Micro & Nanosystems

MEMS sensors and actuators; nanofabrication materials, processes and devices; labs-on-a-chip; small-scale energy generation, storage and harvesting; microsystem medical devices and treatments; trust and security for nano-scale devices.

ISR researchers have developed nanoscale technologies for sensing and manipulation. These systems include biologically inspired cell-based sensors and biological and chemical sensing systems for toxin detection, micro-ball bearing and three-dimensional grayscale microfabrication technologies for microengines, microfluidic medical devices for detecting and treating biofilms, and ingestible capsules to sense and provide medication in the GI tract. Our research has contributed to advances in batteries, including a tobacco mosaic virus scaffold battery with high surface area and capacity, high-powered nanostructured 3D microbatteries, and carbon nanotube current collectors for aqueous battery systems.

Recent publications

2019

An Imaging Platform for Real-Time In Vitro Microscopic Imaging for Lab-on-CMOS Systems

Bathiya Senevirathna, Sheung Luhave, Elisabeth Smela, Pamela Abshire

The first real-time imaging platform that generates high-quality images of lab-on-CMOS systems in cell culture environments.

2019 IEEE Biomedical Circuits and Systems Conference (BioCAS)

2020

Capacitive sensing of triglyceride film reactions: a proof-of-concept demonstration for sensing in simulated duodenal contents with gastrointestinal targeting capsule system

George Banis, Ragendramayavan Sathyam, Luke Beardslee, Justin Stine, Reza Ghodssi

Describes an integrated ingestible capsule sensing system with triglyceride film-coated capacitive sensors that can measure biochemical species such as pancreatic lipase and bile acids in the duodenum. The microfabricated capacitive sensors communicate via a Bluetooth low-energy (BLE)-microcontroller, which allows wireless connectivity to a mobile app.

Lab on a Chip

Ingestible Sensors and Sensing Systems for Minimally Invasive Diagnosis and Monitoring: The Next Frontier in Minimally Invasive Screening

Luke Beardslee, George Banis, Sangwook Chu, Sanwei Liu, Ashley Chapin, Justin Stine, Pankaj Pasricha, Reza Ghodssi

This review examines the conventional techniques, as well as ingestible sensors and sensing systems that are currently under development for use in disease screening and diagnosis for GI disorders. Design considerations, fabrication, and applications are discussed

ACS Sensors

2019

Microsystems for Biofilm Characterization and Sensing—A Review

Sowmya Subramanian, Ryan Huiszoon, Sangwook Chu, William Bentley, Reza Ghodssi

A review that focuses on several types of microsystems for biofilm evaluation including optical, electro-chemical, and mechanical systems. This review will show how these devices can lead to better understanding of the physiology and function of these communities of bacteria, which can eventually lead to the development of novel treatments that do not rely on high-dosage antibiotics.

Biofilm

Virus-assembled technology for next-generation bioenergy harvesting devices

Sangwook Chu, Adam Brown, James Culver, Reza Ghodssi

Research into Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)-based assembly of glucose oxidase electrodes for the development of advanced enzymatic biofuel cells (EBCs).

PowerMEMS 2018: Journal of Physics Conference Series, IOP Publishing

2019

Incomplete ionization in aluminum-doped 4H-silicon carbide

Christopher Darmody and Neil Goldsman

An investigation of the degree of incomplete ionization of aluminum-doped 4H-silicon carbide. The research contributes to the advance of p-type silicon carbide (SiC) technology.

Journal of Applied Physics