Our research is inspired by the remarkable protein machinery in biological systems. These tiny machines build living systems with complex morphologies and diverse functions in a highly efficient manner. Our goal is to learn from nature and develop bottom-up engineering capabilities to design artificial molecular machines that can be programmed for specific tasks. Research projects in the lab focus on developing both theoretical and experimental tools that help design, fabricate, and characterize functional molecular systems. The outcome of our research is translational to applications in healthcare, agriculture, energy and environments.
We use biomolecules and nanomaterials as building blocks to design and fabricate functional molecular components, such as molecular controllers, optical sensors, and dynamics structures. These “designer molecules” are useful for many biomedical applications, but their development requires large functional datasets to guide engineering efforts. A major challenge in generating such a dataset is achieving high resolution and high throughput molecular characterization. To address this challenge, we combine microfluidics and next-generation sequencing to develop novel screening tools for molecular and nanomaterial characterization. This approach can facilitate the engineering of functional biomolecules and nanomaterials with improved precision and efficiency.
Sensors that interface with biological systems and track physiological changes have the potential to improve the quality of health management and patient care greatly. To fully realize this potential, several key challenges must be addressed, including developing highly selective biorecognition elements, designing biocompatible materials, and creating minimally invasive signal transduction and readout mechanisms. In our lab, we combine the biochemical functionality of biomolecules with the unique physicochemical properties of nanomaterials to engineer next-generation biosensing mechanisms. Our goal is to develop highly sensitive and selective biosensors capable of detecting critical metabolites and immune mediators for basic research settings as well as clinical applications.
Microphysiological systems (MPS) are in vitro models designed to replicate key features of complex biological systems in a controlled environment. These systems provide a simplified yet biologically relevant platform to study biochemical and physiological dynamics. In our lab, we leverage MPS technology to gain deeper insights into immune function and disease progression. By integrating continuous biosensing and dynamic systems modeling, we develop closed-loop control systems for immune MPS. Our goal is to create adaptive, real-time monitoring platforms that enhance our understanding of immune responses and provide a foundation for future precision medicine applications. Through this work, we aim to bridge the gap between experimental models and clinical decision-making, ultimately developing tools that could one day assist doctors in patient monitoring and treatment optimization.
