Fabricating bio-nanocomposites using integrated circuit-based advanced manufacturing techniques

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Surface topographic-based cell-manipulating chips with protruding 3D nano- and micro-structures have the ability to detect cancer cells and promote bone growth in laboratory environments. However, it is often difficult to implement these chips in the healthcare industry, in part due to the delicate nature and defect sensitivity of their small surface features. This multi-disciplinary research program will create a new class of bio-nanocomposites using a novel scientific approach to manipulate cells. The proposed new biomaterial will have unparalleled performance in healthcare industrial applications such as surgical implants and lab-on-a-chip technology. The surfaces of the proposed bio-nanocomposites, fabricated by using advanced integration circuit (IC) manufacturing techniques, are flat and smooth while maintaining cell manipulation functionalities through intricate nano-patterns of dissimilar classes of materials with various physical properties such as surface energy and protein adsorption characteristics. However, the process of fabricating and designing these new devices is complex and challenging. Furthermore, there is a knowledge gap in understanding cell behaviour on flat-smooth surfaces that are constructed with nano-patterns of different classes of materials. The overarching goal of this research program is developing novel fabrication processes for mechanically robust bio-nanocomposite surfaces and expanding our knowledge in the field of cell morphology control and adhesion on this new class of biomaterial. New IC-based fabrication methods, such as high-precision nanometer scale chemical-mechanical polishing/planarization (CMP) techniques, will be developed to manufacture the proposed bio-nanocomposites. Cell behaviours on these composites will be characterized and proteins produced by the adherent cells will be analyzed. Mathematic models will be formulated to predict cell behaviours on the bio-nanocomposite structures. Novel medical and bioengineering applications that utilize this new composite will be developed. The successful development of the proposed bio-nanocomposite will lead to the development of Canada's first IC-based CMP fabrication facilities for biomaterial devices. The knowledge from this research program will produce new surface pattern design rules for future nanocomposite-based surgical implants with an unmatched success rate and a reduced number of post-surgical bacterial infections. This dual-use technology can also be directly applied to nanoelectronic and quantum computer chip fabrications, a field which is considered a national security interest. This proposed program will train HQP in advanced IC fabrication techniques, bio-molecular characterizations, and microbiology. Students would be well-positioned to pursue careers in the medical device and IC fabrication industries.