BioMEMS

Research that includes:

  • Immunosensors
  • Single Cell Analysis
  • Cell Manipulation and Probing
  • SERS BioImaging
  • Micro Total Analysis Systems uTAS
  • DNA Transformations
  • Cell Cryropreservation
  • Optoelectronic Transport & Tweezers

LPL42: Multifunctional Nano-Crescent Probes for Molecular Imaging of Intracellular Signaling Pathway

Gang L. Liu
Jaeyoun Kim
2006

The main goal of this project is to develop novel multifunctional nano-crescent probes with tunable plasmon resonance wavelength, high local field enhancement factor, photothermal sensitivity and magnetic controllability that 1. Enable the real-time and long-term sensing of intracellular activities in response to different inputs with high spatiotemporal resolution; 2. Deliver drugs to desire locations in single cells and regulate drug release on demand. 3. Allow fast and high-throughput monitoring in microfluidic cellular chip.

Project end date: 08/01/06

LPL23: Nanogap Junction Capacitors For Biomolecular Detection

J. Tanner NevilL
Dino Di Carlo
Daniele Malleo
Jeonggi Seo
Cristian Ionescu-Zanetti
2006

The goal of this project is to develop a sensitive, label-free detection technology for biomolecular interactions using a format that can be made highly parallel and disposable. Nanogap sensors enable direct detection, without the need for fluorescent labeling, by using dielectric (or impedence) spectroscopy.

Project end date: 08/01/06

LPL37: Nanoplasmonic Genomics/Proteomics Chip

Gang L. Liu
Joseph C. Doll
2006

Based on the integrated plasmonic nanostructure array, a genomics/proteomics microchip will be built to identify unlabeled oligonucleotides and study the protein-protein interaction in a high-density array format. The multiplexing detection and high-throughput will be realized.

Project end date: 08/01/06

BPN302: Unconventional nanoplasmonic structures for photothermal applications

Jaeyoun Kim
Gang L. Liu
Yu Lu
2006

The local field enhancement associated with the plasmonic resonance in metallic nanostructures has attracted intense research interest for its role in a number of useful optical phenomena such as surface-enhanced Raman scattering. In reality, the surface plasmon resonance, or the collective oscillation of the nanostructure's electrons, inevitably relax some of its energy through phonon and generates heat. Some nanostructures turned out to be especially efficient in such photothermal energy conversion and found applications in thermotherapy of cancer and optically triggered drug...

BPN322: Microfluidic Multiplexed Cytokine Secretion Assay

David N. Breslauer
J. Tanner Nevill
2006

Diffusible molecules are a significant component of intercellular communication. Understanding the dynamics of the many cellular secretions in regulating multi-cellular systems is important in tissue engineering, drug discovery, and many other biomedical fields. We are developing a multiplexed microfluidic device that traps different secretions from a cell culture for use with fluorescent assays.

Project end date: 08/01/06

RTH/JDK3: Diatom-Inspired Microfluidic Generation of Tunable Emulsions for Macroporous Silica

Frank J. Zendejas
2006

Diatoms are unicellular algae that exhibit exquisite silica cell walls, frustules, made of amorphous silica. Research has shown that diatoms are capable of controlled precipitation of silica during cell division within a specialized membrane called the silica deposition vesicle (SDV). The precipitated silica forms the new shell for the daughter cell. It has been postulated that the diatom SDV contains an emulsion of organic macromolecules arranged in a regular pattern which serve as a template onto which silica is precipitated. Our goal of this project is to use a specially designed...

BPN342: Cell trapping array for cell-cell communication research

Liz Yir-shyuan Wu
2006

Intercellular communication between contact neighboring cells can cause change in morphology, gene expression and cell growth. Incomplete cell-cell communication is correlated with most forms of cancer. Many research efforts have been made to disclosure the molecular process through cell contact for regulating oncogenesis, but the answer is still poorly known. The technologies which can manipulate the time and location of the cell-contact are the exigencies in the field. Here we design a microfluidic device to trap specific number of cells in the array. For example, in two-cell trap...

LWL16: On-Chip DNA Transformation by Local Heat Shock and Cell Cryopreservation

Sha Li
2007

To develop DNA transformation by local heat shock and on-chip cryopreservation of cells with MEMS technology.

Project end date: 02/02/07

BPN313: Biologic Application Specific Integrated Circuits (BASICs) for the Selective Amplification of Cancer Cells and Harvesting Cancer Biomarkers

Yolanda Zhang
2007

To be updated Spring 07: The main objective of this project is to develop a nano- or microfluidic cell culture chip to enable the selective amplification of cancer cells in a physiological microenvironment. The completed platform has functions such as cancer cell separation, selective amplification of cancer cells, nanofluidic cell lysing devices, and harvesting cancer biomarkers. The BASIC for selective amplification of cancer cells will be effective devices for both research and clinical communities. The primary targets of this project are to standardize selective amplification...

LPL31: Soft-state Biomicrofluidic Pulse Generator for Single Cell Analysis

Poorya Sabounchi
2007

We are developing a novel soft state biochemical pulse generating microfluidic device is constructed from poly(dimethylsiloxane) for the kinetic analysis of single cells. Hydrodynamic cell trapping via lateral microfluidic junctions allows the trapping of single cells from a bulk suspension. Microfluidic injection sites adjacent to the cell-trapping channels enable the pulsed delivery of nano-liter volumes of biochemical reagent.

Project end date: 02/20/07