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Research - Overview
While we have seen great advances in chemical/biological sensing, health screening, and diagnostics in recent years, there are still some great challenges that remain to be addressed. The relevant antigen (target) concentration for various disease states often challenges the limits of detection of current technologies. The complexity of real-world samples such as blood, urine, saliva or food makes the detection of a specific disease biomarker or pathogen challenging, requiring complex sample preparation procedures. Also, the success of a sensing technology will be impacted by cost and ease of deployment in non-standard settings such in third world areas or even for bedside diagnostics. We seek to address these issues from four fronts:
- Biosensing: Development of novel assays and detection/characterization technologies
- Lab-on-a-Chip: Implementation of sample manipulation, separation and concentration platforms
- Science: Establishing a fundamental understanding of the science relevant to each sensing platforms
- Technology: Providing new quantitative measurement capabilities for conducting basic research in biology, chemistry and physics
Ongoing projects
Single cell studies with on-chip microfluidic volume sensors Microfluidic impedance-based single-cell volume sensing is a powerful technique capable of sizing micrometer-sized biotargets, such as bacteria and mammalian cells. This technology relies on the Coulter principle, whereby transiting microtargets flow through an electric field and displace their own volume of ions, leading to a precise measurement of their size. Recently, we published an article in Lab on a Chip detailing efforts to render such technology tuneable over a wide range of particle sizes. Interests include cell sorting with pneumatic valves and long term volume monitoring of cells in a pressure-driven trap. Scientist: Jason Riordon |
Multiplexed protein detection for disease diagnostics using nanopores This research focuses on the detection and quantification of biomolecules using solid-state nanopores. By studying changes in ionic current as single molecules are pulled electrophoretically through a nanopore, a surprisingly large amount of information can be inferred. My aim is to develop novel techniques that use this information for the detection of target biomarkers from a tissue sample for the fast, inexpensive and bedside diagnosis of diseases. Scientist: Eric Beamish Collaborator: Professor Tabard-Cossa |
Integrated Nanopore Sensor in Three-Dimensional Microfluidic Devices for Single-Molecule Detection The major goal of this research is to design and fabricate a systematic approach to integrate nanopores with a three-dimensional microfluidic device which can be an effective way to reduce dielectric noise. Scientist: Radin Tahvildari Collaborator: Professor Tabard-Cossa |
Controlled encapsulation of Single cells into monodisperse picoliter drops We are developing a scalable microfluidics based manufacturing process for single cell cocooning. Cells will be encapsulated individually into monodisperse agarose gel cocoons of picoliter size. The goal is to use these cocooned cells in a clinical trial with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) patients. Novel biomimetics and bionanoparticles will be incorporated into the cocoons to increase cell viability and enhance cellular engraftment to the tissues of interest. Scientists: Nicolas Catafard Collaborators: Professor Harden , Dr. Stewart , Dr. Courtman |
On-chip stretchable decive for Morophological cell study We have developing a microfluidic device capable of stetching cells at the micro-scale biaxially. This microdevices will all for the conditioning of cells for regenerative medicine applications. Scientists: Dr. Dominique Tremblay , Sophie Chagnon-Lessard and Dr. Maryam Mirzaei Collaborator: Professor Pelling |
Completed projects
An investigation on transition modes of Gravitational field-flow fractionation in micro fluidic channels Field-Flow Fractionation (FFF) is a broad class of separation techniques designed to separate everything from colloids to macromolecules to cells. Gravitational field-flow fractionation (Gr-FFF) uses the Earth’s gravity as the external field and is relatively simple in principle and operation. In this research, we investigated on transition between modes that happen based on size of micro particles. Scientists: Radin Tahvildari and Tyler Shendruk Collaborator: Professor Slater |
Control the size and noise of solid-state nanopores using high electric fields A methodology was presented to prepare solid state nanopores that provides in situ control of size with sub-nanometer precision while simultaneously reducing electrical noise. The approach enables the recycling of previously used and clogged nanopores, as the process removes parasitic debris and/or physisorbed molecules . Scientist: Eric Beamish Collaborator: Professor Tabard-Cossa |
