MRI: Acquisition of an Integrated Bionanomaterials Characterization and Imaging System for Research and Education Initiatives in Bioengineering

这一奖项是为了购买生物/纳米材料表征和成像系统，该系统将由德克萨斯州北部的七个学术研究机构使用。该仪器集激光共聚焦扫描显微镜(CLSM)、原子力显微镜(AFM)和数字光处理(DLP)于一体，具有多种功能。这一新系统将使20个研究小组能够在环境空气和液体环境中通过光、电、机械和热刺激对合成和生物纳米/微结构进行材料成像、操纵和性能测量。这些设备将安置在南卫理公会大学校区的生物、驱动、传感和运输实验室，这是达拉斯-沃斯堡大都会中心的一个集中位置。研究生和本科生将在这个最先进的设施中接受培训，使学生能够为学习生物细胞和有机/无机纳米/微结构奠定丰富的基础。拟议的成像仪器将使一些正在进行的研究项目受益。DLP系统将提供完全可控的光图案，其中CLSM-AFM系统将提高生物和合成材料的性能测量能力。CLSM-AFM-DLP的使用将扩大分子动力学、菌群、鞭毛力学、生物启发的机器人、生物细胞和材料的介电和机械性能的测定、激光辅助微/纳米加工以及活性氧、氮和硫物种成像的研究能力。该仪器可以为自然启发的技术带来重要的发现，并使未来在不同领域的研究成为可能：1)有机/无机纳米/微结构的先进成像和性质测量，2)活细胞成像的空间光调制技术，3)液-固界面上一些低能表面的热传输和润湿性，以及4)生物模板化先进纳米结构的电学研究。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This award is to purchase a bio/nanomaterials characterization and imaging system, which will be used by seven North Texas academic research institutions. The proposed instrument offers multi-functional capabilities by integrating a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM), atomic force microscope (AFM), and digital light processing (DLP). This new system will enable 20 research groups to perform material imaging, manipulation, and property measurements of synthetic and biological nano/microstructures with optical, electrical, mechanical, and thermal stimulations in both ambient air and liquid environments. The equipment will be housed at the Biological, Actuation, Sensing, and Transport Laboratory on Southern Methodist University campus, a centralized location in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Graduate and undergraduate students will be trained in this state-of-the-art facility, allowing students to build a rich foundation for studying biological cells and organic/inorganic nano/microstructures. The proposed imaging instrument will benefit a number of ongoing research projects. The DLP system will provide fully controllable patterns of light, where the CLSM-AFM system will improve the capability of property measurement of biological and synthetic materials. The use of the CLSM-AFM-DLP will broaden the capability of research in molecular dynamics, bacterial swarms, flagellar mechanics, biologically-inspired robotics, determination of dielectric and mechanical properties of biological cells and materials, laser-assisted micro/nanofabrication, and imaging reactive oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur species. This instrument can lead to important findings for nature-inspired technology and enable future research in various areas: 1) advanced imaging and property measurement of organic/inorganic nano/microstructures, 2) spatial light modulated techniques for live cell imaging, 3) thermal transport and wettability of some low energy surfaces at the liquid-solid interface, and 4) electrical investigation of bio-templated advanced nanostructures.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.