An Atomic Force Microscope for in-situ fast force mapping of biomaterials
Abstract
This DURIP award provides funds for the Principal Investigator to purchase an atomic force microscope with fast force mapping, contact resonance imaging, and sample environmental (temperature and humidity) control. The instrument will be the first of its kind at the Performing Institution (The University of California, Santa Cruz), and will elevate biomaterials and soft-material research there. Research programs in the Principal Investigator~s laboratory that will immediately benefit from the proposed equipment include: (1) the creation of chitin nanofiber silk self-assembled biomimetic composites (ONR effort), in which the proposed instrument will be used to map the localized mechanical properties of the chitin-silk biocomposites thereby connecting the structure of the chitin-silk biocomposites with the macroscale mechanical properties and enhancing the objectives of the project; and (2) the intracellular delivery of molecular and supramolecular ionic circuits for cyborg tissue (AFOSR effort), in which the imaging capabilities in fluid of the proposed atomic force microscope will greatly enhance the characterization suite available to the researchers to image the devices and cyborgtissue made for the project. In addition, to these active research programs, the Principal Investigator also intends to initiate a new effort on the localized and macroscale mechanical properties of biomaterials as inspiration for structural and protective materials, and the proposed atomic force microscope would augment that new research program. Specifically, he intends to launch that research program with a study on the mechanical properties of the banana slug tooth and correlate the observed mechanical properties with the tooth structure and slug genome. A biomaterials genome map for structure and mechanical properties could then be used to develop advanced biomimetic materials for defense applications. The proposed equipment is also expected to benefit a new Materials Science Initiative at the University of California, Santa Cruz that focuses on an exploration of the properties of energy materials (photovoltaics, and materials with low energy dissipation), advanced electronic materials (spintronics, superconductors and magnetoelectronics), and bioelectronics materials (biological/solid state interfaces, and biomimetics) in order to provide fundamental knowledge that can be used to develop future technologies beneficial to humanity. Twelve members of the University of California, Santa Cruz Physics Department, six Chemistry Department faculty members, and four Electrical Engineering faculty members are involved in this Materials Science Initiative. Beyond the value to the specific research efforts in which it will be used, the proposed equipment will also play an important role in the science and technology education of the undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows performing the research activities with the equipment. Additionally, new undergraduate- and graduate-level materials and biomaterials characterization classes are being developed through the Material Science Initiative at the University of California, Santa Cruz in which the requested instrument will either be demonstrated or used.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 2016
- Source ID
- N000141612507
Entities
People
- Marco Rolandi
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of California, Santa Cruz