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The goals of our Center are to develop the next generation of sensor devices and provide the training necessary for future advances in sensor technology. Our program educates, and motivates participating students and post docs to a career in sensor technology and nanotechnology. We have built new interdisciplinary and collaborative research groups, and our lab focuses on several core areas of research:

We are developing non-invasive devices, amplified bioassays, and disposable strips to better and earlier diagnose diseases. Particular attention is given to enzyme electrodes for minotoring glucose in connection to the management of diabetes. The health of every individual is the result of a myriad of genes, molecules and organ systems functioning in a coordinated, optimal state. Any deviation in this state can commence the disease process, and sensors that can detect subtle changes in the variable state or conditions for a seemingly unlimited array of metabolic processes hold the key to our long term health and disease diagnostics.

We focus on new nanomaterial-based electrochemical biosensors. Such devices rely on new nanoparticle-based signal amplification and coding for bioaffinity assays, carbon-nanotube molecular wires for achieving efficient electrical communication with redox enzymes and nanowire-based label-free DNA and protein sensors. The sensitivity of these devices is capable of detecting femtomolar and picomolar concentrations of analytes.

We are developing a wide range of highly sensitive remote and submersible sensors, designing real-time flow analyzers and detectors, and compact instruments for in situ and continuous monitoring of major contaminants, ranging from toxic metals (e.g. mercury, arsenic, lead, cadmium) to organic pollutants (e.g. pesticides, phenols, hydrazines). Such devices allow rapid field screening, assessment of the fate of polluntants, and of related remediation processes. Similar devices can be applied for improved industrial process control.

The upsurge in terrorist activity has generated tremendous demands for innovative tools capable of detecting major explosives and chemical warfare agents. Our effort aims at developing field-deployable microanalyzers for protecting the safety of society, for ensuring our food safety, and protecting our water supplies.

Microchip devices will aid in the detection of explosive compounds and chemicals, expanding the sensing capabilities to include newly emerging, improvised explosives and biological agents. The development of microfabricated, microfluidic, analytical devices and integrating multiple sample handling processes with the actual measurement step represents the fastest developing field in analytical chemistry. Such devices, referred to “lab-on-a-chip” devices, offer tremendous potential for obtaining the desired forensic information in a faster, simpler and cheaper manner compared to traditional laboratory-based instruments.

We are developing “lab on a chip” systems based on a capillary electrophoresis electrochemical detection (CE-EC) for the field monitoring of organic and ionic explosives to counter terrorism. Simultaneous microchip measurements of chemical and biological warfare agents are being examined.

We have also developed disposable sensor strips, a submersible sensor on a cable or underwater vehicle platform for on-site electrochemical detection measurements of TNT, RDX and other explosives in order to detect underwater mines and are now adapting it for terrestrial applications. The next stage in our research is to develop air detection system for explosives and chemical agents.

Nanobioelectronics is a rapidly developing field aimed at integrating nano- and biomaterials with electronic transducers. Our interests include: the bioelectronic detection of proteins and nucleic acids; self-assembly of nanostructures, nanoparticle-based bioassays, design of novel composite nanowires, bionanomaterials; magnetically-controlled electrode processes and bioelectrocatalytic transformations, bio-inspired nanomotors, and electrocatalytic interfaces to biofuel cells.

The development of microscale (chip-based) separation devices, particularly micromachined capillary electrophoresis (CE) chips, have witnessed an explosive growth in recent years. Such miniaturized devices represent the ability to shrink conventional "bench-top" separation systems with the major advantages of speed, cost, portability, and solvent/sample consumption. As the field of chip-based separation microsystems continues its rapid growth, there are urgent needs for developing compatible detection modes. Much of the work on CE microchips uses laser-fluorescnce detection. Yet, such detection requires a large and expensive supporting optical system, and is limited to analytes that fluoresce are amenable to derivitization with a fluorophore. Electrochemistry offers a considerable promise for detection in micromachined CE chips. Such detection offers remarkable sensitivity (comparable to that of fluorescence), tunable selectivity, and low-volume requirements. Particularly attractive for on-chip applications is the inherent miniaturization of electrochemical devices (and of the control instrumentation), their low-power requirements, extremely low cost, and high compatibility with advanced micromachining and microfabrication technologies. We are exploring on-chip enzymatic assays and interfacing microchips with the macroworld (world-to-chip interface).

This is an emergent area of research in our lab, relying on our expertise in electro- and chemical sensors, catalysts, and development of electrocatalytic surfaces. These can be applicable to many components of fuel cells as well as enzyme-based biocatalysts. Our goal is to improve the efficiency of the biofuel cell by enhancing the biocatalytic processes via more efficient electron transfer between the electrode and biocatalyst.