RUI: Microdroplet Interface Chemistry-Fundamental Studies of Self-Assembled Structures at the Liquid/Liquid Interface

国家科学基金会化学部（CHE）的大分子，超分子和纳米化学（MSN）计划支持艾奥纳学院的Sunghee Lee教授的工作，关于超分子聚集体如何在液-液界面指导物质的结晶。研究内容包括：（1）以多晶型有机晶体系统为报告分子，研究表面活性剂单分子层结构对结晶的影响;（2）以液滴界面双分子层为模型，研究中间相脂质双分子层促进重要蛋白质靶点结晶的机理;（3）利用液滴界面双层模型确定离子与双层膜相互作用的性质和程度，这一研究将丰富有关优先驻留在液-液界面的分子排列的经验和系统知识。对液-液界面分子组装的理解将对依赖于这些结构的领域做出重要贡献，例如仿生材料合成，电子学，诊断学，药物输送以及塑料和制药工业。本科生将进行研究，共同撰写相关出版物，并在国家会议上展示他们的发现。因此，这项研究将影响未来的职业道路在科学提供给众多的本科生，通过提高可用性和深度的研究培训在艾奥纳学院，主要是本科院校。

The Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry (MSN) Program of the Division of Chemistry (CHE) at the National Science Foundation supports the work of Professor Sunghee Lee at Iona College, concerning how supramolecular aggregates direct the crystallization of substances at a liquid-liquid interface. The research includes: (1) investigating the effect of surfactant monolayer structure upon crystallization by employing polymorphic organic crystal systems as reporters for subtle changes in monolayer structure; (2) studying the mechanism by which lipid bilayers in mesophases promote the crystallization of important protein targets through establishment of the droplet interface bilayer as a model; and (3) determining the nature and extent of interaction of ions with bilayers using the droplet interface bilayer model.The research will enhance the body of empirical and systematic knowledge regarding arrangement of molecules which preferentially reside at the liquid-liquid interface. The understanding of molecular assemblies at the liquid-liquid interface will be an important contribution to fields which rely on these structures, such as biomimetic materials synthesis, electronics, diagnostics, drug delivery, and the plastic and pharmaceutical industries. Undergraduate students will perform research, co-author the relevant publications, and present their findings at national meetings. Thus, the research will impact the future career pathways in science available to numerous undergraduates, through enhanced availability and depth of research training at Iona College, a predominantly undergraduate institution.