Nano-electronic devices are powerful tools in developing ultrasensitive biosensor and electronically modulating biological systems.Currently, it is of great interest to drive the sensitivity down to a handful of molecules or single molecule level, providing highly sensitive quantitation method to study enzymatic activities, molecular distribution and transportation. In addition to uni-directional signal transport in biosensor, bi-directional communication between biological system and electronic devices will enable controling over bio-system with electrical stimulation. This exciting yet challenging field largely relies on the development of nanoelectronic devices, since manipulation of individual biomolecule is often required in order to study the energy transferring and kinectics involved across the biomolecule-solid device interface.
The Bai group aims to understand the physical and chemical nature of biomolecularinteraction with electronic devices at molecular level, design new device based on the bio-inorganic hybrid structure enabled by nanofabrication and site-direct bioconjugation, and explore the application in the field of DNA sequencing, immunoassay, high-throughput drug screening and human-machine interface.
(1)Hybrids bio-nanoelectronics for single molecular sensing and DNA sequencing: We are developing a group of hybrid bio-nanoelectronic devices by locally conjugating DNA-processing enzyme onto the sensor head of VLSI based nanoelectronics. Taking advantage of the single nucleotide resolution from DNA process enzyme and the merit of scalable fabricated nanosensor device, the hybrid bio-nanoelectronic device may open up new avenue towards new generation of DNA sequencing and molecular diagnosis platform.
(2)Develop biomolecular patterning scheme for multiplexing biomolecular sensor and drug discovery.Patterning biomolecule surface has many possibilities in multi-target assay, drug screeningand cellular engineering. As the first step towards the sophisticated bio-machine interface study, sub-micron scale level substrate patterning technique with affinity to specific biomolecule is undoubtedly the foundation for structuring and interface engineering of biology-solid device interface.We are developing 2D biomolecular patterning scheme based on soft-polishing technique upon concaved sub-micron structure. These techniques will not only render a potential breakthrough in DNA/protein assay application, but also pave the way to site-direct conjugating bio-active molecule to the sensor head of nanoelectronics for building a new generation of hybrid bio-nanoelectronic device.
(3)Electronic modulated biological system. We are constructing nanopore and nanogapdevicesof directly interaction with locally immobilized biomolecules. The electrical modulated biological function is achievable by stimulating the molecule with direct electric field force or indirect mechanical force exerted by tethered charged polymers. The understanding of electrical modulation of enzyme activity will guide the design of active device to control chemicals level in human body. As a model system, we are studying the electrical modulation of neurotransmitter metabolism for implantable medical application.
The Bai group aims to understand the physical and chemical nature of biomolecularinteraction with electronic devices at molecular level, design new device based on the bio-inorganic hybrid structure enabled by nanofabrication and site-direct bioconjugation, and explore the application in the field of DNA sequencing, immunoassay, high-throughput drug screening and human-machine interface.
(1)Hybrids bio-nanoelectronics for single molecular sensing and DNA sequencing: We are developing a group of hybrid bio-nanoelectronic devices by locally conjugating DNA-processing enzyme onto the sensor head of VLSI based nanoelectronics. Taking advantage of the single nucleotide resolution from DNA process enzyme and the merit of scalable fabricated nanosensor device, the hybrid bio-nanoelectronic device may open up new avenue towards new generation of DNA sequencing and molecular diagnosis platform.
(2)Develop biomolecular patterning scheme for multiplexing biomolecular sensor and drug discovery.Patterning biomolecule surface has many possibilities in multi-target assay, drug screeningand cellular engineering. As the first step towards the sophisticated bio-machine interface study, sub-micron scale level substrate patterning technique with affinity to specific biomolecule is undoubtedly the foundation for structuring and interface engineering of biology-solid device interface.We are developing 2D biomolecular patterning scheme based on soft-polishing technique upon concaved sub-micron structure. These techniques will not only render a potential breakthrough in DNA/protein assay application, but also pave the way to site-direct conjugating bio-active molecule to the sensor head of nanoelectronics for building a new generation of hybrid bio-nanoelectronic device.
(3)Electronic modulated biological system. We are constructing nanopore and nanogapdevicesof directly interaction with locally immobilized biomolecules. The electrical modulated biological function is achievable by stimulating the molecule with direct electric field force or indirect mechanical force exerted by tethered charged polymers. The understanding of electrical modulation of enzyme activity will guide the design of active device to control chemicals level in human body. As a model system, we are studying the electrical modulation of neurotransmitter metabolism for implantable medical application.