Program Overview

Overview

The Biomolecular Engineering and Nanomedicine program focuses on lab-on-a-chip biosensors, point-of-care devices, microfluidic manipulation and detection of biomolecules, bacterial mammalian cells, bionanotechnology, and delivery of diagnostic and therapeutic molecules.

Research Interests

The program's research efforts apply innovations of microfluidics and nanotechnology for disease diagnostics, drug screening, and tissue engineering.

Biosensors and BioMEMS

Research in this field spans from lab-on-a-chip, lab-on-a-disk, organ-on-a-chip, to micro- and nano-sensors. The goal is to apply innovations of microfluidics and nanotechnology to study biomolecular interactions and understand cellular heterogeneity. This knowledge is expected to lay the foundation for future medicine in diagnostics and therapeutics.

• Biosensors and BioMEMS:
  • Research areas include lab-on-a-chip, lab-on-a-disk, organ-on-a-chip, micro- and nano-sensors.
  • Affiliated Faculty Members:
    • Megan Yi-Ping HO, Assistant Professor
    • Research Interests: DNA nanosensors, droplet microfluidics, diagnostics of infectious diseases, single cell analysis, 3D culture

Dissection of Basic "Nano-Bio" Interactions

The research group emphasizes the importance of dissecting basic interactions of nanoparticles with biological structures across organ, tissue, and cell levels.

1. Organ-level distribution
2. Tissue-level distribution
3. Cellular-level distribution

Optogenetics Overview

Optogenetics involves optical control of intracellular processes to understand relevant mechanisms and develop novel therapies. Methodology is based on protein-protein interactions, using light-induced interaction of photosensitive proteins to actuate target proteins and control biological processes.

Advanced Nanomaterials & Microrobotics Laboratory

Research interests include micro-
anofabrication, micro-
anomachines and their biomedical applications, nanotechnology, microfluidics, nanorobotic manipulation and self-assembly, and nanomaterials for energy storage and environmental applications.

Facilities

The program has access to various facilities, including:

• Bionanotechnology Lab
• Nikon confocal optical microscope
• Spectra-Physics Ti-Sapphire Femtosecond Laser System
• 875nm Raman Microscope
• Hitachi Transmission Electron Microscopes (TEM)