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Nano-Bio-Micro Interfaces
Andy Shreve, LANL
Bruce Bunker, SNL
 Description:
The Nano-bio-micro Interfaces theme focuses facilities and expertise at
the intersection of biological and biomolecular science with nanoscale
materials science. The capabilities in this thrust area will facilitate
exploration of general scientific topics and provide support for CINT's
user program. One key topic is understanding how to control the physical
interface between biomolecular systems and nanoscale synthetic materials,
which includes the development of patterned biofunctional and biocompatible
surfaces, understanding the assembly of biomolecular components at interfaces,
and developing biomolecular recognition approaches to assist in the assembly
of synthetic nanoscale building blocks.
Another area is exploring how to bridge the length-scale interface that
exists between nanoscale biomolecular assemblies and functional microscale
and larger devices, for example, the integration of biological components
with fluidic, photonic or mechanical fabricated devices. Finally, an overarching
theme is to exploit the conceptual interface between biology and materials
science. Here the aim is to both develop new nanoscale materials whose
structure, function and assembly are inspired by natural systems, and
also to develop new approaches to the study of biological systems that
are based on new materials and material characterization tools provided
by nanoscience research.
Key equipment and facilities at full operation:
Fully equipped biochemistry laboratories, including cold room and
cell culture facilities
Thin-film preparation facilities, including Langmuir trough, spin
and dip coaters, surface patterning capabilities, surface cleaning apparatus
Thin-film characterization facilities, including spectroscopic ellipsometry,
Brewster angle microscopy, infrared spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy
Fluidics laboratory, including light and video microscopy and fluidic
apparatus
Chemical synthesis facility, and polymer chemistry and characterization
laboratory
Optical spectroscopy and microscopy facility, including a time-resolved
optical instrumentation, confocal fluorescence microscopy, single-molecule
detection and imaging equipment, and near-field scanning optical microscopy
Equipment and facilities at startup:
Biochemistry, chemical synthesis, thin-film preparation, and polymer
chemistry laboratories, including Langmuir trough, spin and dip coaters,
surface cleaning capabilities
Characterization facilities, including ellipsometry, light microscopy,
infrared spectroscopy
Optical spectroscopy and microscopy, including time-resolved optical
instrumentation, fluorescence microscopy and single molecule detection
tools
Programs and personnel at startup: A number of ongoing
programs will help sustain the capabilities required for the Nano-bio-micro
Interfaces thrust area during the startup phase. Scientific areas that
are being explored are:
(1) the use of self-assembly and biomolecular assembly to create functional
assemblies of synthetic building blocks that mimic natural photosynthetic
systems,
(2) the use of active biomolecular components such as motor proteins
to assist in the assembly of nanostructured electronic and photonic
components such as semiconductor quantum dots, and
(3) studies of the structure and function of macromolecular assemblies
such as polymer/membrane composites that incorporate biological and
biomolecular components.
Key personnel who will contribute to the thrust area include the thrust
leaders and the PI's of leveraged programs (A. Shreve, H.-L. Wang, A.
Bradbury, B. Bunker, G. Bachand, J. Hollingsworth) along with their
colleagues and collaborators. Collectively, the team's expertise spans
biochemistry, biomaterials, biophysics, soft and polymeric materials,
chemical synthesis, self-assembly, spectroscopic techniques, structural
characterization, and imaging and microscopy.
More...
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