Development Of Low Temperature Biological Small Angle X-Ray Scattering, Cryosaxs, And Study Of Ice Formation In Aqueous Solutions

Other Titles
Abstract
This dissertation is based on the study of biological systems and aqueous solutions at low temperatures. The focus of the dissertation is on the continued development of low temperature biological small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), cryoSAXS. CryoSAXS is a new method for biological SAXS that involves cryocooling the sample to 100 K. At 100 K the sample is much more resistant to damage from X-rays, enabling use of volumes hundreds or thousands of times smaller than in conventional room temperature SAXS. This work was divided into three main pieces. First, we designed, microfabricated, and tested new small volume, fixed path length sample holder for use in cryoSAXS. Next, as a first step towards answering the question of how much the radiation tolerance of a sample increases upon cryocooling, we developed methods to quantify radiation damage to SAXS profiles and tested these using standard room temperature SAXS. Finally, we measured the radiation tolerance of cryocooled SAXS samples, and found that the cryocooling decreases the radiation sensitivity by three orders of magnitude. The last chapter of the dissertation describes ongoing work to develop time resolved cryoSAXS, and other outstanding questions in cryoSAXS. In addition to cryoSAXS, in a complementary research project we studied ice formation in aqueous solutions. In particular, we quantified the critical warming rate, the warming rate required to prevent ice formation upon warming a vitrified solution. This has particular relevance to biological cryopreservation, as ice formation can irreparably damage cryopreserved samples.
Journal / Series
Volume & Issue
Description
Sponsorship
Date Issued
2016-02-01
Publisher
Keywords
cryosaxs; small-angle x-ray scattering; ice formation
Location
Effective Date
Expiration Date
Sector
Employer
Union
Union Local
NAICS
Number of Workers
Committee Chair
Thorne,Robert Edward
Committee Co-Chair
Committee Member
Sethna,James Patarasp
Shen,Kyle M.
Pollack,Lois
Degree Discipline
Physics
Degree Name
Ph. D., Physics
Degree Level
Doctor of Philosophy
Related Version
Related DOI
Related To
Related Part
Based on Related Item
Has Other Format(s)
Part of Related Item
Related To
Related Publication(s)
Link(s) to Related Publication(s)
References
Link(s) to Reference(s)
Previously Published As
Government Document
ISBN
ISMN
ISSN
Other Identifiers
Rights
Rights URI
Types
dissertation or thesis
Accessibility Feature
Accessibility Hazard
Accessibility Summary
Link(s) to Catalog Record