Development of Automation and MEMS Technologies for Biomedical Engineering

这项研究计划将开发新的自动化技术和先进的MEMS(微型机电系统)，以促进用于细胞研究的生物医学仪器的最先进水平。其动机是开发尖端仪器，应用于疾病的早期检测，并开发基于细胞的新疗法。特别是，该研究计划将探索两个领域：(I)开发自动化技术来系统地分析和操纵活细胞，以及(Ii)开发用于捕获、分类和排列活细胞的MEMS设备。自动化技术可以执行与体外(即培养皿中)细胞的分析和操作相关的高度重复和单调的任务，并具有所需的精确度、可靠性和速度。此外，MEMS技术提供了独特的方法来选择性和有效地在体外对细胞进行分类、捕获和保持，基于它们适合微生物过程和现象的大小/尺度。具体的研究目标包括：(A)开发强大的机器视觉算法来识别细胞并将其分类，如细胞类型、细胞状态和细胞健康；(B)开发基于光子的细胞特性测量以辅助分类；(C)开发分子闭环控制的单细胞电穿孔；以及(D)开发MEMS设备，在体外捕获活细胞，将其排列成预先安排的配置，并使其长期存活。这项工作将使新类型的应用成为可能，例如：通过检测大量人群中罕见的异常细胞来诊断疾病，或者通过将数千个细胞排列成特定的几何构型来实现组织工程应用。该研究计划将培养生物医学工程各个领域的本科生、硕士和博士生。它将培养出在生物医学仪器和设备开发的理论和实践方面接受培训的毕业生，加拿大各地的生物医学公司都需要这些毕业生。

This research program will develop novel automation technologies and advanced MEMS (micro-electromechanical systems) to advance the state of the art in biomedical instrumentation used in cell-based research. The motivation is to develop leading edge instrumentation for applications toward the early detection of disease, and the development of new cell-based therapies. In particular, the research program will explore two areas: (i) development of automation technologies to systematically analyze and manipulate live cells, and (ii) development of MEMS devices to capture, sort and array live cells. Automation technologies can perform the highly repetitive and monotonous tasks associated with the analysis and manipulation of cells in-vitro (i.e. in a Petri dish) in statistical amounts (i.e. multi-thousands), along with the required precision, reliability and speed. Additionally, MEMS technology provides for unique ways to selectively and efficiently sort, capture and hold cells in-vitro, based on their compatible size/scale for microbiological processes and phenomena. The specific research objectives include: (a) development of robust machine vision algorithms to identify and classify cells into categories such as cell type, cell state and cell health, (b) development of photonic-based measurement of cell properties to assist classification, (c) development of single-cell electroporation with closed-loop control delivery of molecules, and (d) development of MEMS devices to capture live cells in-vitro, array them into pre-arranged configurations, and keep them viable for extended periods. This work will enable new types of applications such as: diagnosis of disease by detection of rare abnormal cells from large populations, or tissue engineering applications by arraying of thousands of cells into specific geometric configurations. The research program will train undergraduate, Masters and Ph.D level students in various areas of biomedical engineering. It will produce graduates trained in both the theoretical and practical aspects of biomedical instrumentation and device development, who are in demand by biomedical companies throughout Canada.