Research Areas

Thrust 1: Nanoscale Sensing and Signaling for Prosthetics

Focus is on using manmade nanostructures – including quantum dots, nanotubes, and electro-spun polymers – to sense in biological systems with nanometer spatial precision. Techniques include: chemically-directed self-assembly of nanostructures; preparation and functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes; developing carbon-nanotube-based chemical and biological sensors; developing quantum-dot-based sensors for biological applications. Monitoring action potentials in individual neurons on the nanoscale using biocompatible nanoprobes is a key goal within this thrust. This thrust includes nanoengineering efforts directed at the early detection of diseases using nanoprobes. The integration of manmade nanostructures with biological structures – including neurons – is emphasized in this thrust as a novel and potentially biocompatible approach to sensing neural signals on the nanoscale. The integration of nanoscale transistors with optoelectronic elements – including quantum dots – will be emphasized as a means of producing infrared signals for the transmission of neural signatures – e.g., action potential temporal profiles – via the transmission of infrared radiation through tissue to external receptors for prosthetic control. Key features of Thrust 1 include:

- Fabrication of Nanowires for Action Potential Measurements
- Integrated Nanoscale Field Effect Transistor (FET) - Quantum Dot (QD)   Phototransceivers for Signal Collection and Transmission
- Chemically-directed Nanowiring Techniques

Thrust 2: Nanoscale Sensing and Characterization for Cellular Nanoengineering

Focus is on maintaining an interdisciplinary setting wherein molecular biology and nanoengineering techniques are combined to revolutionize the study of biological processes on the nanoscale. Nanoscale drug delivery techniques and the study of drug delivery using nanoprobes are explored in conjunction with the alliance’s nanosensing thrusts. This thrust includes understanding the interaction of synthetic polymers and hydrogels with cells, and emphasizes the use of novel polymers and hydrogels for tissue engineering and chemotherapy as well as the activation of receptors by neurotransmitters released from temperature-sensitive hydrogels. An important subthrust of this effort will the fabrication of electro-spun polymer nanofibers, and nanotubes as well as the investigation of their uses in cellular nanoengineering. Key features of Thrust 2 include:

- Nanotopography: AFM and Confocal Microscopy
- Engineering and Nanoscale Characterization of the Extracellular Medium (ECM)
- ECM Nanoscale Topography Sensing of Normal and Diseased Cells
- Altering Cell-ECM Interactions with Manmade Nanostructures

Thrust 3: Nanodiagnostics for Biomedical Applications

Focus is on using manmade nanostructures for diagnostics at the nanoscale. Since more than 40% of the known human diseases are directly or indirectly related to dysfunctions in ion-channels (“nano-pores” of a cell), major effort under this thrust is the use of microelectronic and nanoelectronic devices integrated with nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMSs) to foster the revolutionary capability of measuring ion channel currents. The integration on manmade nanostructures with biological structures – including biomolecules – is emphasized in this thrust as a novel and potentially biocompatible approach to sensing in biological systems on the nanoscale. Novel nanoscale molecular structures integrated with manmade nanostructures will be designed to measure electrical potentials in biological structures as well as to monitor with ultra-high precision the presence of the specific biomolecules associated with each particular disease. Key features of Thrust 3 include:

- Nanoscale Diagnostic Systems --- Molecular Beacons, Voltage Sensitive   Nanostructures, Nanoscale Chemical Field-Effect Transistors (ChemFETs),   Nanoscale Ion Sensing FETs (ISFETs)
- Nanoscale Potential Profiling near Binding Sites
- Nanostructures for Detection of Disease-related Markers, Integrins, and
  Antigens
- Nanoengineered Structures for Infrared Emission
- Nanoconstructs for Targeted Drug Delivery