2012 — 2016 |
Sayler, Gary [⬀] Ripp, Steven Wang, Shanfeng Mcfarlane, Nicole |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Implantable Biosensors For Real-Time in Vivo Interrogation of Biological Phenomena @ University of Tennessee Knoxville
Sayler 1159344
This research effort is focused on the merging of light-emitting (bioluminescent) human cell lines with integrated circuit microluminometers to create miniaturized, implantable biosensing interfaces for internal monitoring of animal physiology. Conventional imaging technology relies on external cameras to penetrate and identify light-emitting cellular signatures embedded within small animal subjects. Unfortunately, due to absorption, attenuation, and scattering, even the most sensitive ultracooled cameras are unable to detect light signals beyond depths of a few centimeters in living tissue. Without major advances in imaging hardware sensitivity and/or light signal emission strength of engineered implanted cells, bioimaging applications that promise real-time, noninvasive visualization of health status in small animals may never achieve the transformational leap towards imaging, tracking, and diagnosing diseases in larger animals (i.e., humans). It is hypothesized that it may be more feasible and practical to image internally rather than externally, and that the bioengineering of an implantable optical chip capable of detecting light from engineered human cells tuned to human disease states may be a solution for effective whole-body human imaging. The intellectual merit of this research is a transformative new imaging technology that brings us closer to biosensing strategies evolved towards autonomous sense-and-respond human biotherapies where disease states are automatically recognized and treated, the outcome of which permits real-time and remote patient to doctor relationships and transformations in personalized medicine and disease care management at greatly reduced costs. Broader impacts include postdoctoral training and integration of undergraduate students within the research project, multidisciplinary collaborations between the life sciences and engineering disciplines, broad dissemination of research results, and outreach efforts centered on K-12 Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) initiatives.
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0.939 |
2018 — 2021 |
Mcfarlane, Nicole Materassi, Donatello |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Satc: Core: Small: Wireless Hardware Analog Encryption For Secure, Ultra Low Power Transmission of Data @ University of Tennessee Knoxville
Data encryption is a process to transmit sensitive information over a public channel such as a wireless channel, so that only authorized receivers can access it. Unfortunately, digital encryption techniques typically require the use of microprocessors which are power-hungry devices. This project advances the use of alternative analog encryption techniques, such as chaotic encryption. Since analog encryption techniques are more power efficient, this approach makes it possible to avoid the use of microprocessors and consequently facilitate the realization of more portable devices.
While the idea of encrypting information via chaotic signals is at least three decades old, only relatively recent technological advancements in circuit fabrication allow the practical implementation of chaotic encryption over a wireless channel. Indeed, one of the main intellectual merits of this project would be the realization of a wireless sensor with integrated encryption on the same chip. Another technological innovation brought by the project is the creation of mechanisms for coordinated communications among multiple devices over the same chaotically encrypted channel using cognitive radio.
The impact at large of these methods can be significant. For example, embedding analog encryption techniques in biomedical devices increases the privacy and comfort of patients since data are going to be transmitted wirelessly over a secure channel. Furthermore, autonomous energy-harvesting coin-sized sensors could be easily deployed to monitor large areas requiring minimal maintenance.
The results, data and simulation software obtained in this project will be stored on the website https://www.eecs.utk.edu/people/faculty/dmateras/ for at least five years. Software will be released under an open-source license to facilitate the replicability of the results.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
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0.939 |