The goal of this project is to understand the forces on cells in microfluidic devices with certain geometries and precisely controlled forces in order to manipulate cells for biotechnology applications. This includes cell lysis for mTAS applications and poration for gene and large molecule delivery.
1Undergraduate (EECS)
The goal of this research is to make an ultra sensitive label-free DNA microarray by employing the nanogap dielectric junctions.
The goal of this research is to study various aspects of nanogap junctions and finally to make ultrasensitive biosensors using the nanogap junction.
The goal of this project is to integrate and qualify micro-optical systems with microfludic channels in order to advance the functions of micro total analytical systems (mTAS). The integrated microfluidic optical systems (iMOS) with planar optical systems have the potential to open a new period to mTAS because of low-cost, simple fabrication steps and aberration-free optical systems. We believe the iMOS provide a new paradigm of integrating optical systems to mTAS.
The XZR comb drive with electrostatic and thermal actuation will provide multi-DOF controllability and high frequency operation, and is an ideal candidate for optical MEMS applications. The simplicity of fabrication will provide an economical and robust process. The XZR multi-DOF comb drive-based micro-optical components will be tested for fast image scanning, optical tuning facility, and beam steering as well as high-resolution optical detection capability.
In this project, nanostructures will be batch fabricated and tested for their ability to enhance biological Raman signal in surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Ultimately, these structures will be integrated into an arrayed microfluidic network environment for dynamic and multiplexed identification and detection of trace amounts of biomolecule.
The goal of this project is to develop polymer-based actuators that can operate inside microfluidic systems and investigate their capabilities and limitations.
This project aims to develop a filtration system that can: (1) perform multi-stage bandpass filtration; (2) develop independent flow control at different filtration stages; and (3) be easily adapted to various BioMEMS layouts as a part of the sample preparation process for mTAS applications.
The goal of this project is to build a micro biosensor system for monitoring ions around a single cell, for example Na+, K+, Ca2+, H+, which can be used to monitor the single cell character.
The light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS) is an ion-sensitive biosensor which can detect activity images of a group of cells [1]. The biggest disadvantage of the conventional LAPS structure is the low spatial resolution. The conventional LAPS composes three flat layers: silicon, silicon dioxide, and silicon nitride from bottom to top. The spatial resolution issue is generated by minority carrier diffusion in the silicon. The new design patterns the silicon layer to form discrete pillars of LAPS on a flat conductive and transparent layer. The pillars block the carrier diffusion, leading to a better spatial resolution decided by the size of pillars.
The goal of this project is to build a single cell activity detection system composed of a microfluidic system, a LAPS, and a signal detection system. The minority carrier diffusion model is used to investigate the spatial resolution limitation for conventional LAPS, and it is improved to fit experimental results. The diffusion model under the short-base assumption is being researched to predict the photocurrent value of LAPS pillars. Fabrication processing is being discussed, and the experiment system is being built at the same time.
The goal of this project is to implement a MEMS confocal microscope based lab-on-a-chip system for single molecular detection using both silicon and polymer MEMS technology. Major challenges include the realization of a confocal imaging scheme to within a cubic millimeter in size and array type integration of the microscopes on top of the microfluidic network.
The goal of this research project is the investigation of the electronic properties of DNA by capturing and straightening DNA at nano-gap electrodes and the feasibility of DNA junction diodes.
The focus of this research project is the optimization of the tissue-to-device interface using nanopillars to reduce impedance and enhance biocompatibility and selectivity.