Miniaturized Wireless Bioelectronics for Sensing
Chip in a Cell
Silicon chip development and nanofabrication technologies have advanced significantly, achieving feature sizes down to just a few nanometers. In contrast, biosensors and bioelectronics have not kept pace, often remaining much larger in scale. This disparity presents a major challenge, particularly in creating analytical devices small enough to be inserted into individual cells for studying and manipulating biological processes.
In this project, we aim to design microelectronic chips capable of being implanted into living cells to study cellular signaling pathways, while also enabling wireless sensing and actuation within living, mobile cells. The convergence of molecular biology and microelectronics represents a critical frontier for both fields, underscoring the need for future technologists to possess a strong understanding of both disciplines to drive innovation in technology-related sectors.
Minimalistic, Wireless Electrochemical Sensor
Electrochemical analytical techniques have been a cornerstone of biomedical sensors, driving the rapid growth of point-of-care biomedical diagnostics. However, the development and application of electrochemical sensors often require peripheral electronics to maintain controlled environments, which increases the size, cost, and dependency on external power supplies.
In this project, we are pioneering electrochemical sensing in minimally controlled environments by significantly reducing the need for peripheral electronic interfaces. This approach minimizes sensor size to the micrometer scale and eliminates the need for a battery. Instead of relying on bulky and power-intensive circuits, a single transistor serves as a signal transducer, providing instrumental tunability for signal amplification and sensing range adjustment through precise tuning of its characteristics. This work aims to advance electrochemical wireless sensors in terms of size, tunability, sensitivity, and power efficiency, bridging the gap between laboratory research and real-world applications. It opens the door to integrating electrochemical sensors into everyday consumables, such as diapers or paper towels, enabling practical and accessible biomedical monitoring.
