Research

ONGOING (SELECTED PROJECTS)

Our lab is actively engaged in several groundbreaking projects:

• Wearable system for monitoring biomarkers in sweat: Processing flexible substrates and optimizing metallization process for in-line detection of biomarkers in sweat through microfluidic systems and functionalized microelectrodes.
• Microneedles-based patch for early detection of Sepsis: Proposing a new workflow with computational models and materials evaluation for the development of a custom patch for early detection of Sepsis biomarkers in interstitial fluid.
• Organ-on-a-chip platform to monitor barrier integrity in leaky gut condition: Design and development of a gut-on-a-chip device to monitor impedance changes in the intestinal membrane.
• Implantable MEA for seizure prognosis by monitoring neurotransmitters: Design and fabrication of mechanically adaptable implantable devices for brain insertion and quantification of neurotransmitters in the evaluation of seizures onset.
• Phantom limb pain treatment with customized arrays for TENS: Designing an EMG sensor array system to treat patients with lost limbs under a closed-loop architecture providing real-time feedback.
• In-vitro device to study the frequency following response and its role in auditive behavior: Proposing additive manufacturing and non-conventional metallization strategies to create a prototype for collection of neural responses under a multi-modal excitation.
• Microfluidic-based electrochemical sensing platform for in-vitro monitoring of inflammatory biomarkers in biofluids: Developing quantification methods of biomarkers in biofluids for prevention and treatment of bacteria, virus, and fungi infections.

FINALIZED (SELECTED PROJECTS)

We take pride in our successfully completed projects that have made significant contributions to the field:

• Mitochondria biosensor development for early disease diagnosis: Developed a 3D MEA architecture to capture impedance and electrophysiology emanating from inner and outer mitochondria membrane to elucidate early indicators of health conditions.
• Phase change microsystem with breath condensate collection for point-of-care settings: Developed a super-hydrophobic microchamber mimicking natural structures from animals and plants to extract biomarkers transported by breath condensate samples.
• Biosensor with Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy-based detection for Actin protein: Applied makerspace tools and techniques fabricating an impedimetric sensor able to sense and quantify Actin protein in form of bundles along an IDE+Microfluidic system.
• Microfluidics-based device for multiple microbeads tracking and virus detection: Developed microfluidics chips implementing metal evaporation, soft-lithography, and materials processing using laser, micromilling, and automatic precise cutting to obtain platforms for virus detection.
• Multilevel microfabrication of 3D printed microfluidics and liquid metal-based MEAs for controlled assays: Designed multi-level structures implementing additive manufacturing, and multi-phase metallization to create microreactors for controlled assays based on MEA.
• Microfabrication and characterization of High-Throughput cardiac organoids bioplates: Microfabricated single and multi-well biomedical devices implementing ink-casting, metal sputtering, precise cutting plotter, and 3D printing to study electrophysiological response from cardiac organoids.
• High-Throughput 3D Microelectrode Arrays-based bioplates for neural and cardiac culture: Investigated 3D printing microfabrication technique optimizing process parameters to increase throughput of in-vitro analysis in biomedical applications.