A microfluidic-based electrochemical biochip for label-free DNA hybridization analysis.

Miniaturization of analytical benchtop procedures into the micro-scale provides significant advantages in regards to reaction time, cost, and integration of pre-processing steps. Utilizing these devices towards the analysis of DNA hybridization events is important because it offers a technology for real time assessment of biomarkers at the point-of-care for various diseases. However, when the device footprint decreases the dominance of various physical phenomena increases.

Electronic modulation of biochemical signal generation.

Microelectronic devices that contain biological components are typically used to interrogate biology rather than control biological function. Patterned assemblies of proteins and cells have, however, been used for in vitro metabolic engineering, where coordinated biochemical pathways allow cell metabolism to be characterized and potentially controlled on a chip. Such devices form part of technologies that attempt to recreate animal and human physiological functions on a chip and could be used to revolutionize drug development.

Reverse engineering to suggest biologically relevant redox activities of phenolic materials.

Phenolics are among the most abundant redox-active organics in nature, but the intractability of phenolic materials (e.g., melanin) has precluded study of their biological activities and functions.

Amplified and in situ detection of redox-active metabolite using a biobased redox capacitor.

Redox cycling provides a mechanism to amplify electrochemical signals for analyte detection. Previous studies have shown that diverse mediators/shuttles can engage in redox-cycling reactions with a biobased redox capacitor that is fabricated by grafting redox-active catechols onto a chitosan film. Here, we report that redox cycling with this catechol-chitosan redox capacitor can amplify electrochemical signals for detecting a redox-active bacterial metabolite.

Bridging the bio-electronic interface with biofabrication.

Advancements in lab-on-a-chip technology promise to revolutionize both research and medicine through lower costs, better sensitivity, portability, and higher throughput. The incorporation of biological components onto biological microelectromechanical systems (bioMEMS) has shown great potential for achieving these goals. Microfabricated electronic chips allow for micrometer-scale features as well as an electrical connection for sensing and actuation.

Integrated biofabrication for electro-addressed in-film bioprocessing.

Many recent advances in bioprocessing have been enabled by developments in miniaturization and microfluidics. A continuing challenge, however, is integrating multiple unit operations that require distinct spatial boundaries, especially with included labile biological components. We have suggested "biofabrication" as a means for organizing cells and biomolecules in complex configurations while preserving function of individual components.