Research Platform Technologies

1) Micro/nano droplet, particle, vesicle generation in microfluidic channels

2) Integrated microfluidics with embedded electrodes

3) Microfluidic components and technologies: pumps, valves, mixing, ---------------------------characterization techniques, etc.

Research Projects

1) Advanced Prosthetics: Synthetic Hand
----a. Physiology of the human touch sensors (Fisher and Tseng)
----b. Biomimetic synthetic tactile sensors (Jeff Fisher)
----c. Polymer microfabrication techniques for tactile sensors (Tim Tseng)-------

2) Advanced Biosensors:
----a. Electrical Protein Sensing Array for Portable Diagnostics (Armando Tovar)
----b. Biomolecular sensing using SERS and Molecular Beacons (Albert Hsieh)
----c. Biomolecular sensing to sense and probe cellular activities in vivo (Albert Hsieh)----

3) Microbubbles for ultrasound imaging contrast agents (Kanaka Hettiarachchi)-------

4) Predifferentiation sorting of neural stem cells (Lisen Wang)

5) Cell encapsulation for bioassays, cell-based therapeutics, and tissue engineering

6) Synthesis of nanoparticles and novel materials for therapeutics
----a. PLGA nanoparticles for biotherapeutics (Jason Hung)
----b. Synthetic polymeric antibodies by molecular imprint technology (Jason Hung)

Research Tools

Our group makes extensive use of the UCI Integrated Nanosystems Research Facility (INRF):

• Wet bench stations with laminar flow hoods
• Photoresist spinners
• Karl Suss contact aligner & UV photoresist exposure
• E-beam evaporator
• Alpha-Step & Dektek 3 surface profilers

BioMINT Lab Microscopes & Cameras:

• Nikon TE2000 inverted fluorescent microscope
• Nikon Eclipse L150 upright high resolution microscope
• General microscope for basic usage and alignment
• High speed gray-scale camera
• High resolution color camera

Syringe Pumps:

• Harvard Apparatus, Pico Plus model

CNC Machine

Function Generators, Amplifiers, Oscilloscope

PDMS Station

Laminar Hood & Plasma Machine

Ovens: 60 and 120 degree C

Chemical Fume Hood