Spying on cells: Extracting the secrets of cell function and response: We believe that a compelling new research frontier exists in the basic science and engineering of sensing and actuation in biological systems and application of what is discovered as the basis for new bio-derived and bio-inspired technologies. Cellular BioMEMS research has been an area where tremendous growth in its applications has been observed. The reason for this growth lies in the flourishing of the life sciences, which coincided with the maturation of the MEMS field. We perform research at the intersection of biology and micro/nanotechnology, monitoring living cells in-situ to understand, characterize, and model functional behavior at the cellular and subcellular levels and exploring biosensor specificity and flexibility for distinct responses to different combinations of stimuli. Specifically, we develop technologies that enhance or enable the acquisition of information from within and around living cells.

Project Examples and Representative Publications

BioMEMS: Microsystems for Cellular Force Measurement
BioMEMS: Impedance Sensing for Cellular Response Studies
BioMEMS: Rapid Three-Dimensional Manufacturing of Microfluidic Structures

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