CAREER: Biology-Inspired Super Artificial Compound Eyes (SACE) and Their Medical Applications

职业：生物仿生超级人工复眼（SACE）及其医学应用本研究的目的是研制生物仿生“超级”人工复眼并探索其在腹腔镜下的应用。 方法是：1）开发半球形可调微透镜阵列，其中每个透镜元件可以通过作为人造肌肉的热响应水凝胶单独调节; 2）开发具有扫描和聚焦能力的原型腹腔镜; 3）应用纳米技术和表面工程来改善微透镜的鲁棒性和球面像差。PI还提出了一个连贯而全面的教育计划，旨在促进跨学科教育，参与人数不足的学生，并与当地社区和公众联系。这项研究可以促进生物医学成像，并使许多手术领域受益。 微透镜可以形成功能复杂的阵列，用作物理，生物或化学传感器或监视工具。 该技术可用于眼科手术、人工晶状体和老视矫正等。 这种跨学科的研究可以为许多研究领域做出贡献，包括功能软材料，微光学，微流体和芯片实验室。 拟议的研究在公共卫生、生物防御和环境监测方面具有广泛的应用，因此具有巨大的潜在经济影响。 该项目将为大学和K-12水平的学生创造巨大的机会，使大学课程受益，推进跨学科教育，并鼓励本科生和代表性不足的学生进行前沿研究。 通过与当地学校合作以及为K-12和科学与工程公共教育建立的计划，强大的外展计划将产生深远的社会影响。

CAREER: Biology-Inspired Super Artificial Compound Eyes (SACE) and Their Medical ApplicationsThe objective of this research is to develop biology-inspired "super" artificial compound eyes and to explore their laparoscopic applications. The approach is: 1) developing on hemispheres tunable microlens arrays in which each lens element can be individually tuned by thermal-responsive hydrogels as artificial muscle; 2) developing a prototype laparoscope that has the scanning and focusing capability; 3) applying nanotechnology and surface engineering to improve upon the robustness and the spherical aberrations of the microlenses. The PI also proposes a coherent and comprehensive educational plan that aims to promote interdisciplinary education, the involvement of underrepresented students, and outreach to the local communities and general public.This research can advance biomedical imaging and benefit many fields of surgeries. The microlenses can form functionally complex arrays used as physical, biological, or chemical sensors or surveillance tools. This technology could have ophthalmologic applications such as in ocular surgery, intraocular lenses, and correction of presbyopia. This interdisciplinary research can contribute to many research areas, including functional soft materials, micro-optics, microfluidics, and lab on a chip. The proposed research has a broad range of applications related to public health, biodefense and environmental monitoring, thus having great potential economic impact. This project will generate great opportunities for students at both college and K-12 levels, benefit college curricula, advance interdisciplinary education, and encourage undergraduate and underrepresented students to conduct frontier research. The strong outreach program by partnering with local schools and established programs for K-12 and public education on science and engineering will have profound societal impact.