An imaging suite for structural and elemental analysis of biologically-derived materials
Abstract
This proposal requests a comprehensive biomaterial characterization suite, presents the ongoing and prospective ONR-sponsored resear,ch projects that such instrumentation can support, and describes how this suite will impact the local research community and how it,will be used to improve the education and training of junior researchers. The requested instrumentation is a complete biomaterial ch,aracterization suite dedicated to the visualization, quantitative study, and analysis of soft materials composed of (1) an upright o,ptical microscope equipped with water immersion lenses and polarization optics complemented by (2) a scanning electron microscope fi,tted with a cryogenic stage and a cryogenic sample preparation chamber, a coupled Raman optical microscope for structural analysis,,and an X-ray detector for microanalysis. This material characterization facility will provide real-time coupled optical, spectroscop,ic, elemental, structural, and dynamic analysis of materials, therefore, allowing to interrogate materials from multiple, yet comple,menting angles. These instruments will be installed at the Silklab laboratory, directed by Prof. F.G. Omenetto, within the Departmen,t of Biomedical Engineering at Tufts University and will be the first of this type of facility available for researchers of the Grea,ter Boston area.This system will be used to study the correlation between the form and the function of naturally derived materials r,elevant for optical, electronic, and biomedical applications. In particular, the requested optical microscope will be used for optic,al imaging in wet environments, which is crucial to test the suitability of natural and bio-inspired soft materials for applications, requiring wet conditions (e.g., living systems, underwater materials). The requested scanning electron microscope will be used for,the morphological characterization of such materials in different hydration states along with the retrieval of quantitative informat,ion on material composition, structure, and their dynamic assembly and response. The proposed instrumentation suite will support the, comprehensive, interdisciplinary material characterization necessary in support of several ONR-sponsored research efforts currently, active at Tufts University, such as the ones focusing on Biocompatible biopolymer-based electronic interfaces for energy sources,and Exogenous control of octopus skin coloration ex vivo, while also providing new research opportunities relevant to ONR research, concentration areas such as Biomaterials and bionanotechnology and Bio-inspired signature management. It is also expected that,new research directions on naturally derived functional materials will emerge originating from the combined analysis capabilities of, such biomaterial characterization facility. Besides, this wet suite will be routinely used for the training of researchers at the g,raduate and undergraduate level by (1) identifying superusers that will master the use of this interdisciplinary suite and transfe,r the acquired knowledge to junior researchers within Silklab, by (2) incorporating its use in practical courses offered at the univ,ersity level and by (3) making the suite accessible at the university level, to industrial collaborators, and researchers working in, the Greater Boston area. Abstract is publicly releasable.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- May 16, 2022
- Source ID
- N000142212429
Entities
People
- Fiorenzo Omenetto
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- Tufts University
- United States Navy