Physical Sensors & Devices

Biologics are antibodies produced by genetically engineered cells and are widely used in therapeutic applications. Examples include pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and atezolizumab (Tecentriq), both employed in cancer immunotherapy as checkpoint inhibitors to restore T-cell immune responses against tumor cells [1]–[2]. These biologics are produced by engineered cells in bioreactors, followed by extraction, filtration, purification, and separation, before being packaged into drug vials and shipped to hospitals for patient treatment. The production of monoclonal antibodies by cells is highly...

Current clinical practice for detecting low-concentration molecular biomarkers requires sending samples to centralized labs, leading to high costs and delays (Fig. 20.3.1). Recent developments in molecular diagnostics thus aim to enable point-of-care (POC) detection directly at or near the patient's location [1]–[2]. The most successful POC technology to date is the paper-based lateral-flow assay (LFA) [3]–[4]. Examples include pregnancy tests that sense progesterone and SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests. However, paper-based assays generally provide binary results or limited quantitative...

3D printing offers unprecedented control over the design and fabrication of functional materials with complex architectures. In this project, we focus on developing textured ceramic structures using advanced 3D printing techniques. By engineering the resin formulation and printing process, we aim to align ceramic grains along designed orientations, enabling anisotropic properties tailored for transducer applications. The study will reveal the processing–structure–property correlations of textured ceramics, demonstrating how controlled grain orientation alignment and microstructural...

Texture sensing and feedback are critical milestones for unlocking truly dexterous robotics, advancing human-machine interaction, and enhancing teleoperation tasks. While existing systems utilizes pneumatics, vibration motors and other elementary methods to provide basic feedback, they lack the capability to translate data into rich, high-resolution haptic displays required to replicate the nuanced spectrum of human touch. Here, we aim to develop the first-ever fabrics capable of both high-fidelity contact sensing and reproducing touch experiences with the resolution and complexity of...