Past Events
Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Location: Egan Center 406
Speaker: Prof. Igor Sokolov, Clarkson University
Abstract
Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is one of the major tools responsible for the emergence of what is called Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. We observe now a tremendous proliferation of AFM applications in the fields of soft condensed matter, materials science, chemistry, bioengineering, nanotechnology, etc. AFM has a particular advantage in dealing with biological objects, soft condensed matter in general, where ability to study objects in their natural environment is paramount.
In this talk, I will briefly overview the basic principles of the AFM work, and show a spectrum of unique applications of this technique in biological and soft condensed matter. Particular emphasis will be done on the use of AFM beyond simple imaging, on quantitative analysis. Such analysis is important because of typically high complexity of the systems of study, and therefore, difficulty in recognizing potential artifacts. I will describe the variety of research has been done in my laboratory, from single molecules to the study of small creatures, like beetles. Specifically, I will describe the study of conformational changes of single biomolecules used in various biosensors (lactose/galactose receptors, ELISA immunosensors), human epithelial cells (aging and cancerous versus normal cells), and the development of "nano-physiology" of insects.