Biominerals, Fibres, and Soft Materials at the Nanoscale

我的研究计划专注于纳米级的机械性能和工艺，并开发探索这一制度所需的工具。例如，我的兴趣之一是结晶--这是一个在自然界和工业中都很重要的过程。结晶的一个特别有趣的方面是某些分子“毒物”通过吸附到特定的晶体生长面来控制结晶动力学的能力。这种所谓的动力学抑制剂在商业上(例如，防止柴油在低温下“凝胶”和在天然气管道中形成笼状水合物)、医学上(例如，预防人类肾结石)和自然界(例如，使一些生物在零下温度下存活的蛋白质)都是相关的。另一个研究方向是在纳米尺度上测量材料的机械强度。了解纳米材料的机械性能，以及这些性能是如何从其结构中产生的，是将其用于技术的先决条件。这两个主题在我的实验室中使用的主要工具：原子力显微镜(AFM)中相交。原子力显微镜的这种使用产生了几个合作项目。一个仍处于早期阶段的例子是测量获得的釉质膜的粘附性，这是一层薄的蛋白质层，可以保护牙齿不受龋齿的影响，并控制牙菌斑的形成。*在接下来的五年里，我们将使用原子力显微镜在分子水平上研究允许某些多肽防止导致肾结石的钙化的机制。在第二个合作项目中，我们将使用原子力显微镜直接测量特定口腔细菌对获得的釉质膜的粘附性。我们最近对蜘蛛丝--一种由常见植物害虫产生的天然纳米材料--的研究表明，需要开发新的理论技术来了解非常薄的极限(*参与我研究计划的学生将学习高级表征技术，发展强大的分析技能，并从多学科研究环境中受益)。这将为他们提供所需的广泛背景，以便将他们的培训应用于与工业和医学有关的广泛问题，从而增加他们的职业机会。**

My research program is focused on mechanical properties and processes at the nanometer scale, and developing the tools needed to explore this regime. For example, one of my interests is crystallization-a process of importance in both nature and industry. An especially interesting aspect of crystallization is the ability of certain molecular "poisons" to control crystallization kinetics by adsorbing to specific crystal growth faces. Such so-called kinetic inhibitors are relevant commercially (e.g., the prevention of "gelation" of diesel fuels at low temperature and of clathrate hydrate formation in natural gas pipelines), medically (e.g., the prevention of kidney stones in humans), and in nature (e.g., proteins that allow some organisms to survive subzero temperatures). Another research direction has been the measurement of the mechanical strength of materials on the nanometer scale. Understanding the mechanical properties of nanomaterials, and how these properties arise from their structure, is a prerequisite to their use in technology. These two themes intersect in the principal tool employed in my laboratory: the atomic force microscope (AFM). This use of the AFM has resulted in several collaborative projects. One example that is still in its early stages is the measurement of the adhesive properties of the acquired enamel pellicle, a thin protein layer that protects teeth from cavities and controls plaque formation.****Over the next five years, we will use the AFM to study-at the molecular scale-the mechanisms that allow certain peptides to prevent calcification responsible for kidney stones. In a second collaborative project we will use the AFM to directly measure the adhesion of specific oral bacteria to the acquired enamel pellicle. Our recent work on spider-mite silk, a natural nanomaterial produced by a common plant pest, indicated a need to develop new theoretical techniques to understand mechanical properties in the limit of very thin (*Students involved in my research program will learn advanced characterization techniques, develop strong analytical skills, and benefit from a multidisciplinary research environment. This will provide them with the broad background needed to apply their training to a wide range of problems relevant to industry and medicine, thus enhancing their career opportunities.**