Address:
Joseph Wang, Director
Center for Bioelectronics and Biosensors
The Biodesign Institute
Arizona State University
1001 S. McAllister Ave.
P.O.Box 875801
Tempe, AZ 85287-5801

Phone:
(480) 727-0399
Fax: (480) 727-0412

AFFILIATIONS AND DOWNLOADS:
Department of Chemical Engineering

Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry

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Download Center Poster

Research

Facilities & Resources
Professor Wang's group has over 3000 ft² of space, located at the new Biodesign Institute building at ASU. These state of the art laboratories are well equipped with modern instrumentation and microfabrication tools. These include ten modern electrochemical (voltammetric and impedance) analyzers, 4 lab-on-chip systems, a liquid chromatograph, quartz crystal microbalance, numerous rotating disk electrodes, AFM and SECM scanning-probe systems, a SPR unit, three flow injection systems, small equipment (pH meters, balances, refrigerators, ovens, etc.), five full-sized hoods and normal glassware. Also located are a high-precision screen printer (MPM), spin coater, plasma cleaner, two Nikon optical microscopes (for microfabrication efforts) and a graphic station for advanced microfabrication, and numerous personal computers (for experimental control and data processing). Cold room and various bioanalytical instruments are also available in the Institute. Other resources include a machine shop, glass blowing facility, high-resolution electron-microscopy and scanning probe laboratory, and an electronic shop (all maintained by the Engineering and A&S Colleges).

Research Program
The BB center research activity focuses on the field of nanobioelectronic which is a rapidly developing field aimed at integrating nano- and biomaterials with electronic transducers.

Current research projects:

Nanoparticle-based bioassays.
Development of DNA and protein biosensors
Electrochemistry of nucleic acids and proteins
Detection of military and homemade explosives (Article: Chemical Technology)
Adaptive nanomaterials for ‘smart’ sensing.
Miniaturized analytical systems and microseparation (CZE) chips
Development of new detection schemes for microchip electrophoresis (such as conatcless conductivity detectors)

Biorecognition-induced formation of nanostructures
Application of nanomaterials for electrical assays
Preparation and characterization of novel nanowires
Protein & Sugar arrays
On-demand adaptive microships
Nanomaterial-based sensors
Implantable and minimally invasive Biosensors for glucose and lactate
Microfabricated enzyme electrodes
Remote sensors for environmental monitoring and security surveillance
Advanced chemical and biological recognition schemes
Tailored (catalytic and preconcentrating) surfaces
Hand-held microanalyzers
Automated flow systems and counter-terrorist detection
Magneto Controlled bioelectronics

Sensors
are small devices that provide real-time, on-site detection and analysis and often eliminate the need for sample collection, preparation and laboratory analysis. Such devices rely on the judicious and intimate coupling of a chemical or biological recognition layer and a physical transducer (e.g. electrode, fiber optic). The goal is to convert the selective chemical or biological recognition event into a useful electrical signal. The development of advanced chemical sensors and biosensors thus requires proper attention to both the recognition layer and the physical transducer, as well as to the coupling of these recognition and transduction events. We are exploring the fundamental aspects of the recognition and transduction events, developing and characterizing new coating materials and electrode transducers, designing new microfluidic chips and microsensors for clinical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, security, surveillance, or industrial process control, enhancing biodetection through the use of novel materials (e.g., nanowires, nanoparticles) and build compact instruments for field measurement.

SensoChip Links »

Microchips
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 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 or amenable to derivatization 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.

More Information on Microfabrication »

The research has been supported by numerous grants from various federal agencies (Millpore, NSF, NIH, CDC, EPA, DOE, NASA, Army, Navy, Sandia, USDA, ONR, Battelle, Dept. of Interior, Dept. of Justice) and industrial sponsors (Kodak, Dow, Dupont, Lifescan, IL, Cygness, Novo Nordisk, Pioneer, Medisense, ETG) and other organizations (ACS-PRF, American Heart Association).

Collaboration:

We are interested in collaborating with industrial or governmental partners for the development of solutions to practical, analytical and sensor problems. Our thick-film microfabrication facility also provides a tailor-made preparation of screen-printed electrodes.

Our research is constantly resulting in new patented technology which can be licensed. Please contact us for more details of how you can access our patents.

An underwater vehicle for tracking explosives