Integrated Microsensors and Microdevices for Diagnostics and Prosthetics

拟议的研究计划旨在开发传感器和微型设备，用于实时生物和化学监测，用于护理点诊断，慢性疾病和创伤性疾病。这些传感器和微型器件利用了几种已建立和新兴的集成技术，包括用于信号检测和处理的互补金属氧化物半导体（CMOS）微电子学和光子学、用于高灵敏度检测的纳米结构材料、用于高特异性检测的生物/化学识别元件、用于传感器小型化的微/纳米制造以及用于世界到传感器接口的微流体。该研究包括三个研究主题：（1）集成生物和化学传感器微系统，（2）生物医学微器件和碳化硅神经假体，以及（3）多孔纳米结构材料使能器件。在拟议的研究中，我们将传感器定位于大型患者群体面临的重要问题，例如监测肥胖症的代谢，糖尿病的血糖水平，缺氧条件下的血氧需求，与衰老和遗传疾病相关的代谢化合物以及致病菌引起的传染病。我们将研究用于测量各种生理状况的生物医学微型设备，包括用于中风的血压，用于青光眼的眼压，用于测量排尿功能障碍患者膀胱容量的应变传感器，以及用于心脏起搏的加速度传感器。我们的目标是开发超长增强碳化硅基神经电极阵列作为脑机接口的前端，以帮助瘫痪患者进行正常的日常活动。开发的生物和化学传感器以及生物医学微器件有可能在我们的个人福祉以及社会和经济增长和发展中发挥重要作用。此外，所要求的资金将允许培训下一代生物工程师，他们在生物/化学传感器，生物医学微型设备和纳米结构材料的设计和生产方面有着良好的基础和熟练的技能，以应对健康科学中的复杂挑战。

The proposed research program aims to develop sensors and microdevices for real-time biological and chemical monitoring for point-of-care diagnostics, chronic diseases, and traumatic medical conditions. These sensors and microdevices take advantage of several established and emerging integrative technologies including Complimentary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) microelectronics and photonics for signal detection and processing, nanostructured materials for high sensitivity detection, bio-/chemical- recognition elements for high specificity detection, micro-/nano- fabrication for sensor miniaturization, and microfluidics for world-to-sensor interfaces. The proposed research consists of three research themes: (1) integrated biological and chemical sensor microsystems, (2) biomedical microdevices and silicon carbide neural prosthesis, and (3) porous nanostructured materials enabled devices. In the proposed research, we will target sensors towards important issues being faced by large patient populations such as monitoring of metabolism for obesity, blood glucose level for diabetes, blood oxygen demand for hypoxia conditions, metabolic compounds related to aging and genetic disorders and infectious diseases due to pathogenic bacteria. We will research biomedical microdevices to measure various physiological conditions including blood pressure for stroke, ocular pressure for glaucoma, strain sensor to measure bladder volume in patients with urinary dysfunction, and acceleration sensor for cardiac pacing. We aim to develop ultra-long reinforced silicon carbide based neural electrode arrays as front-ends of Brain Machine Interfaces to help people suffering with paralysis to lead normal daily activities. The developed biological and chemical sensors and biomedical microdevices have the potential to play an important role in our personal wellbeing and social and economic growth and development. Further, the requested funding will allow train the next generation of bioengineers, well rooted and adept in design and production of bio-/chemical- sensors, biomedical microdevices, and nanostructured materials, needed to tackle complex challenges in health sciences.