Award details

Biophysical applications of scanning probe microscopy

Reference	BBS/E/F/02107055
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Victor Morris
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Quadram Institute Bioscience
Department	Quadram Institute Bioscience Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	214,990
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/1997
End date	31/03/2000
Duration	36 months

Abstract

This project is concerned with the development and biophysical applications of the scanning probe microscopy methods of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) to problems relevant to food and agriculture. AFM will be used to probe the molecular structure of hydrated plant cell walls. Such studies will be used to investigate the effects of selective and sequential extraction of cell wall components, the effects of physical proceesing and the effects of enzymic processing on the structure of the cell wall. Methodology will be developed in order to try to observe real time enzymic breakdown of cell wall structure. Methodology will be developed in order to allow AFM to be applied to investigate the complex structures of interfacial films important for the stabilisation of foams and emulsions. The ultimate aim will be to visualise the molecular structure of single or multicomponent films and to use such images to explain the static and dynamical properties of these films as measured by conventional interfacial methods, or as predicted from computer simulations. New methodology will be developed for the phase imaging of complex biological materials, real time observation of enzyme action at surfaces and the crystallisation of biological molecules.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Agri-food (AF)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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