Research
Please visit the above links to have a more detailed look at our research projects. Below is a list of Centers that we are leading or affiliated with.
NSF MBM at UIUC - Miniature Brain Machinery
NSF STC EBICS at MIT/GT/UIUC - Emergent Behavior of Integrated Cellular Systems
NSF IGERT at UIUC - Cellular and Molecular Mechanics and Bionanotechnology
(download brochure)NIH Training Grant at UIUC - Midwestern Cancer Nanotechnology Training Center
(download brochure)NSF CiiT (I/UCRC) at UIUC - Center for Innovative Instrumentation Technology
NSF NSEC at OSU - Center for Affordable Nanoengineering for Polymeric Micro and Nanodevices
Research:
Electric Field Based Neuron Pattering Technologies: (Brain-on-a-chip) Single Neuron-Based Biosensors and Detectors:
Haldun Kufluoglu, Judy Grimmer*, Jeff Uram,
Rashid Bashir, Riyi Shi*, Richard Borgans*
School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Department of Biomedical Engineering
*Center of Paralysis Research
The possibilities of interfacing neurons with nano-fabricated structures bring about very exciting opportunities to develop biosystems with a wide variety of applications. Even though the electrical impulses of a neuron has been studied for decades using micro-fabricated devices, a fundamental issue in the development of such systems remains outstanding, i.e. the ability to reliability pattern neurons at specific locations and in specific topologies such that they remain viable and make connections with neighboring neurons. If the cells can be selectively placed where needed, then site specific electrical signals can be detected from individual cells and high sensitivity detectors can be realized since a very small amount of toxins will be needed to affect a single cells. We envision a micro/nano-fabricated system where neurons have been defined and placed in closed 3-D channels and wells, electrodes and transistors are fabricated and integrated within the channels, and nutrients are supplied to the cells to keep them alive. The neurons will be patterned using electrical field induced directional growth of the processes. The electrical activity of these cells would be examined along with their metabolic activity and the changes in the electrical activity would be studied under the exposure to toxic chemicals and bio-warfare agents.
 Cells adhere on photoresist |
 Cells on 20um wide PR lines |
Funded by Army Research Office/Crane Naval Research Labs.