| Nanoplasmonics and Nanophotonics for Biomolecular Detection and Manipulation |
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| Our understanding of biological systems is increasingly dependent on our ability to visualize and measure biomolecules and biological events with high spatial and temporal resolution, within the context of a living cell. In this regard, the development of cellular and molecular imaging techniques is of considerable interest in many areas of research, from molecular and cellular biology to medical diagnostics and molecular medicine. Nanoplasmonic probes offer multiple advantages over traditional molecular imaging techniques: stability, biocompatibility, selectivity, and spectroscopic imaging capability. Furthermore, by visualizing nanoplasmonic probes within a cell, we obtain snapshots of what we refer to as the Cellular Galaxy. By focusing on a specific probe within this “galaxy” we can probe localized biochemical structural and kinetic data from each of the nanoplasmonic light sources, which are function as explorable “stars” in the living cellular environment. |
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 Plasmon Resonance Energy Transfer (PRET) Probes |
 Nanocrescent SERS Probes |
 Localized Optical Control of Gene/Protein Expression |
 Nanoplasmonic Ruler |
 Nanogap Label-free Biomolecular Probes |
 Nanomechanical Force Gauge |
 Core-Satellite Nanoparticle Biosensors |
 Bio-Inspired Nanocorals as Cellular Probes |
 Plasmon Enhanced Particle-Cavity (PEP-C) Architectures |
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| Microfluidic Devices for Quantitative Biology |
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| Whereas nanoplasmonics offers many solutions for molecular detection and manipulation, to complete our goal of developing tools for quantitative biology, we are designing microfluidic systems that allow for highly controlled cellular experimentation. To this end, Biological Application Specific Integrated Circuits (BASICs) provide a realistic solution for the systematic and quantitative study of cell and molecular biology. By miniaturizing biological experiments into modular microfluidic devices, advanced experimental platforms can be assembled from individual components. Analogous to the electronic parts that compose a circuit, BASICs can be integrated into innovative microfluidic “circuits” for the creation of novel biological experiments. We are creating a library of these building blocks to develop the foundation for a complete system of quantitative cell biology experimentation on a chip. We have already developed the critical modules of microfluidic BASICs: a cell culture array, cell lysing system, single cell trapping array, patch-clamp array, single cell electroporation array, and more. We believe that further developing the library of existing BASICs and integrating them for novel experimental platforms will revolutionize research in quantitative cell biology. |
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 Cell Culture Array |
 Large-scale Single-cell Analysis Device |
 Electrochemical Cell Lysis Chip |
 Nanoknives for Mechanical Cell Lysis |
 Integrated Cell Culture & Lysis Chip |
 Microfluidic Self-assembly of Tumor Spheroids |
 Cell-cell Communication Device |
 Integrated Multiple Patch-clamp Array |
 Microfluidic Electrophysiology |
 Fast Solution Exchange Microfluidic Device |
 Microarray for Total Internal Reflection Fluorescent Microscopy (μTIRFM) |
 Electrothermally-actuated SU8 Microgripper for Single-cell Manipulation |
 Electrophysiology-Activated Cell Sorting (EPACS) |
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| Point-of-Care Diagnostics for Global Health |
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| We are leveraging microfluidics, nanoplasmonics, and portable electronics to develop technologies for molecular diagnostics in the developing world. |
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 Microfluidic Bioamplification Reader (MicroBAR) for Pathogen Genotyping |
 Stand-alone self-powered integrated microfluidic blood analysis system (SIMBAS) |
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| Biologically-inspired Optical Systems |
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| We are furthermore taking advantage of our ability to fabricate microscale systems in order to develop biomimetic devices, such as an artifical compound fly eye. We are particularly interested in taking advantage of biologically-inspired optics in order to miniaturize microscopy and multiplexing for molecular detection and regulation in microfluidic devices. |
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 Biomimetic Spider Silk Gland |
 Artificial Compound Eye |
 Tunable Spherical Retina |
 Microfluidic Doublet Lens Array |
