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December 01, 2009 2:00 PM
Prof. Stefan W. Hell
Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry
Department of nanoBiophotonics, Göttingen/DE
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| Leica Scientific Forum Los Angeles - Advances in Life Science |
Talk Title: Nanoscopy with Focused Light
- Breaking the diffraction barrier
- STED microscopy and its application to Life Science Research
- Expansion to low-intensity operation by switching the flourophore
Stefan Hell Flyer
Scientific Advisory Board: Prof. Dr. Roger Tsien, University of California San Diego (UCSD), Prof. Dr. Mark Ellisman, University of California San Diego (UCSD), Prof. Dr. Shimon Weiss, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Prof. Dr. Katsushi Arisaka, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Prof. Dr. Arthur Kriegstein, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), Prof. Dr. Ronald D. Vane, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), Dr. Thomas Zapf (Leica Microsystems)
For free registration please e-mail to: sandra.ebert@leica-microsystems.com
Learn more: www.leica-microsystems.com
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Location: CNSI Auditorium, Reception to follow |
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November 17, 2009
Paul Weiss & Milan Mrksich
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| From Molecules to Monolayers: Self-Assembly and Analysis, Molecule by Molecule |
Sigma-Aldrich® Materials Science, in association with Elsevier's Materials Today, proudly presents an inaugural LIVE Webcast event from both the CNSI & Northwestern University. If you aren't able to attend either seminar in person, please visit the Self-Assembly webinar website or the registration website to watch online.
UCLA Flyer
Professor Paul Weiss
Director of California NanoSystems Institute
Professor - Chemistry and Biochemistry - University of California, Los Angeles
"Self and Directed Assembly of Single Molecule Environments"
LIVE FROM CNSI / UCLA
We place single molecules and larger groups into precisely controlled environments on surfaces. The monolayer matrices and the inserted molecules can be designed so as to interact directly, to give stability or other properties to supramolecular assemblies. New families of molecules are being developed to yield even greater control and are enabling determination of the key design parameters of both the molecules and assemblies. This in turn is enabling controlled chemical patterning from the sub-nanometer to the centimeter scales. At the same time, a suite of tools is being developed to give unprecedented information on the structures and properties of these assemblies.
Professor Milan Mrksich
Investigator - Howard Hughes Medical Institue - Chicago, IL
Professor - Chemistry - University of Chicago, IL
"Using Self-Assembled Monolayers and Mass Spectrometry for BioChip Applications"
LIVE FROM NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Biochips are prepared by applying an array of proteins, peptides, carbohydrates or other molecules to a flat substrate. They are used to profile enzyme specificities, profile cellular lysates for enzymatic activities, perform high throughput screening, and other applications. Yet, challenges in immobilizing biomolecules in a functional state and in developing label-based formats to assay biochemical chemical activities still limit the use of these tools. This talk will describe an approach for using mass spectrometry to analyze biochips-including enzyme-mediated reactions of immobilized biomolecules and protein-protein interactions. The method is based on self-assembled monolayers of alkanethiolates on gold that present proteins and small molecules with control over the densities, patterns and orientations of these species. The chips are compatible with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry and therefore do not require fluorescent or radioisotopic labels for analysis. This technique, termed SAMDI MS, can efficiently monitor a broad class of enzyme activities-including kinase, protease, methyltransferase and carbohydrate-directed modifications-and can detect proteins having molecular weights up to 100 kD. The talk will describe examples that use peptide arrays to characterize enzyme function.
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September 17, 2009
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| Optical Approaches to Probe Neuronal Circuits |
| ~ ALL ARE WELCOME! ~
Optical Approaches to Probe Neuronal Circuits; A Sampling of Research in the UCLA Department of Neurobiology
1:30pm Welcome: Marie-Francoise Chesselet, MD, PhD and Thomas Otis, PhD:
"Why Do We Need Optical Tools to Study Neuronal Circuits?"
1:45pm Baljit Khakh, PhD, Assistant Professor of Physiology and Neurobiology
"Non Invasive High Resolution Monitoring of Astrocyte Excitability in Neuronal Circuits"
2:15pm Thomas Otis, PhD, Professor, Department of Neurobiology
"A New Optical Method for Measuring Electrical Signals in Single Neurons and in Neuronal Circuits"
2:45pm Wiktor Janczewski, PhD, Associate Researcher of Neurobiology
"Shining Light on Breathing"
3:15pm Break and Refreshments
3:45pm Joshua Trachtenberg, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neurobiology
"Using Optogenetics to Determine How Activity Wires the Cortex"
4:15pm Carlos Portera-Cailliau, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neurology and Neurobiology
"High-Speed Two-Photon Calcium Imaging of Neuronal Activity"
Flyer
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August 26, 2009
Robert Damoiseaux, Scientific Director of MSSR lab at CNSI &
Queta Smith, Associate Director of Technical Communications at Thermo Scientific Genomics
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| Functional Genomics Minisymposium |
Initial RNA interference (RNAi) applications focused on individual gene knockdowns, however advancements
in synthesis, design and delivery now enable screens of functionally related gene families (e.g., kinase,
phosphatase or ubiquitin families) or whole genome screens. We will highlight the progression of RNAi
technologies including the importance of functionality and specificity and describe recent innovations to
improve the quality and reliability of target validation strategies. We will further review how these attributes
minimize the complexities of screening and we will provide a strategy for hit stratification that facilitates the
development of pathway mapping.
| 10:00 - 10:45am Seminar #1 - |
High Troughput Screening Capabilities at UCLA - From Small Molecules to Functional Genomics.
Presented by Robert D. Damoiseaux, Ph.D. Scientific Director, Molecular Shared Screening Resources. University of California, Los Angeles |
| 10:45 - 11:45am Seminar #2 - |
Tools and Strategies for High Throughput RNAi Screens
Presented by Queta Smith, Ph.D. Associate Director, Technical Communications. Thermo Scientific Genomics |
| 11:50 - 12:30pm Seminar #3 - |
Hit Stratification for RNAi Screens
Presented by Queta Smith, Ph.D. Associate Director, Technical Communications. Thermo Scientific Genomics |
Seminar Flyer can be downloaded here. |
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May 11, 2009
Michael Pepper
Immunology
University of Pretoria
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| Bedside to Bench: Defining the Market in Health Biotechnology in South Africa |
| Bio: Michael Pepper is a Professor in the Unit for Advanced Studies and an Extraordinary Professor in the Department of Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria. He is also Professeur Associé in the Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, Faculty of Medicine at the University of Geneva, Switzerland. He is based at the University of Pretoria.
Michael Pepper was born in South Africa in Bloemfontein and attended Pretoria Boy's High School. He obtained his MBChB (1982) from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Cape Town, and moved to Geneva (Switzerland) in 1986. He obtained his PhD (1990), MD (1992) and Privat Docent (Habilitation) (1997) degrees from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Geneva. He returned to South Africa in July 2004.
Michael has worked extensively in the field of molecular cell biology in the context of clinically-oriented problems. He has made seminal contributions to understanding the mechanisms of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, particularly with regard to their application to the clinical setting. His current interests are in the fields of cell-based therapy (including stem cells) and pharmacogenetics.
Michael has published 102 original papers in peer-review journals (mean impact factor per publication: 5.7), and 56 book chapters and review articles. He has co-authored 131 abstracts. He has received a number of awards for his research. He has been extensively involved in teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and has lectured extensively on the international circuit. He is frequently solicited as a peer reviewer, and until recently was on the editorial boards of Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis & Vascular Biology, The Angiogenesis Journal and. He is currently on the editorial boards of Lymphatic Research and Biology, Current Cardiology Reviews.
Michael is a member of the National Biotechnology Advisory Committee to the Minister of Science and Technology and is a founder member and Past-President of BioSA, an organization which represents the interests of Biotech SMMEs in South Africa. He is also a member of the Licensing Executives Society and the South African Medical Association. He was on the European Vascular Biology Association EXCOM from 1993-2004.
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April 24, 2009
Donald Ingber
Director, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University
Judah Folkman Professor of Vascular Biology
Harvard Medical School & Children's Hospital Boston
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| From Biological Design Principles to Bioinspired Nanotechnologies |
| The burgeoning field of Nanotechnology offers exciting new approaches to attack fundamental questions in biology, create smart medical devices, and positively impact human health. Creation of biologically-inspired nanotechnologies also could revolutionize how materials are designed and manufactured for industrial, aerospace and military applications. But the fields are constrained by a lack of understanding of how living cells and tissues are constructed so that they exhibit their incredible organic properties, including their ability to change shape, move, grow, and self-heal. These are properties we strive to mimic, but we cannot yet build man-made materials that exhibit these features, or develop devices to selectively control these behaviors. To accomplish this, we must uncover the underlying design principles that govern how cells and tissues form and function as hierarchical assemblies of nanometer scale components. In this lecture, I will review work from my laboratory and others which has begun to reveal these design principles that permit self-assembly of 3D structures with great robustness, mechanical strength and biochemical efficiency, even though they are composed of many thousands of flexible molecular scale components. We also are beginning to understand that biological materials are simultaneously "structure and catalyst": the molecular lattices that form the frameworks of our cells and tissues combine mechanical functions and solid-phase biochemical processing activities. In the course of the lecture, I also will describe how recently developed nanotechnologies have been used to create model systems for biological studies, and how they have led to new approaches to interface living cells with microchips, control mammalian cell and tissue development, and probe the process of mechanotransduction - how cells sense mechanical forces and convert them into biochemical responses. Finally, the more fundamental question of how nanoscale structural networks impact information processing (signal transduction) networks to control cellular "decision-making" also will be explored. Understanding of these design principles that govern biological organization is critical for any nanotechnologist who wants to harness the power of biology.
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April 14, 2009
Rob Candler
Electrical Engineering
University of California, Los Angeles
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| CNSI PhD Careers Workshop |
| Okay, now that you have a freshly minted PhD (or will soon have one), what can you do with it? How do you establish a career with an advanced degree: becoming a faculty, working in corporate R&D, training to be a VC, or get another degree in MBA or Law?
Through this workshop series, we hope to help you successfully apply for a job. We will invite speakers who just made these choices and can now reflect on their experience. We will recruit speakers who do the actual hiring and can offer you sound advice.
To kick off this workshop series, Professor Rob Candler will share his recent experience of acquiring a faculty position at UCLA. Please bring your questions and join us on this informal discussion session.
Please RSVP with Peggy Wu (peggywu@cnsi.ucla.edu) so we can order enough brownies and cookies for you.
Rob Candler, Assistant Professor - Electrical Engineering, UCLA
"Pathways for Getting a Faculty Position"
2PM, April 14, 2009
CNSI Presentation Space
Download Flyer
Rob N. Candler received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Auburn University in 2000, and he earned the M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, in 2002 and 2006, respectively. He was a research engineer from 2006-2007 and then a senior research engineer from 2007-2008 at the Bosch Research and Technology Center in Palo Alto, CA. During this time, he was also a Consulting Assistant Professor at Stanford University, where he taught a graduate level course on Sensors. He joined the faculty at UCLA in 2008, where he is currently an Assistant Professor and directs the UCLA Sensors and Technology Laboratory.
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April 06, 2009
Mayank R. Mehta
Neuroscience
Brown University
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| Neurophysics of learning: Space, time and oscillations |
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March 30, 2009
Jason Ritt
Burroughs Wellcome CASI Postdoctoral Fellow
McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT
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| Embodied active sensing in the rodent vibrissa system |
| In nature, sensation is partly a behavioral process, in which organisms
actively acquire and modify sensory information through self-motion (e.g.
eye motions or scanning with fingertips). The choice of motions depends in general on goals and context. Also important, though not as well studied, is the dependence of these active sensing choices on the physical embodiment of the organism (e.g. the optical structure of eyes or
mechanics of fingertips).
I will outline a combined experimental and theoretical approach to these
themes built around the rodent vibrissa (aka whisker) tactile sensory
system. A first step in this approach is our quantification of vibrissa
"micromotions" believed to underlie tactile texture discrimination in
freely behaving animals, an advance enabled by the development of novel
high speed (>3000 Hz) videographic and computer tracking methods. We find
the animal's embodiment has a marked influence on pre-neural tactile
inputs, for example through mechanical resonances in the vibrissae.
Moreover, micromotions in freely behaving animals differ substantially
from stimuli typically utilized in anesthetized neurophysiology studies,
raising questions of how well such studies can be extrapolated to natural
contexts.
I will then describe ongoing experiments integrating the videography with neurophysiology. Using chronically implanted multi-electrode
"hyperdrives" in primary somatosensory cortex, we record neural activity
during tactile behaviors. In addition, we have recently begun to combine
the recordings with direct alteration of the activity of the cortical
circuit through "optogenetics", the optical stimulation of genetically
targeted neural subpopulations (e.g. specific interneuron subtypes). I
will sketch preliminary work attempting to unify experimental observations
and predictions via computational modeling of the processes by which
rodents choose how to gather information from the world, and utilize that information to make decisions. I will conclude by discussing applications to rodent disease models.
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March 23, 2009
Dejan Vučinić
Salk Institute - Howard Hughes Medical Institute
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| Three innovations in bio-acousto-optics |
| Laser beam steering using acousto-optic deflectors is superior to the more widely used electromechanical scanning methods for its greater speed and lower latency, random access in constant time, insensitivity to environmental perturbations, and intrinsic lensing ability which enables access in three dimensions with no macroscopically moving parts. I will describe three little technological advances in acousto-optic 3D scanning microscopy that solve several long-standing obstacles to its wider adoption: a way of shrinking an entire acousto-optic microscope down to a size suitable for head-worn or hand-held deployment; a way of quickly superresolving fluorescent objects in three dimensions within large volumes; and a way of making an acousto-optic microscope confocal with the aid of a CMOS descanner. I will explain the biological motivations behind these advances and discuss their implications for the future of imaging fast neuronal activity in the intact brain. |
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March 16, 2009
Alipasha Vaziri
Janelia Farm Research Campus
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
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| Unlocking the Power of Classical and Quantum Optics in Biology: Applications to New Tools for Neuroscience and Fundamental Biological Questions |
| In the recent years from the intersection of physics and biology, significant advancements in life sciences have emerged. This development has been fueled by two main drivers. On one hand many biological fields and neuroscience in particular, are currently limited by the available tools; hence the development of new physical techniques and methods have enabled new biological discoveries. On the other hand, a physics based approach to addressing biological questions can lead to an understanding of biological problems on a more fundamental level. In this context I will discuss a few developed and planed approaches to structural and functional imaging in neuroscience and understanding of biological function at molecular to atomic scale.
We have developed a super-resolution imaging technique (PALM) based on serial activation and excitation of photoswitchable fluorescent proteins, which allows optical imaging of intercellular protein distributions at nanometer resolution. By combing this technique with an approach to control the optical pulse duration at different axial locations, we have recently extended this technique to three dimensions and to thick biological samples.
In a different project, we have developed schemes for optical control of neural activity via multi-photon activation of genetically expressible ion-channel proteins such as Channelrhodopsin. This technique will allow studies of neural connectivity and mechanisms of neural integration on the single neuron level. By integrating this technique with optical methods for nano-scale voltage sensing, we are currently working towards a scheme for full optical control and recording of neural activity.
Finally, I will discuss ideas about how the application of femtosecond correlation spectroscopy might be used for studying coherent energy transport phenomena in bio-molecular complexes with metal-ion binding domains such as ion-channels and enzymes.
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March 09, 2009
Anne Taylor
Biology
California Institute of Technology
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| Investigating neuronal plasticity using microfluidic devices |
| Neurons exhibit remarkable plasticity both in their morphology and in the strength of their synaptic connections. The complex connectivity of neuronal networks within the intact brain, however, presents extreme challenges for studying the cell biology of plasticity in axons, dendrites, and their synapses. During this seminar I will discuss the development and use of microfluidic devices to create organized connections between cortical neurons, providing unprecedented access to different neuronal populations and their subcellular compartments for measurements and manipulations. I will also discuss unique investigations of neuronal plasticity using these microfluidic devices. Axonal protein synthesis is a process which provides some autonomy to axons in order for them to respond to local conditions distal from their cell bodies (e.g., following axonal injury and during growth cone regeneration). Axons are known to locally translate mRNA in invertebrate as well as mammalian peripheral nervous system (PNS) neurons, yet little is known about mammalian cortical axons due to the technical challenges of accessing their axonal compartments. Using microfluidic devices, we have recently identified a large mRNA population in mature cortical axons, providing evidence that these axons have the capacity for local protein synthesis. This work also shows that the mRNA profile in cortical axons has similarities to the mRNA profile in regenerating PNS axons, suggesting a common function for axonal protein synthesis following injury in both these types of neurons. Second, I will discuss work to investigate synaptic plasticity using newly developed microfluidic devices. I will discuss my work to access and manipulate synaptic regions at the micron level for the purposes of investigating synapse to nucleus signaling as well as for investigating local changes at synapses. |
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February 10, 2009
Heinz Berke
Inorganic Chemistry
University of Zurich
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| Chemistry in Ancient Times: The Invention of Blue and Purple Pigments |
| Blue and purple materials are not found in surface soil and prevented prehistoric mankind to have access to blue and purple pigments. Only after mining came up about 3000 BC, the rare gemstone Lapis Lazuli became available, which was then also used as a stable, but precious, blue pigment. Ancient mankind "lived" color and the demand for blue and purple pigments became so enormous that it could not be satisfied with Lapis Lazuli alone. In various civilizations this triggered the development of respective pigments by aid of chemistry.
Ancient Egyptians invented Egyptian Blue, a calcium copper silicate (CaCuSi4O1O) constituting a defined chemical compound, which came into use already in predynastic Egypt more than 3000 years ago. Later Egyptian Blue spread into Mesopotamia, Persia and was furthermore utilized by the ancient Greek and also the Romans in the Mediterranean area till the fall of the Roman Empire. Egyptian Blue was used to color vitreous materials, such as faience objects and frits, but also was used as a paint and in compact body artifacts. It was prepared at temperatures of 800 °C from limestone, sand and a copper mineral in the presence of a flux, such as papyrus ash, rock salt or Trona, a mixture of salts with sodium sulfate as the most effective constituent.
Earlier and recent studies of ancient Chinese polychromy revealed that three man-made barium copper silicate compounds were used as pigments or in compact body objects: BaCuSi2O6 (Chinese or Han Purple), BaCuSi4O1O (Chinese or Han Blue), chemically related to Egyptian Blue, and BaCu2Si2O7 (to be denoted as Chinese or Han Dark Blue) (see phase diagram Figure below). The forth phase of the BaO/CuO/SiO2 phase diagram, Ba2CuSi2O7, was apparently not prepared and used as a pigment. While the Ba/Cu 1:1 compounds were utilized from late Western Zhou Period (approx. 800 BC) till the end of Han Period (approx. 200 AD), BaCu2Si2O7 appeared as a pigments on only a few objects of the Han Period. Synthetic access to the barium copper silicate compounds was a difficult task in ancient times, as it is still nowadays in particular with respect to the preparation of high quality materials. Historically the compounds were obtained by flux syntheses at temperatures between 850°C and 1000°C applying appropriate stoichiometries of the starting materials.
All the original Chinese samples investigated up to now contained lead. The addition of lead turned out to be an ingenious chemical trick crucial to synthetic success, in particular when the very stable barite mineral (BaSO4) was used as a barium starting material.
Maya Blue is the youngest of the three artificial historic pigments and was developed and used by the Indians of central America from about 400 AD on. Chemically it is based on indigo, which is intercalated into white clays (Palygorskite and Sepiolite) at temperatures between 200 and 400 °C, thus effecting stabilization of the organic dye and turning it into a pigment.
Based on their chemistry and the availability of starting materials, the geography and the historic developments of these blue and purple pigments will be reviewed.
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January 14, 2009
Richard R. Schrock
Frederick G. Keyes Professor of Chemistry
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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| Thousands of Catalysts for Olefin Metathesis: Variability, Longevity, and Asymmetry at the Metal |
| Complexes of the type M(NR)(CHR')(OR")2 (M = Mo or W) are established high oxidation state olefin metathesis catalysts, whose overall efficiencies depend dramatically upon the electronic and steric characteristics of the NR and OR" or (chiral) diolate groups. Complexes of the type M(NR)(CHCMe2R')(OR)X (MonoAlkoxidePyrrolide or MAP) species are remarkably active catalysts that are asymmetric at the metal. The latter property can be exploited through synthesis of M(NR)(CHCMe2R')(OR*)X species in which OR* is an enantiomerically pure alkoxide. Such species have been employed (inter alia) for a relatively short and enantioselective synthesis of the Aspidosperma alkaloid, quebrachamine (96% ee). This approach to asymmetric metathesis takes advantage of controlling the chirality at the metal through manipulation of the relative reactivities of two diastereomers. Recent applications of MAP species to a variety of reactions catalyzed by alkylidene complexes, along with fundamental studies concerning metathesis at a stereogenic metal center, will be discussed. |
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November 24, 2008
Xiang Zhang
Chancellor's Professor and Director
NSF Nano-scale Science and Engineering Center (NSEC)
University of California
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| Photonic Metamaterials, Nano-plasmonics and Superlens |
| Recent theory predicted a new class of meta structures made of engineered sub wavelength entities - meta "atoms" and "molecules" which enable the unprecedented electromagnetic properties that do not exist in the nature such as optical magnetism and artificial plasma. Especially, the predicted superlens made of metamterials breaks the fundamental diffraction limit, which may have profound impact in wide range of applications such as nano-scale imaging, nanolithography, and ultra-density data storage.
I'll discuss a few recent experiments that demonstrated these intriguing physics. We created the first bulk optical metamaterials that show the negative refractions. We demonstrated the unique superlens and hyperlens using carefully design of plasmonic materials dispersions. I will further discuss a new technology based on superlens for nano-scale lithography that may transform the next generation of nano-manufacturing, along with nano plasmonics for imaging and bio-sensing. The surface plasmon indeed promises an exciting engineering paradigm of "x-ray wavelength at optical frequency".
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November 17, 2008
Luke P. Lee
Department of Bioengineering,
Director, Biomolecular Nanotechnology Center
Co-Director, Berkeley Sensor & Actuator Center (BSAC)
University of California, Berkeley
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| Nanobiophotonic Cellular Galaxy and Optogenetics for Quantitative Biology and Biomedical Innovations |
| Our understanding of biological systems is increasingly dependent on our ability to visualize and measure biomolecules and biological events with high spatial and temporal resolution in a living cell. Current fluorescence and confocal microscopy requires fluorescent labeling steps. The electron microscope (EM) can resolve subcellular structures without labeling, but EM imaging damages living cells. Moreover, fluorescence and EM microscopy cannot provide spectroscopic information (i.e. chemical fingerprints). Innovative nanoplasmonic local light sources and Plasmonic Resonance Energy Transfer (PRET) nanospectroscopy offer striking advantages over traditional molecular imaging techniques: stability, biocompatibility, selectivity, and spectroscopic imaging capability. By visualizing intracellular nanoplasmonic probes, we obtain snapshots of what we, metaphorically speaking, refer to as the Cellular Galaxy. By focusing on specific nanoplasmonic probes within this "galaxy" of probes, we can measure ultra-localized biochemical structural and kinetic features. In essence, the nanoplasmonic probes function as explorable "nano-satellites" in the living cellular environment.
We also have developed Oligonucleotides on a Nanoplasmonic Carrier Optical Switch (ONCOS) for the remote optical control of gene regulation and protein expression. The Optogenetic ONCOS allows on-demand gene silencing with nanometer-scale spatial resolution and localized temperature controls in living cells. The ONCOS and PRET are being applied for molecular/cellular diagnostics, therapeutic applications, and experimental system biology since these nanoplasmonic biophotonic devices will provide us precise spatial and temporal controls of gene interferences and spectroscopic information of living cellular mechanism. Bionanophotonic molecular ruler is also accomplished to measure the dynamics of DNA and protein interactions and understanding cellular dynamics. In-vivo Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) probes, in-vitro integrated nanofluidic SERS, and optofluidic ICs are developed for label-free molecular diagnostics and drug discovery. All these nanoplasmonic biophotonic devices can impact on optogenetics, medical diagnostics, and systems nanomedicine.
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November 10, 2008
László Forró
Institute Director
Institute of Physics of Complex Matter
Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
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| Interdisciplinary Strategies in Nanoscience |
| We put a strong emphasis on the synthesis and study of various nanostructures like fullerols, nanoparticles, inorganic nanowires and nanotubes, carbon nanotubes, nano-peapods etc. Many of these structures are similar in size and shape to biomolecules like actin, microtubules, DNA, intermediate filaments etc. In this talk I will illustrate how can we use the experimental methods and approaches elaborated for the former systems to obtain relevant quantities in the study of biomaterials. |
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August 19, 2008
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| KINC/CNSI Cooperative Symposium on Nanoscience |
This one-day kick-off event will initiate and build cooperative research between CNSI and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) Institute for the Nanocentury. Researchers from both institutes will discuss their findings, new techniques and technologies representing a cross-section of capabilities at both facilities. Topics span nanophotonics, molecular assembly, nanomaterials synthesis and characterization for applications in communication, on-chip imaging, and green energy technology.
KAIST Institute for the NanoCentury (KINC) was established from the beginning to remove the barriers between different disciplines and foster true interdisciplinary collaboration and thereby pursues creative converging research that transcends any particular academic field. KINC carries out researches on nanoscience and nanotechnology through collaboration between the relevant industries and KAIST professors from various departments such as mechanical engineering, physics, bio and neuroscience, biology, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, aeronautical engineering, and chemistry.
RSVP
Agenda
Speakers
Main Research Fields
Nanomaterials for Energy & Environment
- Nanoporous materials and nanoparticles for high performance applications
- Nanomaterials for energy storage
- Green process technology
Multi-functional Nanomaterials
- Development of multi-functional nanocomposites
- Energy absorbing materials by nano-interface engineering
- Nanomaterials for sensors and actuators
Photonic Nanostructures
- Design and fabrication of photonic structures
- Fabrication of optofluidic devices
Trans-scale NanoManufacturing
- Development and applications of 3D nano-fabrication processes
- Development of trans-scale nanomeasurement and nano-positioning systems
Nano-Bio Convergence
- Development of highly sensitive detection system for biomarkers by using nanomaterials
- Development of bio-mimetic materials for biomedical and dispensing system
- Development of biomolecular imaging system using nanomaterials
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May 23, 2008
Gregory Stephanopoulos
Bayer Professor of Chemical Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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| Metabolic Engineering: Enabling Technology for the Biological Production of Fuels and Chemicals |
Metabolic engineering is a young field, just over 15 years old. During this period, it has developed a well-defined methodology and a focused research portfolio of rich intellectual content and particular relevance to biotechnology and biological engineering. Its goal is to harness the immense potential of microorganisms for the production of useful products, in particular from renewable resources. This it does by engineering the cellular metabolism such as to favor product-forming pathways while maintaining normal cellular functions. After many successful applications, Metabolic Engineering now needs to adapt itself to rapid changes whereby we have instead of too few genes lots and lots of genes and, instead of a handful of measurements, avalanches of data. Although the focus (e.g. improving cells) and main theme (e.g. assessing cell physiology) of metabolic engineering remain the same, new tools are required to take advantage of these developments. Such tools will come from a systemic view of cellular function and will strengthen the integrating and quantifying aspects that have given this field its unique identity.
In this talk we will review how metabolic engineering, as a field, helped crystallize these concepts along with the main challenges in aligning metabolic engineering with the goals and mind-frame of the new biology. New concepts of importance in the post-genomic era will be presented that allow the engineering of cells to elicit multigenic properties, a task difficult to achieve following the usual single gene paradigm. These ideas will be illustrated with examples from applications of Metabolic Engineering to the production of chemical products and biofuels from renewable resources.
GREGORY STEPHANOPOULOS
Dr. Gregory Stephanopoulos received his degrees in chemical engineering (B.S.: NTU Athens, M.S.: University of Florida, Ph.D.: University of Minnesota, 1978). He taught at Caltech (1978-85) after which he was appointed Professor of ChE at MIT. He served as Associate Director of the Biotechnology Process Engineering Center (1990-97) and is also the Taplin Professor of HST (2001-), Instructor of Bioengineering at Harvard Medical School (1997-), and the W. H. Dow Professor of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology.
Dr. Stephanopoulos' current research focuses on metabolic engineering, the engineering of microbes for the production of fuels and chemicals. He has coauthored or -edited 5 books, ~300 papers and 25 patents and supervised 50 graduate and 40 post-doctoral students. He is presently the editor-in-chief of Metabolic Engineering and serves on the Editorial Boards of 7 scientific journals and the Advisory Boards of 5 ChE departments. He has been recognized with numerous awards (Dreyfus, Excellence in Teaching-Caltech, AIChE Technical Achievement Award, NSF PYI, AIChE-FPBE Division Award, M.J. Johnson Award of ACS, Merck Award in Metabolic Engineering, C. Thom Award of SIM, the R.H. Wilhelm Award in Chemical Reaction Engineering of AIChE, and the Founders Award of AIChE). In 2002, he was elected to the AIChE Board of Directors, and in 2003 to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). In 2005, he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree (doctor technices honoris causa) by the Technical University of Denmark.
Dr. Stephanopoulos has taught undergraduate and graduate core courses of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology.
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April 25, 2008
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| Assemblymember Mike Feuer to Host Nanotechnology Summit at the CNSI |
| Assemblymember Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles) in association with UCLA Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and the California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) present "The Future of Nanotechnology: Legislative Summit".
There are spaces in the world too small to be seen with even the most powerful optical microscopes. Nanotechnology, sometimes referred to as the science of the very small, has far-reaching economic and quality-of-life implications. How small is small? A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter. The human hair is approximately 80,000 nanometers wide, for example. A nanometer-sized particle also is smaller than a living cell and can be seen only with the most powerful microscopes available today. Numerous products featuring the unique properties of nanoscale materials - including computer equipment, drug delivery systems and medical diagnostic tools, burn and wound dressings in hospitals, car parts, protective coatings on eyeglasses, cosmetics and clothing - are available to consumers and industry today. And new uses in our homes, offices and on the road are being envisioned and developed. This summit is the first step for stakeholders from industry, government, research institutes and environmental groups to discuss responsible ways to regulate nanotechnology without stifling progress.
Panel 1: Environmental and Health Implications of Nanotechnology: Narrowing Our Knowledge Gap
The first panel will address the state of the science regarding the potential environmental and human health impacts of nanotechnology and nanomaterials. Nanomaterials are widely used in a variety of industrial applications and consumer goods such as clothing, sporting goods and cosmetics.
Confirmed Panelists:
Leonard H. Rome, Ph.D, Director, California NanoSystems Institute
Andre Nel, Ph.D, MD, Director of the University of California Lead Campus for Nanotoxicology Research and Training
Hilary Godwin, Ph.D, UCLA School of Public Health
Patrick Soon-Shiong, M.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Abraxis BioScience, Inc
Panel 2: Regulating NanoTechnology: Managing Risks while Promoting Progress
This panel will build upon the first to explore the policy issues associated with nanotechnology and nanomaterials, including the need for information regarding the environmental and health risks. Panelists will examine the potential application of existing federal and state legal authorities, including EPA's voluntary Nanoscale Materials Stewardship Program, in defining and responding to such risks.
Confirmed Panelists:
John Froines, Ph.D, Director, UCLA Center of Occupational and Environmental Health
Tim Malloy, JD, Professor of Law, UCLA and Co-Director, Frank G.Wells Environmental Law Clinic
Jeffrey Wong (DTSC), Chief Scientist, Department of Toxic Substances Control
George Alexeeff, Ph.D, Deputy Director for Scientific Affairs of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA)
Terry O'Day, Executive Director of Environment Now
(Continental breakfast will be served from 8:00am - 9:00am in the CNSI lobby)
Photo Gallery
Daily Bruin
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April 04, 2008
Rob N. Candler
Bosch Research and Technology Center
Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
Stanford University
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| Thermoelastic Dissipation as an Energy Loss Mechanism in Silicon Microelectromechanical Resonators |
The silicon microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) resonator is poised to replace the quartz resonator as the device of choice for frequency references, which pervade most of the electronic devices currently being produced, with > 10 billion quartz timing crystals produced every year. Before silicon can overtake this industry, some critical technological challenges must be solved, namely stable packaging and optimization/understanding of energy dissipation of resonators.
One fundamental challenge for micro/nanoscale resonators is to understand the pathways by which they dissipate their vibrational energy. Even though these resonators have been in the research community for multiple decades and the underlying mechanisms of energy dissipation are fundamental physical phenomena (e.g., heat flow, phonon-phonon interactions, dissipation from chemical bonds on the resonator surface, elastic collisions with air molecules, energy loss from the resonator anchors), predictive models still do not exist for all types of energy dissipation. Without an understanding of these phenomena, it is impossible to predict the quality factor, a critical parameter, of a resonator.
One energy loss mechanism that becomes relevant at the micro/nanoscale is thermoelastic dissipation (TED), a phenomenon where energy is irrecoverably transferred from the mechanical to the thermal domain. Finite element simulations that capture the bi-directional coupled physics between mechanical and thermal domains were used to predict the TED-limited quality factor in MEMS resonators. Experimental validation was obtained by fabricating these devices within a novel single-wafer encapsulation technique. This encapsulation enabled reliable, repeatable measurement of devices and mitigation of other energy loss mechanisms, thereby isolating TED as the dominant energy loss mechanism. Based on these simulations, novel resonator geometries were designed, fabricated, and tested, demonstrating the ability to engineer the quality factor in MEMS resonators.
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January 09, 2008
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| Virtual Surgery: Computational Methods and Simulations for Facial Reconstructions |
This talk will cover a personal history of this surgeon who has attempted over the past thirty years to apply computer methods to the surgical care of patients with facial malformations. The Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery at New York University Medical Center was the first center funded by the National Institutes of Health to study children with severe facial malformations. Evaluation of treatment outcomes required the development of statistical methods for the evaluation of smoothly curving three dimensional surfaces. This naturally led to numerical "error terms" when fitting a particular patient to normative models for the purposes of surgical simulation. As numerical surgical planning evolved, it became necessary to develop methods for delivering coordinated intraoperative precision. This led to the use of intraoperative vision systems and surgical robotics. Coincident with the craniofacial effort was an outreach program to repair cleft lip and palate in developing countries. Teaching the complex three dimensional movements required to achieve good results is difficult. We began using a three dimensional computer graphics animation program, Maya®, to describe these procedures. Later these procedures were abstracted into video game format to allow the student to explore these procedures in an interactive way.
The Speaker
Court Cutting is Professor of Plastic Surgery at New York University Medical Center. Over the past 20 years his surgical practice has been devoted to the care of children with facial malformations. Dr. Cutting has developed an intraoperative virtual reality system for the tracking and positioning of facial skeletal fragments. He began working with the Smile Train charity in 1999 to develop training tools to teach cleft lip and palate surgery to doctors in third world countries.
This lecture is part of the IPAM workshop "Scientific Computing Applications in Surgical Simulation of Soft Tissues". For more information about this lecture (including directions and parking) and other activities at IPAM, visit our website or call 310-825-4755.
www.ipam.ucla.edu |
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November 14, 2007
Peter Sellars,
UCLA Professor World Arts and Cultures
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| Return to the Public Sphere! Three or Four Things to Do With a Major Research University |
Cutting across disciplines, going outside the University, completes the total picture of what University life could and should be. Peter Sellars is one of the leading theatre, opera, and television directors in the world today, having directed more than one hundred productions, large and small, across America and abroad. He is a recipient of the MacArthur Prize Fellowship and was awarded the Erasmus Prize at the Dutch Royal Palace for contributions to European culture. A graduate of Harvard University (where during his senior year he directed Gogol's /The Inspector General /and Handel's opera /Orlando* */at the A.R.T.), he studied in Japan, China, and India before becoming Artistic Director of the Boston Shakespeare Company. His contemporary visions of Mozart's operas *Cosi */Fan Tutte, //The Marriage of Figaro/, and /Don Giovanni/, created in collaboration with Emmanuel Music and its Artistic Director Craig Smith, were hailed in Boston and in Europe and were televised by National Public Television. At twenty-six he was made Director of the American National Theater at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
He was Artistic Director of the 1990 and 1993 Los Angeles Festivals, and is currently a Professor of World Arts and Cultures at UCLA. Mr. Sellars has collaborated with The Wooster Group and was featured in Jean-Luc Godard's film of /King Lear/. He has also appeared on Bill Moyers' /A World of Ideas/, /Miami Vice/, and /The Equalizer/, directed a rock video for Herbie Hancock, and produced a series of radio episodes for The Museum of Contemporary Art's The Territory of Art series. His first feature film, /The Cabinet of Dr. Ramirez/, is silent in color (starring Joan Cusack, Peter Gallagher, Ron Vawter, and Mikhail Baryshnikov).
UCLA Today Online Story
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November 05, 2007
Massimiliano Zecca
Waseda University, Japan
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| Understanding Human and Humanoid Motions and Emotions |
The average age of the Japanese population is rising fast because of an increased life expectancy and a reduced birth rate. In this aging society, it is expected that there will be a growing need for home, medical and nursing care services, including those provided by robots, to assist the elderly both on the physical and the psychological levels. These new devices should be capable of smooth and natural adaptation and interaction with their partners and the environment, should be able to communicate naturally, and should never have a negative effect on humans, neither physical nor emotional. The concept behind all these devices is "partner". In particular, Partner Robots will act as human peers in everyday life and perform mental and communicational supports for humans as well as physical supports.
In this regard, human-robot communication and interaction (particularly in regard to the role of emotions) are extremely important, especially in the case of home and personal assistance for elderly and/or handicapped people. If a robot had a "mind" (intelligence, emotion, and will) similar to the human one, it would be much easier for the robot to adapt and interact with its human partners and the environment. Unfortunately, at present, we do not yet have sufficient knowledge and understanding of humans, and we do not know how to clearly define the criteria to evaluate these interactions.
To solve this problem, we should observe and analyze the human being, an extreme and exquisite example of robotic system. This could lead to the clarification of the basic mechanisms of the human neuromusculoskeletal system, and how its performance is related to emotional perception and expression. This, in turn, will be the core part of a huge range of extremely important applications involving the interactions between people and robots. The possible outcomes of this research for an aging society are tremendous.
The ultimate goal of these research activities is to provide the society with the tools necessary to improve and enhance the quality of life of elderly and disabled people: better health-care systems, human-support devices, teleoperation methods, and so on.
This video of emotion expressions will be the main topic of the talk: Video
To see all the videos and a further description of the robot, please visit this website: WE-4RII |
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October 22, 2007
Joseph Wang
Biodesign Institute
Arizona State University
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| Nanomaterial-based Biosensors and Biomedical Devices |
Abstract:
The unique properties of nanoscale materials offer excellent prospects for the monitoring biomolecular interactions and for designing novel bioelectronic devices exhibiting novel functions. This presentation will describe greatly amplified and multiplexed bioelectronic assays of DNA and proteins based on different biomaterial-nanomaterial assemblies. We will also discuss new nanowire-based machine-like operations ranging from delivery vehicles (and related self-powered nanomotors) to 'artificial-muscle' nanoactuators (based on electrical or magnetic stimuli). Finally, we will illustrate novel nanowire-based strategies for activating on-demand bioelectrocatalytic processes and bioelectronic devices, in general.
Joseph Wang is one of the most-cited researchers in bioelectronics and biosensors.
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September 18, 2007
Robert W. Williams, Ph.D.
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology
Dunavant Chair: Developmental Genetics, Department of Pediatrics
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
NerveNet
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| Expression Genetics and the Phenotype Revolution |
Abstract:
The identification of disease genes associated with pervasive and common diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, neurodegeneration, and addiction can require huge population sizes. Massive projects of these types require extremely efficient phenotyping technologies. We have made enormous progress on the genotyping front, and it is now time to focus energy on devising ultrahigh-throughput methods to phenotype. Molecular phenotyping of the transcriptome has matured, and it is now possible to acquire more than 1 million mRNA microphenotypes. Proteomic and cell-based assays are also maturing rapidly. As I will review in this talk, rodent populations combined with massive phenome data sets and sophisticated bioinformatic data mining methods are essential to gauge our ability to predict susceptibility and disease outcome in human populations.
Biography: Robert (Rob) W. Williams received a BA in neuroscience from UC Santa Cruz (1975) and a Ph.D. in physiology at UC Davis with LM Chalupa (1983). He did postdoctoral work in developmental neurobiology at Yale with P. Rakic and moved to the University of Tennessee in 1989. He is a professor in the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology and holds the Dunavant professorship in developmental genetics in the Department of Pediatrics. Williams is a past president of the Society for Behavioural and Neural Genetics Society and founding director of the Complex Trait Consortium (www.complextrait.org). He is a member of the International Committee on Standardized Genetic Nomenclature for Mice and Chair of the Society for Neuroscience Neuroinformatics Committee, and he serves on the Editorial Board of Genes, Brain & Behavior, Neuroinformatics, Alcohol, Molecular Vision, European Journal of Anatomy, Alcohol, BiomedCentral Neuroscience, the Journal of Biomedical Discovery and Collaboration, and Behavior Genetics. |
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August 16, 2007
Alan E. Rowan
Department of Molecular Materials
Institute for Molecules and Materials (The Netherlands)
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| From Single to Assembled Chromophores |
Abstract Description:
The study of individual chromophores, in particular porphyins and phthalocyanines, at a surface is of increasing interest due to the numerous foreseen applications in the area of nanotechnology. The development the of catalytic surfaces or spintronic arrays requires a precise control over the deposition and ordering of the molecules at the solid liquid interface. The self-assembly and self-ordering of such molecules at a surface is complex mechanism of multiple processes such as dewetting, supramolecular self-assemblyand many others which occur simultaneously. Once formed the investigation of the properties and behaviour of, individual chromophores or the formed arrays and their subsequent application as functional surfaces is also a non-trivial process.
The in-depth study of several systems ranging from monomeric to trimeric and polymeric systems and their self-assembled architectures has been carried out using SPM (scanning probe microscopy) and CFM (confocal fluorescence spectrsopytechniques at the liquid-solid interface. Using the former technique (STM) the catalytic cycle a single manganese porphyrin on a gold surface has been monitored during the conversion of an alkene to an epoxide using molecular oxygen (Nature Nanotechnology 2, 28 - 289 (2007)). Combining both above techniques the assembly of porphyrin trimers into a periodic array of micronmeter long nanowires at a surface has also been studied. By the precise design of the chromophoric building block, parallel m long consisting of millions of lines 5 nm thick, 100 molecules covering areas cm2, can be self-organized and the subsequent surface ultilized as a command layer for twisted nematic liquid crystal devices (Science (2006), 314(5804), 1433-143)).
In a finally assembly approach, polyisocyanide-molecules based m and wires can be synthesized, with lengths upto 15 molecular weights in excess of 20 million Daltons (see figure above). The investigation of the energy and electron transfer along these wires has led to there application in photovoltaic devices, (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2004, 43, 4045 -4049; J. Phys. Chem. B 2006, 110, 7803-7812).
The motion of these chromophoric wires in a polymeric matrix has been observed using CFM, revealing the first example of reptation in a polymer matrix. The concept, synthesis and observations for these different chromophoric assemblies will be discussed. |
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August 07, 2007
Andreas Kilbinger
Johannes Gutenberg-Universitat Mainz, Institut fur Organische Chemie
Duesbergweg 10-14, 55099 Mainz, Germany
akilbing@uni-mainz.de;
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| Oligo(p-benzamide)s - Supramolecular Synthons for the Nanoscale Organization of Polymers |
Coil-coil block copolymers and their solution and bulk structures have been studied in great detail. Amphiphilic coil-coil diblock copolymers typically form phase-separated morphologies with domain sizes between 10 nm and 100 nm.[1] One way to obtain smaller domain sizes is via rod-coil block copolymers in which a discrete oligomeric rod-block is attached to a polydisperse coil-block. This allows the generation of nanoscopic domain sizes on similar length scales as that of the oligomeric rod itself.
Such precisely defined oligomers can be synthesized and attached to polymeric coil blocks using the tools of classical multi-step organic synthesis. In recent years, this boundary between classical organic synthesis and polymer chemistry has been crossed by many groups aiming to create new block-copolymer architectures in which at least one block is precisely defined. [2]
Recently, we described the synthesis[3] and aggregation behavior[4,5] of a series of oligo(p-benzamide)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ethers in which strong directional hydrogen bonds are responsible for the formation of nanoscale solution structures. An overview of different synthetic strategies aiming at precisely defined oligo(p-benzamide) (OPBA) coil-block copolymers will be presented. The nanoscale aggregates formed by these polymers in non-polar solvents were analyzed using scanning probe microscopy (SPM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) as well as light scattering techniques.
An overview of four different synthetic approaches to such polymer architectures is presented: a precursor route for synthesis on a soluble support (1), an iterative oligomer synthesis in solution (2), [6] a fully automated solid supported synthesis (3)[7,8] and an automated larger scale synthesis (4)[9] for supramolecular rod-coil copolymers are described. These four different synthetic routes allow the preparation of materials with varying degrees of precision, ranging from exact molecular weight and sequence control for the solid supported synthesis, to polydisperse materials for the automated lager scale synthesis.
Oligoaramide hetero-sequence design as a means to control shape, non-covalent interaction and hierarchical organization into nanostructures will be discussed.
Figure: A) TEM image of an OPBA-PEG copolymer, dropcast from
CHCl3 solution.
B) Reference: tobacco mosaic virus C) AFM image (tapping mode) of an OPBA-PEG copolymer D) Molecular model of an OPBA-PEG rod-coil copolymer E) Model of a bilayer hockey puck micelle consisting of a crystalline OPBA core and PEG (blue) corona.
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June 08, 2007
Organized by
Victoria Vesna, Director
Art | Science Center
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| UCLA Art|Sci Center Presents:Tesla: Visions + Inspirations |
Nikola Tesla's visions and inventions were at the core of the
generation, transmission and use of electricity that has transformed our world. His genius and his importance to humankind is now only beginning to be fully appreciated, particularly as we become wireless and more energy conscious. Join us to hear about Tesla through the work of Artists, Scientists and Engineers who have been inspired by his legacy.
Participants:
Greg Leyh, Nevada Lightning Lab - featuring a phased pair of Tesla coils, 122 feet tall. Lightning on Demand
Susan Joyce, Director, Fringe Gallery, Los Angeles
Milos Ercegovac, Professor, Computer Science, UCLA
Paulette Phillips, Artist, Homewrecker Electromagnetic Sculpture
Gisele Trudel and Stephane Claude, AElab Sparks - Experimental documentary on the life of Nikola Tesla
Nina Czegledy, The Resonance Project Co-Curated with Louise Provencher |
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May 29, 2007
Menachem Elimelech
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| "Nanoparticles and Nanomaterials in Aquatic Environments: Transport, Aggregation, and Environmental Implications" |
Professor of Environmental and Chemical Engineering at Yale University will be the guest speaker for the MWH Distinguished Lecture in Environmental & Water Resources Engineering.
Naturally occurring nanoparticles are ubiquitous in aquatic systems. With the emergence of nanotechnology, engineered nanomaterials, such as fullerene and carbon nanotubes, will likewise find their way into natural waters. Understanding the aggregation behavior of these nanoparticles is important for predicting their transport, reactivity, and bioavailability in aquatic environments. This presentation will focus on the role of solution chemistry in the aggregation kinetics of iroiron oxide (hematite) and fullerene (C60) nanopatricles. The early stage aggregation kinetics of these nanoparticles have been investigated via time-resolved dynamic light scattering (DLS), under various solution chemistries (monovalent and divalent cations, and presence of polysaccharides and humic acid) Supported by TEM and AFM measurements, the mechanisms of nanoparticle aggregation are elucidated. In addition to the aggregation kinetics data, recent work on the interaction of carbon nanotubes with bacterial cells will be described.
Prof. Elimelech is the Roberto C. Goizueta Professor of Environmental and Chemical Engineering at Yale University. In 2006, he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering and in 2005 was awarded the Athalie Richardson Irvine Clarke Prize, perhaps the most prestigious award in the US for researchers in the water quality and water resources.
This event is presented by the UCLA Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering and the CNSI Nanotoxicology Seminar Series in conjunction with WMH. |
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May 22, 2007
Luis Echegoyen
Division Director, Chemistry
National Science Foundation
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| Chemical and Electrochemical Properties of Endohedral and Multilayer Fullerenes |
| Trimetallic nitride endohedral fullerenes ( M3N@C2n,
M=Sc, Y, Er, Gd, etc and n=34-44) were serendipitously discovered in
1999 and constitute a very interesting class of compounds. The interplay
between the nature of the endohedral cluster and the exohedral chemical
properties has turned out to be a rich field with unanticipated results.
Reactions that work well on a given carbon cage (C80) with one metallic
cluster completely fail when the metal is changed. Other reactions show
different regiochemistry as a function of the encapsulated metal
cluster. Somewhat surprisingly, different isomeric forms (for example,
Ih and D5h symmetry Sc3N@C80 ) exhibit totally
different redox properties and these have been used as the basis for a
separation method. The redox of many of these compounds show
irreversible behavior, but the detailed mechanisms are still not well
understood, and probably involve EC processes within the carbon cage.
Electrochemical and ESR results are somewhat contradictory but can be
rationalized by invoking intracage chemical rearrangements.
Dr. Luis Echegoyen is the Division Director for NSF Chemistry (CHE). He
joined the National Science Foundation from Clemson University where he
served as Chair for the Department of Chemistry. Prior academic
experience includes serving as Associate Professor and Professor at the
University of Miami; Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of
Maryland, College Park; Assistant and Associate Professor at the
University of Puerto Rico and Postdoctoral Research Associate at the
University of Wisconsin at Madison. He also conducted research at Union
Carbide Corporation, Bound Brook, New Jersey. He received his Ph.D.
from the University of Puerto Rico.
Dr. Echegoyen maintains an active research program with interests
including Fullerene electrochemistry, monolayer films, supramolecular
chemistry, and spectroscopy; endohedral Fullerene chemistry and
electrochemistry; carbon nanoonions, synthesis, derivatization and
fractionation; and chemical and active cation transport through
membranes. He has published numerous research papers and books.
In addition, Dr. Echegoyen has extensive past experience with NSF,
including serving as a Program Officer in Chemical Dynamics Program; a
member of the Committee on Equal Opportunity in Science and Engineering
(CEOSE); and a member of the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Advisory
Committee. In addition, he has served as principal investigator for
several research grants supported by NSF.
www.nsf.gov/pubs/2006/nsf06055/nsf06055.jsp |
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May 17, 2007
Mark R. Wiesner
Duke University
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| Nanotoxicology Seminar - "Assessing the Risks of Nanoparticles: The Fullerene Example" |
Abstract:
Emerging technologies, including nanotechnologies, affect the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of our world, often in ways that are entirely unanticipated. There is considerable effort underway to explore uses of nanomaterials in applications such as membrane separations, catalysis, adsorption, and analysis with the goal of better protecting environmental quality. Along with the growth of a nanochemistry industry there is also the need to consider impacts of nanomaterials on environment and human health. Early work on nanomaterial exposure and toxicity has often focused on a relatively newly discovered allotrope of carbon referred to as fullerenes. Early data on potential fullerene exposure and toxicity are examined. |
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April 18, 2007
Mary Neu, Ph.D.
Download the Flyer
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| Actinide Chemistry in the Nuclear Energy Cycle: Separations Related to Fuels and Environmental Transformations of Plutonium |
| Special Seminar sponsored by the School of Public Health
Featured Guest: Mary Neu, Ph.D., Associate Director for Chemistry, Life, and
Earth Sciences at Los Alamos National Laboratory
Nuclear Power is an energy supply that can both reduce the U.S. dependence on
imported oil and gas and also reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. There are
several options to increase this power source. Each option has specific science
and technology needs, including the following: separations and process
chemistry for fuel production and (re)processing, nuclear chemistry advances
for safeguards and transmutation, and aqueous and materials chemistry for waste
storage and disposition. This seminar will include a very brief introduction to
chemistry in the nuclear cycle followed by recent fundamental actinide research
results that are relevant to actinide/lanthanide separations and the
environmental chemistry of plutonium and other actinides. Special emphasis will
given to plutonium biogeochemistry and detailed interactions between plutonium
species and environmental bacteria.
Dr. Mary Neu is currently Associate Director for Chemistry, Life, and Earth
Sciences at Los Alamos National Laboratory. This 900-person organization
comprises the Bioscience Division, the Chemistry Division, and the Earth and
Environmental Science Division. Neu received B.S. degrees in chemistry and
mathematics from the University of Alaska and a Ph.D. in inorganic and nuclear
chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley. She has authored more
than 40 publications in refereed journals and reference books, and her research
expertise covers a wide variety of actinide and non-actinide science. Her
scientific interests include transuranic speciation; solution thermodynamic and
kinetic studies; f-element coordination chemistry; and the environmental
behavior of actinides; biogeochemistry; and environmental science.
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April 06, 2007
See Agenda for Speaker Listing
DNA:Splicing
Nanocapsules
Agenda
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| Symposium: Nanomedicine and Chemical Biology |
Synopsis: Nanoscience is the science of making things very small and creating machines and materials at the molecular or supra-molecular level. Novel applications of this multidisciplinary science promise to transform the future of medicine by providing new diagnostic devices, analytical tools, therapies, and drug-delivery vehicles. This exciting event will be held on the UCLA campus with experts from throughout the country presenting the latest scientific information on Nanotechnology related to Medicine.
Sponsored by: The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, The California NanoSystems Institute, and UCLA Extension.
Coordinators: Kenneth Bradley, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA, and Heather Maynard, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA.
General Information:
Early registration is highly encouraged. Registration is limited. To guarantee lunch and seating, you must pre-register. UCLA students, staff, and faculty may attend free of charge, but must pre-register.
Enrollment/Registration
Registration at the door subject to space availability.
Parking is available but limited in lot P7. All UCLA staff and faculty are encouraged to park in their designated lots and enjoy the walk to DeNeve Plaza in the northwest sector of UCLA. Click here for parking information and a campus map.
UCLA Extension is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN), Provider Number BRN# CEP 11952. This symposium is approved for 6.0 contact hours. |
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March 14, 2007
Andrew Jamison, Professor
Technology, Environment, and Society
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| Hubris or Hybrids? On the Cultural Assessment of Nanotechnology |
Guest Speaker: Professor Andrew Jamison, Technology, Environment, and Society from Aalborg University, Denmark
Abstract: As with many new technologies before they find their appropriate - and often inappropriate - uses in society the meanings of nanotechnology are still unclear. There is both a great deal of hype and a good deal of ignorance accompanying the emergence of this new field of research, and it can therefore be of some importance to attempt to provide a cultural assessment of nanotechnology. Drawing on a conceptual framework that he has developed with Mikael Hard in their recent book, Hubris and Hybrids. A Cultural History of Technology and Science (Routledge 2005), Andrew Jamison will discuss both the manifestations of hubris, as well as the processes of hybridization that will be necessary if nanotechnology is to have a meaningful presence in our societies. He will also present his own experiences bringing contextual knowledge into the education of nanoscientists and engineers as an example of hybridization. |
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February 12, 2007
Christoph Gerber Director of Scientific Communication, National Center of Competence for Nanoscale Science (NCCR) from The Institute of Physics, University of Basel, Switzerland
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| "AFM Technology beyond Imaging: Applications towards Personalized Medical Diagnostics" |
Abstract Description: Micro-fabricated silicon cantilevers arrays offer a novel label-free approach where ligand-receptor binding interactions occurring on the sensor generate nanomechanical signals like bending or a change in mass that is optically detected in-situ. We report the detection of multiple unlabelled biomolecules simultaneously down to picomolar concentrations within minutes. Differential measurements including reference cantilevers on an array of eight sensors enable sequence-specifically detection of unlabelled DNA and are suitable to detect specific gene fragments within a complete genome (gene fishing). Expression of detection of inducible genes and the detection of total RNA fragments in an unspecific background will be shown.
Ligand-receptor binding interactions, such as antigen recognition will be presented. Antibody activated cantilevers with sFv (single chain fragments) which bind to the indicator proteins show a significantly improved sensitivity which is comparable with SPR (Surface Plasmon Resonance).
In addition, this technology offers a broad variety of receptor molecules application such as e.g. membrane protein recognition, micro-organism detection, enantiomeric separation.
New coating procedures, enlargement of the active surface area by dendritic molecules as well as improvement of the receptor-cantilever chemical bond will be presented.
These new findings may lead to a novel individual diagnostic assay in a combined label-free GENOMICS and PROTEOMIC biomarker sensor (COMBIOSENS). |
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December 11, 2006
Jackie Ying
Executive Director
Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN)
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| Nanostructure Processing of Advanced Catalysts and Biomaterials |
Abstract Description:
Nanostructured materials are of interest for a variety of applications. This talk describes the synthesis and properties of two classes of nanostructured materials: nanoparticulate materials and nanoporous materials for catalytic and biomaterials applications. Nanoparticulate materials are made up of crystallites or particles of ~10 nm. They may be generated by various physical and chemical approaches with ultrahigh surface areas. Through controlled synthesis in reverse microemulsions, my laboratory has achieved complex oxide nanoparticles with ultrahigh thermal stability for the effective catalytic combustion of methane. This approach has also enabled us to derive polymeric nanoparticles for the glucose-sensitive delivery of insulin. Through chemical precipitation and additive dispersion, we have also attained nanocomposite systems as highly selective and sensitive semiconductor sensors, bioactive ceramic orthopedic implants, and efficient gene delivery vectors.
My laboratory is involved in the synthesis of novel nanoporous materials with tailored oxidation states, coordination chemistry and electronic structure. We have found that sol-gel processing can be combined with supramolecular templating agents in deriving well-defined mesoporous and microporous transition metal oxides (termed TMS). The compositional flexibility and pore size tailoring of the TMS molecular sieves open new possibilities for catalytic applications beyond the silicate-based zeolitic materials or mesoporous MCM-41. We have also attained mesocellular foams by using triblock copolymers and swelling agents in templating silicate precursors. These ultralarge-pore materials have been used to fixate organometallic ligands for the effective epoxidation, hydroxylation, Heck catalysis and asymmetric hydrogenation. The resulting heterogenized catalysts provide for excellent activity, enantioselectivity and reusability. |
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September 07, 2006
Tony James,
University of Bath
and
Steven Bull
University of Bath
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| Molecular Sensors Using Boronic Acids |
Professor Fraser Stoddart, CNSI Director, is hosting Professor Steven Bull, Department of Chemistry and Professor Tony James, Royal Society University Research Fellow both from the University of Bath of the United Kingdom.
Abstract: Much recent attention has been paid to the development of synthetic molecular receptors with the ability to recognise
selectively small molecules involved in biological pathways. Current projects within my group are aimed at improving the
selectivity and extending the range of molecules, which can be recognised using boronic acid based systems.
Click here to read and/or download the entire article.
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August 15, 2006
Professor Uri Banin
Institute of Chemistry & the Center for Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
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| Hybrid Metal-Semiconductor Nanoparticles |
Special Physical Chemistry Seminar Co-Hosted by CNSI
Guest Speaker: Professor Uri Banin, Institute of Chemistry & the Center for Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Abstract: An important frontier in nanocrystal synthesis is the growth of composites of different materials in the same nanostructure as means of increasing functionality. One particularly interesting combination of materials is that of a metal and semiconductor in the same nanoparticle where metal tips can provide anchor points for electrical connections and for self assembly.
We developed the growth of metal (Au) tips on the apexes of semiconductor (CdSe) rods, forming 'nano-dumbbells' (NDB's), via a simple chemical reaction. From the viewpoint of self-assembly they are equivalent to bi-functional molecules such as the di-thiols manifesting two sided chemical connectivity and the use of the tips for assembly is demonstrated. We also found that by increasing the concentration of gold in the reaction, rods with a metal tip on one side are formed. This process occurs by a unique ripening process as substantiated by experimental work and model calculations. The process leads to a transition from two to one sided growth.
Such systems manifest a unique model for a metal-semiconductor nanoscale junction. A fundamental and intriguing problem associated with such systems is the mechanical and electronic properties of the metal-SC nanojunctions. The electronic properties of metal-semiconductor nanojunctions were investigated by scanning tunneling spectroscopy of the gold-tipped CdSe rods and by electrostatic force microscopy. In STS sub-gap states at the metal-semiconductor interface were observed, while in EFM we see evidence for charge separation at the metal semiconductor interface. |
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May 23, 2006
Sergio Cova
IEEE-LEOS Distinguished Lecturer from Politecnico di Milano, Dip. Elettronica e Informazione
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| CNSI Special Seminar: Photon Counting Microdetectors and Their Applications |
Photon counting is the technique of choice for the ultimate sensitivity in optical signal measurements. Started and developed with photomultiplier tubes, it received new impulse from the introduction of microelectronic detectors, called Single-Photon avalanche Diodes SPAD.
They combine typical advantages of microelectronics (small size, high reliability, ruggedness and suitability to integrated systems) with improved basic performance (high photon detection efficiency, low dark-counting rate, picosecond photon-timing and high counting-rate capability).
The seminar will outline the evolution of SPAD devices and associated electronics and will illustrate some examples of recent applications, such as: analysis of DNA and proteins; single molecule spectroscopy; adaptive optics in modern telescopes; non-invasive testing of ULSI circuits.
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May 04, 2006
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| "Science Engineered by Art" Presentation by Fraser Stoddart |
The UCLA Science Faculty Research Colloquium Series is designed to promote interdisciplinary research and to be of interest to a general audience.
May 4, 2006 -Science Engineered by Art
Abstract:
What have Norse mythology, Christian iconography, Shinto shrines, the Charing Cross Underground Station in London, and Ballantine's beer from New Jersey got in common? They all have a symbol which mathematicians, who are into knot theory, would call a "six-three-two," also known as the Borromean Rings (BRs). Their proliferation on crests and statues, commissioned by the Borromeo family in 15th Century Tuscany, sealed the BRs' etymological fate. In addition to the BRs having made cultural inroads into art, theology and heraldry, the 20th Century witnessed the emergence of this six-node, three-component link on to the scientific scene in particle physics and molecular biology. In his UCLA Science Faculty Research Colloquium, Stoddart will relate how chemistry has just started to get in on the act with molecular BRs these past couple of years. By employing chemical synthesis in an unconventional manner, he will trace how molecular BRs - a chemical Gordian knot - have become ten-a-penny overnight. The tale illustrates Noel Coward's much quoted words, "The secret of success is the capacity to survive failure."
What do Moore Hall, Haines Hall and the Powell Library on the UCLA Campus have in common? Their walls and floors and ceilings are plastered with "four-two-one" knots, also known as Solomon Knots (SKs). This four-noded, two-component link is believed to contain all the wisdom of King Solomon: many cultures, including Stoddart's very own Celtic one, have adopted this emblem to represent knowledge. He will relate how ploutering about with the recipe for making molecular BRs produces molecular SKs. Just how and why remains a mystery to be solved.
Ask Stoddart the question, what are these molecular BRs and SKs good for and the answer is he doesn't know yet. What he can claim, however, is that history has a habit of repeating itself. Some 18 years ago, his group made their first "two-two-one" knot, also known as a catenane, i.e., a two-node, two-component link. Bistable analogs, and close relatives of this mechanically interlocked molecular compound, wherein one of the two links - the one responsible for bistability - is broken and blocked at each end, provide access to nanometer-scale switches. In this simple molecular abacus, which is called a bistable rotaxane, the surviving link can be induced to move between two different stations, realizing the ON/OFF states of the switch in the appropriate device setting. By feats of engineering from the top down, these bottom-up assembled bistable rotaxanes have been used successfully to create molecular random access memory (RAM) at a density that is well beyond 2020 on the semiconductor industry's roadmap.
Fraser Stoddart is Director of the California NanoSystems Institute, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and holds UCLA's Fred Kavli Chair in Nanosystems Sciences. He is internationally renowned for his research in molecular electronics - using molecules on the nanoscale as switches in computers and other electronic devices - and artificial molecular machines - using linear motor-molecules in nanochemomechanical and nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS). Fraser is a pioneer in the making and harnessing of the mechanical bond in chemistry. His Colloquium is titled "Science Engineered by Art."
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