The goal of this proposal is to develop the instrumentation and methodology necessary to make direct mechanical measurement of inter- and intra-molecular forces, F-SPEC, a user friendly, inexpensive and broadly applicable tool for molecular analysis and high throughput molecular screening. This novel approach is based on the principles of the atomic force microscope (AFM) which is capable of measuring forces in the pico Newton range and transducing these forces into macroscopic signals. In the proposed program, a simple ultra-sensitive and cost effective F-SPEC device will be constructed and tested. This device will include a flow chamber and a mechanism for temporary immobilization of microparticles to allow rapid, sequential analysis of molecular species tethered to the microparticles. The system will be evaluated using two molecular systems previously studied by F-SPEC; avidin/biotin and antibody/antigen molecular pairs. Methods will be further developed using DNA-protein and intramolecular DNA hairpin molecular systems. These efforts will result in the production of a technology for measuring forces in and between molecules, that will have applications in a large number of biomedically important areas including basic biomolecular analysis, signal transduction, immunology and immunodiagnostics, pharmacology, drug discovery and high throughput screening of surface immobilized combinatorial molecular libraries.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Center for Research Resources (NCRR)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
5R21RR013302-02
Application #
6188757
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRR1-BRT-4 (01))
Program Officer
Marron, Michael T
Project Start
1999-08-01
Project End
2001-07-31
Budget Start
2000-08-01
Budget End
2001-07-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2000
Total Cost
$76,452
Indirect Cost
Name
Bioforce Nanosciences, Inc.
Department
Type
DUNS #
879345213
City
Ames
State
IA
Country
United States
Zip Code
50010