MRI: Track 1 Acquisition of a 400 MHz NMR Spectrometer to Expand and Secure Solution NMR Spectroscopy at UConn with Facility Helium Stewardship

该奖项由主要研究仪器(MRI)和化学研究仪器(CRIF)计划联合支持。康涅狄格大学正在购买一台配备宽带三通道探头的400 MHz核磁共振光谱仪，以支持克里斯蒂安·布鲁克纳教授和他的同事马克·佩祖赫的研究。为响应《2022年芯片和科学法》发起的促进氦回收、再循环和/或再利用的提案征集，该奖项还包括一个氦回收系统。该奖项促进了纳米材料表征、有机和无机化学以及生物科学领域的研究。总体而言，核磁共振波谱是化学家用于阐明分子结构的最强大的工具之一。利用原子核的固有磁性，它被用来识别未知物质，表征分子内原子的特定排列，并研究分子在溶液或固体中相互作用的动力学。对于正在进行前沿研究的化学家来说，获得最先进的核磁共振光谱仪是必不可少的。这些仪器的超导磁体依靠定期输送的液氦来维持其运行。然而，由于全球和国家挑战导致的氦供应不稳定，危及依赖于核磁共振波谱的研究计划。氦回收系统从超导磁体中收集氦沸腾，然后将氦重新排出以供重复使用。该奖项旨在加强多个部门各级的教育、研究和研究培训，包括几名职业早期教师、本科生和研究生以及周围社区的培训。该仪器还被用来推动以核磁共振为主题的针对当地高中教师和学生的外展计划。该奖项旨在加强所有级别的研究和教育，特别是在化学、药学、分子和细胞生物学以及工程学等领域。具体地说，该仪器使人们能够专注于合成具有圆偏振发光的小分子，以及相关瓶刷介观结构的计算和实验设计。400 MHz核磁共振光谱仪将促成的其他研究项目包括设计和合成新的功能生物材料，包括改良的天然聚合物，如家蚕丝蛋白。其他研究活动包括偶氮苯光开关的合成和光化学表征；可制造纳米机器的系统设计、分析和控制；以及金属纳米颗粒的表面配体和表面化学的检查。其他研究包括了解各种细胞信号通路如何促进肿瘤的发生和发展，以及分析用于各种医疗应用的核酸纳米材料的设计和合成。为了应对全球氦供应挑战，氦回收系统通过回收、回收和消除本仪器和研究所现有的核磁共振超导磁体产生的氦沸腾来帮助保护氦。这一奖项反映了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 jointly supported by the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) and the Chemistry Research Instrumentation (CRIF) programs. University of Connecticut is acquiring a 400 MHz NMR spectrometer equipped with a broadband three-channel probe to support the research of Professor Christian Brueckner and colleague Mark Peczuh. In response to the solicitation for proposals to contribute to the recovery, recycle, and/or reuse of helium initiated by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, this award also includes a helium recovery system. This award facilitates research in the areas of nanoscale materials characterization, organic and inorganic chemistry, and biological sciences. In general, NMR spectroscopy is one of the most powerful tools available to chemists for the elucidation of the structure of molecules. Using the intrinsic magnetic properties of atomic nuclei, it is used to identify unknown substances, to characterize specific arrangements of atoms within molecules, and to study the dynamics of interactions between molecules in solution or in the solid state. Access to state-of-the-art NMR spectrometers is essential to chemists who are carrying out frontier research. The superconducting magnets of these instruments rely on regular deliveries of liquid helium to maintain their operation. However, the instability in the helium supply due to global and national challenges jeopardizes research programs relying on NMR spectroscopy. The helium recovery system collects the helium boiloff from the superconducting magnets and then reliquefies the helium for reuse. This award targets the enhancement of educational, research, and research training at all levels in multiple departments including several early career faculty and undergraduate and graduate students and in the surrounding community. This instrument is also used to propel the NMR-themed outreach program for local high school teachers and students.This award is aimed at enhancing research and education at all levels, especially in areas such as chemistry, pharmacy, molecular and cellular biology, and engineering. Specifically, the instrument enables research focusing on the synthesis of small molecules exhibiting circularly polarized luminescence and the computational and experimental design of associating bottle brush mesostructures. Additional research projects to be enabled by the 400 MHz NMR spectrometer include the design and synthesize of new functional biomaterials, including modified natural polymers, such as Bombyx mori silk protein. Other research activities include the synthesis and photochemical characterization of azobenzene photoswitches; the systematic design, analysis and control of manufacturable nano-machines; and the examination of surface ligands and surface chemistry of metal nanoparticles. Other investigations include understanding how various cellular signaling pathways contribute to tumor onset and progression, and analyzing the design and synthesize of nucleic acid nanomaterials for a variety of medical applications. In response to global helium supply challenges the helium recovery system aids in helium conservation by recovering, recycling, and reliquefying the helium boil-off from this instrument and the existing NMR superconducting magnets at the institution.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.