We focus on integrating nanoscale elements of electronics, chemistry, and biology. Such nano-bio-engineering fusion may provide rare opportunities to explore new science and applications
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Nanolithography &
Nanofabrication
Nanolithography and nanofabrication is the primary area of this group. E-beam lithography, nanoimprint lithography, plasma etching, metal liftoff processes have been developed to make 5-100 nm structures in inorganic and organic materails. Metrology and stability of nanostructures are also studied. Diamold-like carbon or other stamp technologies are researched for better and cheaper imprinting.
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Funded by:
COSAR-"Next generation semiconductor technology – equipments/materials"
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Biomaterials for Nanomedicine
Combination of top-down nanoimprint lithography and bottom-up self-assembly is developed to make uniform and shape specific polymer nanoparticles or nanocapsules for nanomedicine applications. Molecular agents and drugs can be encapsulated in these polymer nanoparticle platforms for targetted drug delivery and ultrasensitive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of cancer.
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Funded by: Moncrief Foundation-“Multifunctional nanomedicine by top-down engineering"
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Nanostructures
for Tissue Engin.
Hot embossing and reversal UV nanoimprint are developed to make three-dimensional nanostructures as scaffolds for tissue engineering. By controlling geometry and surface chemistry of the nanoscaffolds, guided cell growth can be achieved towards tissue regeneration. The nanoscaffolds also serves as a testbed to study cell-substratrum interaction at the nanoscale.
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Funded by:
Texas Advanced Research Program
“Controlled cell growth on biomimetic multi-level nanoscale polymer scaffolds”
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Si NanoWire Bio-sensor
10-50 nm wide Si nanowires (SiNW) based field effect transistors (FETs) is been made using e-beam lithography metal liftoff, inductive coupled plasma etching on silicon-on-insulator wafers (SOI). Chemical receptors will be anchored on these SiNWs for label-free and rapid biosensing of proteins or other biospecies towards on-chip cancer diagnostics.
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Funded by: Texas Instruments Inc (Sponsored Research), and Lynntech Inc (SBIR)
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Organic Electronics
Making high-performance nanostructured polymer light emitting diodes and photovoltaic devices such as solar cells is another area of our group. Research is focused on development of low-cost manufacturing methods to make high-aspect ratio highly packed polymer nanostructures over large areas (>5 cm) on glass or plastic substrates.
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Funded by:
Air Force through AFOSR/Spring Program
“High-density nanoscale organic light emitting diodes by nanoimprint technology”
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