Research, Funding and Equipment

1. Integrated Microdevices for Cellular and Molecular Studies

Cells are influenced mainly by a combination of mechanical,  chemical and electrical cues through their surrounding environment. These cues become particularly important when they are externally applied to the cells to conduct the cell response.  For instance,  how invading cancer cells can be inhibited by the cues to prevent metastasis, how an electrical signal can be externally applied to immune cells at the wound site to treat the wound and how the injured neural cells and axons can be stimulated by external cues for neural regeneration purposes. 

Although significant work has been carried out to find out the chemical stimulators for directing the cell migration or growth for therapy purposes, the effect of mechanical cues on regulating the cell response is still limited due to technical challenges. Our lab is focused on studying the effects of mechanical cues on cell response at both the single-cell and the high-throughput level by developing integrated microfluidic platforms. The major biomechanical parameters include the driving growth or migratory force,  the invasive force, the rigidity of the nucleus, the mechanical properties of cell membrane/ cell wall which can be addressed by integrated manipulating systems such as micro-needles, micro-constricts, microcantilevers, AFM  manipulators.  The effect of chemical and electrical stimulations on the biomechanics of the cells will also be investigated to find out how the mechanics of the cells can regulate the migratory or growth pattern of the cells or tissues for future therapeutic applications. The final stage is to employ the mechanical principles to develop theoretical and numerical cell models in order to predict the behavior of various cells in response to mechanical cues while the model is supported by the experimental data.

2. Biomimetic Tissue Models for Disease Modeling and Drug Discovery Applications

We intend to combine micro/nanotechnology and tissue engineering approaches to make organ-on-chip platforms with the applications in disease modeling, drug discovery, pharmacology and tissue engineering. We develop physiologically relevant innervated tissues, skin tissues, liver tissues, vascular tissues band tumor models y integrating multilayer microfluidic chips, tissue engineering principles, and integrated biosensors and biophysical sensors.  Computational models will also be coupled to the fabricated tissue to develop future predictive models. Achieving this goal would provide a tremendous advantage and reduce the need for numerous animal or human tests and will also have applications in developing therapies for injured tissues. In particular, we develop disease models like infection disease and brain injury models on chip.

3. Biosensors for Medical Diagnostics, Environmental Monitoring, and Food Safety

The BioMEMS and Bioinspired Microfluidics (BioMEMS) Laboratory will use the knowledge in microfluidics, micro/nanotechnology, surface chemistry, and cellular/molecular biology to develop innovative sensors and point-of-care devices and IVD tools for medical diagnostics with the particular focus on electrochemical sensors for detecting cancers, brain injuries, knee injuries, and infection. . This technology will also be adapted to develop portable devices for on-site detection of plant and food pathogens. We also integrate our biosensors into capillary microfluidics and centrifugal microfluidics to fully automate the sensing process. Our biosensors are also integrated into contact lens to measure diseases like dry eye, PD and AD.

4. Translational Research

Our research is translational with the focus on technology development for biomedical and energy applications. 

Critical Care Dx Ltd.

1.  MEMS Fabrication, Microfluidics & Integrated Chip Manufacturing

• PDMS fabrication and soft lithography setup
• Mask aligner (UV lithography)
• Full photolithography unit (UV exposure, development, baking)
• Spin coaters (photoresist, SU-8, polymers)
• Laser cutter (Trotec) for rapid prototyping of microfluidic layers
• Knife cutter / plotter cutter for polymer films and adhesive layers
• Roll-to-roll (R2R) manufacturing and lamination platform
• 3D printers:
  • FDM (rapid prototyping, fixtures, housings)
  • SLA (high-resolution microstructures)
• HMI screen printing systems (electrodes, conductive inks)
• Sputtering system (Au, Pt, Ti, Cr thin films)
• Plasma etchers and surface activation systems (PE75, Harrick)
• Plasma cleaner for bonding and surface modification
• Alignment and bonding stations (PDMS–glass, polymer–polymer)
• Thermal ovens (curing, baking, annealing)
• Vacuum oven
• Hot plates (digital temperature control)
• Dryer and desiccator stations
• Vacuum pumps and vacuum manifolds
• Precision dispensing systems (Sonoplot microplotter)
• Ultrasonic bath and probe sonicators (VWR, Thermo Fisher)
• Chemical fume hoods and wet chemistry stations
• Chemical storage cabinets (flammable, corrosive)
• Clean bench and assembly stations
• Optical inspection microscopes for chip inspection

2.  Biosensors, Diagnostics & Analytical Instrumentation

• Potentiostats and electrochemical workstations:
  • CV, DPV, SWV, EIS, chronoamperometry
• Multi-channel impedance analyzers
• sciFLEXARRAYER S3 dispensing and spotting system
• Nanomaterial synthesis and functionalization setup
• Nanoparticle synthesis reactors
• Nanoparticle Tracking Analyzer (NTA)
• UV–Vis spectrophotometer
• Fluorescence spectrometer
• Raman spectrometer (where applicable)
• SIMOA ultra-sensitive digital ELISA system
• Plate readers (absorbance / fluorescence)
• PCR and qPCR machines
• Gel electrophoresis and imaging system
• Blood collection and biosample handling station
• Analytical balances (micro and semi-micro)
• pH, conductivity, and ORP meters
• Magnetic stirrers and orbital shakers
• Vortex mixers
• Temperature-controlled incubators for assays
• Data acquisition and analysis workstations
• High-speed camera (microfluidics and droplet imaging)

3.  Cell Culture, Organ-on-Chip & Tissue Engineering

• Class II biosafety cabinets (cell and bacterial culture)
• Dedicated Class II cell culture room
• Dedicated Class II bacterial culture room
• CO₂ incubators (normoxic and hypoxic)
• Anaerobic chamber for gut microbiome studies
• Refrigerators and −20 °C / −80 °C freezers
• Liquid nitrogen storage (where applicable)
• Inverted bright-field microscopes
• Inverted fluorescence microscopes (multi-channel)
• Phase-contrast microscopy
• Live-cell imaging capability
• Centrifuges (bench-top and refrigerated)
• Ultracentrifuge
• Freeze dryer (lyophilizer)
• Homogenizer and tissue disruptor
• UV sterilization chambers
• Cell counting and viability analysis station
• Microfluidic perfusion systems
• TEER measurement systems (for barrier models)
• 3D bioprinter (hydrogels, bioinks, tissue scaffolds)
• Sterile filtration and media preparation systems

4. Electronics

• Oscilloscopes (high-bandwidth)
• Signal generators (function / arbitrary waveform)
• Vector network analyzer (VNA)
• Precision DC and programmable power supplies
• Lock-in amplifiers (where applicable)
• Data acquisition (DAQ) systems
• 4-point probe station (sheet resistance, thin films)
• Semiconductor parameter analyzer (if applicable)
• Vibration-isolation optical table
• Environmental monitoring sensors (temperature, humidity)
• Custom PCB prototyping and testing tools
• Soldering and rework stations
• Battery testing and power management tools

5. Supporting Infrastructure & Translation-Ready Capabilities

• Rapid prototyping and CAD workstations
• Clean assembly and packaging areas
• Quality control and characterization stations
• Secure data storage and computing cluster access
• Sample tracking and biobanking infrastructure
• Industry-aligned fabrication workflows (laser-cut, R2R, screen-printed)
• Facilities compatible with scale-up and technology translation