Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

The requested optical tweezers system is the latest model and one of the world's highest performance systems designed for manipulation of single nanoscopic and microscopic objects, such as nano- and microparticles, live cells, emulsion droplets and biomacromolecules (e.g. proteins and nuclei acids), while simultaneously measuring the three-dimensional displacement of the trapped object with sub-nanometer accuracy as well as quantifying the interaction force with femtonewton (10^(-15) N) resolution, for a broad range of materials (e.g., polymers, biopolymers, proteins, nanoparticles, cells), biological and engineering systems (e.g. oil sands engineering, mineral processing) in complex fluids. The proposed optical tweezers system is computer-controlled and includes a user-friendly graphical interface. One key feature is that the optical trapping system is coupled with plasmonic enhancement facilitating trapping of nanoparticles and single macromolecules with diameters down to 10 nm, which is not achievable with other optical tweezer systems. The system also uses active intensity stabilization of trapping beams with integrated noise eaters, providing the lowest noise levels and the highest stability for accurately detecting the smallest force, available on the market. The calibration sequence of the force and displacement detection system, which is vital for precise force measurement, can be automatically conducted in situ without the need for special samples. <br><br>The instrument requested will be used by graduate/undergraduate students and researchers, coupled with our existing facilities such as atomic force microscope, surface forces apparatus, attenuated total internal reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, zeta potential analyzer, rheometer, and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) to conduct pioneering research to resolve a wide range of long-unresolved problems in several fields. These include molecular, colloidal and interfacial properties and interaction mechanisms of various materials and in many engineering and biological systems. The instrument will greatly foster and enhance the discovery, innovation and training capability of the researchers at the University of Alberta. The success of the projects outlined in this proposal will have a significant socio-economical impact on Canadian materials, chemical and mining industry, and bioengineering, and place us among the world's best facilities in interfacial science and engineering.<br>