformations in systems containing biomolecules, macromolecules, and/or nanomaterials. This equipment will significantly enhance current research capabilities for the PIs and initiate new research projects. ITC can provide fundamental, thermodynamic information on a minority component or on weak enthalpic transitions, using only small sample volumes. Calorimetry can, thus, offer valuable insights in complex, multicomponent and nanostructured systems. No ITC instrument is currently available at the SUNY-Buffalo North (Amherst) campus where all the Engineering and Natural Sciences research laboratories are located, and all undergraduate instruction takes place. The proposed ITC will thus present a new and unique addition to the PIs research and education capabilities. Intellectual Merit: Nanostructured products and devices containing synthetic or biological macromolecules and/or nanoparticles contribute significantly to the quality of life and economic growth. The elucidation of intermolecular interactions in complex, bio/macromolecular systems provides the fundamental underpinning of research advances that support such technological progress. The proposed instrumentation will support high quality scientific research. In particular, this sensitive calorimeter will greatly enhance our current and future research efforts on thermodynamic characterization of: (a) biomolecules in solution, with an emphasis on understanding and optimizing protein-ligand binding; (b) self-assembled systems, with projects ranging from interaction of bioactive molecules with lipidic nanoparticles to structuring in ionic liquid media; and (c) nanomaterials, with specific interests on polyelectrolyte multilayers used in the assembly of functional films, and interactions and phenomena leading to cellulose dissolution. The investigators work in different research areas, but all share common interests in elucidating molecular interactions in the nanoscale and using this knowledge to tackle fundamental research questions. It is important to note that in complex, multi-component and nanostructured systems, calorimetry provides valuable insights supported by quantitative data not attainable by any other technique. At the same time, the proposed calorimeter would prove a powerful complement to the advanced structural characterization techniques currently available on campus. Broader Impacts: The broader impacts of the proposed work will be of two types: (a) societal impacts and improvements in quality of life due to long-term implementation of the science and technology developed in commercial applications; and (b) education and outreach impacts. In education and outreach, the proposed instrument is expected to be used by several Ph.D. students and PostDocs in their research, as well as undergraduate researchers, thereby contributing to the education and research training of a significant number of users. The instrument will also be used in formal science and engineering courses, and will thereby contribute to conventional education. Faculty involved in this proposal will continue their outreach efforts to underrepresented minority students at the high-school, undergraduate, and graduate levels. Finally, this instrument will aid in outreach to local industry by making it availableto local industry and by fostering the intellectual connections that naturally arise when these industrial researchers interact with the engineering staff on possible joint research projects.