2001 — 2003 |
Devoe, Don Smela, Elisabeth (co-PI) [⬀] Smela, Elisabeth (co-PI) [⬀] Ghodssi, Reza Melngailis, John (co-PI) [⬀] |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Mri: Acquisition of An Alinger and Bonder Instrument For Research @ University of Maryland College Park
This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program award provides funding to acquire a combined precision alignment system and wafer bonder. The aligner part of the instrument precisely lines up multiple wafers and substrates and puts them into contact. The bonder portion of the instrument permanently bonds the aligned substrates together. This instrument will be used at the University of Maryland for research and education in micro-electro-mechanical systems, integrated optics, chip-scale and wafer-level packaging, 3D interconnections, and hot embossing. Researchers will produce micro-turbine engines, biomedical drug delivery systems, microsurgical tools, micro-pumps for cooling high-density circuitry, and radio frequency devices. The wafer-to-wafer alignment system will be permanently located in a new 11,000 sq. ft. multi-user class 1000 clean room facility, the Engineering and Applied Sciences Building, dedicated to micro- and nano-systems research at the University of Maryland.
The availability of a wafer-to-wafer alignment system at the University of Maryland will benefit the following research projects: micro-turbomachinery, micro-combustion, safety and arming micro-systems, micromachined cooling structures, 3-dimensional micro-mechanisms, conjugated polymer films for microfluidics, and actively positioned neural probes. This equipment will also enhance education by making available to undergraduate and graduate students hands-on training on state-of-the-art equipment in a modern clean room environment. Newly developed undergraduate and graduate courses in microsystems in both the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering departments will also utilize this instrument for class projects. The instrument will also assist research and interdisciplinary collaboration between the University of Maryland and surrounding universities and national laboratories.
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1 |
2001 — 2003 |
Ghodssi, Reza |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Sger: Characterization of Inp as a Mems Material For the Development of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Lossless Cross-Connect Waveguide Switch @ University of Maryland College Park
We envision the development of an innovative optical cross-connect switch based on mechanical transducers for switching between optical waveguides as shown in Figure 1. It consists of 4 input fibers connected to 4 input waveguides on the switch. At each of the interconnect points, a microactivated micro-stage can be moved along a 45 axis to allow for steering the beam at 90 with respect to the original direction. In this way, any inputs can be steered to any outputs in a non-blocking way. Contrary to what is typically done in the area of micro-opto-electro-mechanical systems, the mechanical movements of the switch are not implemented using silicon technology but are directly realized in III-V compound semiconductors [1]. This has the important advantage of permitting the monolithic integration of active (i.e. semiconductor lasers, SOA, etc.) and passive waveguide devices (like the WDM filters, arrayed waveguide gratings) with the switching fabric. It can be envisioned that this should lead to complex wavelength cross-connect systems on a single chip. Switching time will be optimized by minimizing the mass of the moving parts and by reducing the required displacements to distances of the order of 3 microns. Dissipation of activated in one of its possible states. On the 4 output waveguides, SOA's are monolithically integrated to compensate for optical losses in the same way that we recently demonstrated a lossless 1 x 2 splitter. A passive-active resonant coupler to move the mode from a passive waveguide to a vertically positioned active waveguide using the PARC platform technology [2] can be used for the integration.
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1 |
2002 — 2008 |
Ghodssi, Reza |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Career: Inp-Based Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (Mems) For Optical Microsystems @ University of Maryland College Park
There is a great demand for next-generation optical communication devices that are capable of wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) switching while avoiding optical-electronic-optical interconnects which compromise transmission speed. Compound semiconductors such as Indium Phosphide (InP) have direct bandgaps that allow active optical devices like lasers and optical amplifiers to be realized - an advantage over silicon, an indirect bandgap material limited primarily to electronic devices. The monolithic integration of InP-based active optoelectronics with micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) actuators will enable the realization of versatile WDM lossless switches, tunable lasers and tunable optical filters at 1.55 mm. At this wavelength optical fibers have minimal losses. This CAREER award supports an interdisciplinary research and education program by combining the three technical areas of MEMS, optoelectronics, and microfabrication of III-V materials for integrated optical microsystems.
The research component aims to demonstrate the advantages of using InP-based materials in monolithic integration of MEMS and optical structures by reducing the optical losses on the chip, thus making complex devices achievable. The initial focus of this program is to investigate the electro-mechanical behavior of InP for development of electrostatically driven linear microactuators. The results of this study will enable the use of InP-based materials for (1) development of an innovative 4x4 optical cross-connect switch by combining the MEMS linear microactuators and optical waveguides and (2) integration of the optical cross-connect switch with semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) to minimize optical losses in the microsystem. The educational component focuses on a research oriented curriculum by integrating well-formulated research problems in teaching undergraduate and graduate level courses in MEMS and Microsystems and by exposing students to hands-on experience, industrial practice, and teamwork in both classrooms and laboratories. An early exposure of students to interactive research environments is accomplished by providing avenues for direct interaction between undergraduate and graduate students on collaborative research projects.
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1 |
2002 — 2006 |
Ghodssi, Reza |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Micro-Ball Bearing Technology For Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (Mems) @ University of Maryland College Park
Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) are not yet reliable and efficient enough for electrical and mechanical power demands in Microsystems. Ball bearing mechanisms are expected to increase long-term reliability and efficiency in micro-machines through minimizing friction and wear, and to provide robustness and stability for moving parts while avoiding fabrication complexities. Therefore, "micro-ball bearing technology" is expected to have a pivotal impact on micro-machinery applications such as micro-generators, micro-pumps, and micro-coolers.
Our research program investigates the use of micro-ball bearing technology for MEMS and micro-machinery applications. This goal is addressed by developing a MEMS-based electrostatically actuated micro-motor integrated with silicon micromachined bearings which house stainless-steel micro-balls as support mechanism between rotor and stator. The micro-motor is based on a novel scheme as a 6-phase, bottom-drive linear variable-capacitance micro-motor supported on micro-ball bearings. The proposed research activity focuses on (1) design, modeling, and dynamic simulation to realize an optimized structure and geometry for the device, (2) technology development to improve precision fabrication in conventional processing methods while minimizing stress-inducing processes and carefully characterizing each unit step, and (3) long-term reliability study to investigate (i) the operation of the electrical components, such as the electrical rotor and stator under controlled environment, and (ii) the dynamic behavior of the micro-ball bearings and their effect on the performance of the device.
The educational objectives in this program are based on an interactive learning environment structured to incorporate research objectives into both undergraduate and graduate level courses in MEMS and Microsystems at the University of Maryland.
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1 |
2004 — 2009 |
Ghodssi, Reza Datta, Madhumita (co-PI) [⬀] |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Inp-Based Mems-Tunable Optical Filters and Switches @ University of Maryland College Park
The objective of the project is to develop and test wavelength-selective widely tunable (1250-1650 nm) resonant microcavity filters and switches by on-chip electrostatic micro-electro-mechanical actuation of indium phosphide (InP) waveguides and highly reflective monolithic horizontal mirrors, for broadband optical networks. The work builds upon experimental research initiated by the PI to establish InP as a suitable material for micro-opto-electro-mechanical systems (MOEMS), permitting a new level of monolithic integration of active and passive optoelectronic devices, impossible in traditional silicon-based MEMS.
Intellectual Merits: MEMS provide a simple and useful broad wavelength-tuning mechanism, often superior to the corresponding static configuration, by realizing variable-length microcavities bound by two highly reflective mirrors in waveguide-based low-power Photonic Integrated Circuits (PIC).
Broader Impacts: Integrated MOEMS devices are inherently miniaturized and mass-producible; a fact that helps in accelerating the penetration of intelligent optical networks closer to the consumers for faster and easier access to information, leading to sweeping impact in all fields including education, healthcare, and commerce. The integration of e-beam-lithographically defined deep-etched sub-micron composite mirror structures would boost the integration of MEMS with nanotechnology. The proposed research will strengthen an ongoing InP-based Optical MEMS program in the PI's group. The PI supervises a number of undergraduate and graduate students, majority of whom are US citizens. MSAL has also hosted international exchange students and senior research scientists for short-term collaborative research projects. The co-PI is a member of the Women in Engineering program at the UMD, and regularly mentors students of all levels (from middle school to graduate school). These activities will directly impact the nature of system integration curriculum development at UMD, recruitment of outstanding students (already evident), creation of internship opportunities for students in industry, and dissemination of knowledge to a much larger community through the regional MEMS Alliance workshops and eventually, refereed journal publications.
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1 |
2007 — 2011 |
Payne, Gregory Bentley, William Rubloff, Gary Ghodssi, Reza |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Efri-Cbe Topic B: Biofunctionalized Devices - On Chip Signaling and "Rewiring" Bacterial Cell-Cell Communication @ University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute
PI name: W.E. Bentley Institution: University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute Proposal Number: 0735987
EFRI-CBE: Biofunctionalized Devices On Chip Signaling and Rewiring Bacterial Cell-Cell Communication
Abstract
This project is to demonstrate signal translation by employing device-based electrical signals to guide the assembly of biosynthetic pathways, cell-based sensors, and cell-based actuators within a microelectromechnical system (MEMS), and to use on-board electrical, magnetic, mechanical, and optical systems to feedback and guide the cell-based system towards user-specified outcomes. The target of this project is the cell-cell communication system mediated by bacterial signaling autoinducers in a process known as quorum sensing. The Principal Investigators (PIs) have created a computational model that captures the dynamics of quorum signal generation, receptor driven recognition, and uptake. This model, based on biochemical and biophysical processes, will guide the conceptual design of subsystem synthons assembled architectures that guide heterologous protein synthesis in response to specific biomolecular cues. Cells will be signaled to initiate biofilm formation and maturation. The MEMS environment will enable for the first time, an experimental platform for the design, construction, and testing of this cell-based signal transduction process. Moreover, this MEMS environment will detect cell function and, by guiding signaling pathways, change cell phenotype in a controlled and directed manner.
Engaged students will pursue both fundamental questions and technological goals within a multi-disciplinary environment that encourages diversity and fosters cooperation. Students will learn sciences that range from molecular and cell biology to signal processing and be exposed to issues of device fabrication and use. The PIs will enlist guidance and support from industry. This research may spawn new efforts on device fabrication, embedded sensor systems, bacterial pathogenicity, biofilm formation, genetic regulation and signal transduction. Developments are envisioned that impact fields of medicine (drug discovery, synthesis, and delivery), communications (biofunctionalized microfabricated devices), and security (smart sensors).
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0.966 |
2007 — 2008 |
Ghodssi, Reza |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Sger: Integrated Inp Microcantilever Biosensors Using Chitosan Interface Layer @ University of Maryland College Park
The objective of this (SGER) is to develop the foundation for investigating the selective deposition and opto-mechanical characterization of chitosan biopolymer material on the InP optical MEMS/NEMS detection platform. . The following three tasks will be conducted for this SGER program: (a) Chitosan electrodeposition conditions will be characterized using a combinatorial approach to achieve optimal morphology and thickness of the film on the InP microstructures, (b) Design of the InP Optical MEMS/NEMS platform will be modified based on the optimum chitosan electrodeposition results to maximize displacement sensitivity, (c) DNA hybridization detection with probe DNA molecules conjugated to the chitosan film will be demonstrated for the first time using InP optical MEMS/NEMS devices. Intellectual Merit The major advantage of our proposed design is that it will enable single-chip portable detection of biohazards. Microcantilever sensors have been shown as powerful analytical tools that do not require labeling of the sample. The on-chip optical detection will provide a miniaturized yet highly sensitive readout scheme appropriate for portable devices. In addition, the use of chitosan as a biointerface will increase the target biomolecule density of the cantilever, resulting in large resonant frequency shifts. The detection system proposed is compatible with batch microfabrication. Large numbers of sensors can be fabricated in parallel on the same chip to screen for different analytes with very low cost and high throughput. Broader Impact The resulting devices will be small, inexpensive, and will require minimal sample preparation and no external readout equipment. This technology will result in developing microcantilever sensors to screen for diseases and biohazard agents at remote locations without the need for highly qualified laboratory technicians or equipment. This project will also have considerable educational value at the University of Maryland (UMD). Primarily U.S. undergraduate and graduate students will be recruited for this work. The concepts of this research will be transferred to the two graduate-level project-based MEMS courses, ENEE 605 and ENEE 719F, in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department (ECE) at UMD. The outcome of this research will also be used for K-12 outreach activities including Maryland Day in spring semesters.
1
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1 |
2008 — 2009 |
Ghodssi, Reza |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Sger: Integrated Indium Phosphide Based Microsystem For Chemical Sensing @ University of Maryland College Park
Summary
Objective: The objective of this effort is to investigate the feasibility of a highly sensitive microsystem for chemical sensing based on an indium phosphide substrate.
Intellectual Merit: This proposal explores the possibility of optical detection of chemicals using an integrated system on an indium phosphide substrate. It will include a laser source, integrated directly with a microcantilever and photodetectors, that will permit the precise tracking of the resonant frequency of the cantilever. Functionalized coatings on the cantilever will be used to absorb chemicals from the environment and this interaction will change the mass, and consequently, the resonant frequency, of the cantilever. The system implementation will include a servo-control circuit. The integration of a micromechanical and photonic system is expected to yield very high sensitivity.
Broader Impact: This project has substantial interdisciplinary scope, encompassing photonics, micromechanics, and chemical sensing. In addition to its research outcome, it promises to be a good vehicle for teaching students at both undergraduate and graduate levels. The research results will be disseminated through classroom instruction and workshops.
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1 |
2009 — 2013 |
Ghodssi, Reza Mccarthy, Matthew (co-PI) [⬀] |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Tribologically-Enhanced Encapsulated Microball Bearings For Reduced Friction and Wear in High-Performance Rotary Microactuators and Powermems Devices @ University of Maryland College Park
Tribologically-Enhanced Encapsulated Microball Bearings for Reduced Friction and Wear in High-Performance Rotary Microactuators and PowerMEMS Devices
Proposal Number: 0901411
University of Maryland College Park PI: Reza Ghodssi, Co-PI: Matthew McCarthy
Abstract
Summary The objective of this work is to develop high-performance rotary ball bearings for Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) using tribologically-enhanced thin-film coatings. Particular emphasis will be on the design, fabrication, and experimental characterization of UltraNanoCrystalline Diamond (UNCD), Silicon Carbide (SiC), Titanium Nitride (TiN), and Boron Nitride (BN) films as hard-coatings to reduce friction and wear in microscale rolling contacts. The results of this will be implemented in a low-friction, low-wear, and long-lifecycle microball bearing for rotary microactuators and PowerMEMS devices. These support mechanisms will be capable of continuous operation for speeds in excess of 100,000rpm and provide the stability and reliability necessary for the realization of high-speed micro-turbogenerators as well as accurate rotary positioning systems for directional sensors.
Intellectual Merits The work proposed here constitutes fundamental research into the science and engineering of microfabricated ball bearing support mechanism including the effects of hard coatings to reduce friction and wear. It will specifically lead to reliable support mechanisms for use within various rotary MEMS devices. The design and engineering of MEMS-fabricated ball bearings using hard-coatings will allow the realization of these technologies for high-performance applications. The in-situ experimental investigation proposed here will comprehensively address the effects of materials, loading, and operation on microfabricated rotary bearings. This will be achieved through (1) bearing design and fabrication using thin-film coatings, (2) in-situ experimental characterization using integrated microturbine actuation, and (3) implementation of optimized bearings in microfabricated rotary actuators and PowerMEMS devices. Broader Impacts Research This technology will yield a low-friction/wear microball support mechanism necessary for the realization of several high-performance rotary micromachines. Ongoing research is being conducted on the development of compact micro-turbogenerators for small-scale cost-effective power generation and rotary actuator platforms for directional sensor systems. The reliable demonstration of such devices over long life-cycles would have a substantial impact on distributed autonomous systems such as micro-air-vehicles, portable power systems, and sensor networks. Education This research will complement the university?s well-established research and education programs in materials science and MEMS. The interdisciplinary scope of the proposed research covers three major areas: Materials, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering. The project offers an excellent opportunity to engage senior undergraduate and graduate students in masters and doctoral-level research on materials engineering and its broader impact on the MEMS field. The PI has developed a two-semester multidisciplinary graduate-level course with an active laboratory component (Design, Fabrication, and Testing of MEMS and Microsystems). The proposed research will strengthen ongoing work developing ball-bearing supported micromachines in the PI?s group, the MEMS Sensors and Actuators Laboratory (MSAL), as well as the Maryland Nanocenter. The PI supervises a number of undergraduate and graduate students, the majority of whom are US citizens. The co-PI is a former NSF GK-12 Teaching Fellow, and currently a postdoctoral researcher. These activities will directly impact the nature of the interdisciplinary research curriculum, recruitment of outstanding students, and dissemination of knowledge through conferences and refereed journal publication
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1 |
2009 — 2013 |
Culver, James (co-PI) [⬀] Ghodssi, Reza |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Nanofabrication Using Viral Biotemplates For Mems Applications @ University of Maryland College Park
The objective of this work is to utilize the self-assembly and metal-binding properties of a biological nanostructure, the Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), in the development of novel functional materials and fabrication processes for small-scale energy microsystems applications. The TMV is a high aspect ratio cylindrical plant virus that can be genetically engineered to include amino acids with enhanced metal-binding properties. These genetic modifications facilitate electroless plating of the molecules as well as self-assembly onto various substrates. Particular emphasis will be placed on integrating the TMV biofabrication into standard micromachining through the combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches such as DNA-directed patterning, molecular self-assembly, photolithography and thin-film deposition. The developed processes will be readily incorporated in the fabrication of nanostructured small-scale energy storage devices.
The outcome of this proposal will result in the realization of novel strategies for nanomanufacturing that alleviate several limitations currently involved in the integration of nanostructures into microsystems fabrication. The envisioned results are not limited only in the field of energy, but can be used by researchers to develop other types of devices where nanomaterials can mark a significant improvement, such as sensors with high selectivity and sensitivity and miniaturized heat dissipation components that can be integrated with commercial electronic products. The wide range of scientific matters involved in this investigation provides an ideal interdisciplinary "training matrix" for students from diverse backgrounds interested in research and education careers by bringing together aspects of science and engineering previously distinct from one another.
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1 |
2010 — 2011 |
Ghodssi, Reza |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Workshop: 9th International Workshop On Micro and Nanotechnology For Power Generation and Energy Conversion Applications; Silver Spring, Maryland; December 1-4, 2009 @ University of Maryland College Park
The objective of this project is to support increased participation of US graduate students, postdoctoral associates and junior tenure-track faculty members at the 9th International Workshop on Micro and Nanotechnology for Power Generation and Energy Conversion Applications. This workshop provides a highly interactive forum for researchers to present and discuss recent innovations in micro and nanotechnology for power generation and energy conversion applications. The scope ranges from integrated microsystems for power generation, dissipation, harvesting, and management to novel nanostructures and materials for energy-related applications. The support provided through this project serves to defray the costs for junior researchers (students, postdocs, and junior faculty members) to attend the workshop to present their work and learn more about the economically and environmentally vital field of high power microsystems.
Attending meetings to present their work and learn more about the broader context of their field is a key educational experience for students and postdocs everywhere, and indeed for junior faculty. These new researchers are also the future of this field, and the interdisciplinary connections fostered by this workshop are the basis for the field's future progress. Without travel support, students, postdocs and new faculty are less likely to be able to attend this workshop and take advantage of this educational opportunity, and travel support may encourage many to attend. To encourage increased and diverse participation, news of the workshop has been disseminated broadly through print media, web presence, direct emails to past participants, and direct outreach to interested individuals and groups, including underrepresented minorities and women.
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1 |
2012 — 2013 |
Ghodssi, Reza |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Nsf Workshop On Micro, Nano, Bio Systems: Building On the Past and Planning For the Future,March 30-31,2012, Arlington, Va @ University of Maryland College Park
Objective: The objective of this workshop is to discuss the major accomplishments in the last 15-20 years and the grand challenges that lie ahead in the field of micro/nanotechnology. An emphasis will be on the development of bio-and healthcare systems that will help the rapidly increasing world population and improve quality of life. This objective will be accomplished through presentations by the invited distinguished speakers, as well as, presentations by the NSF junior and mid-career researchers, who were CAREER Grantees in the last 15-20 years. The NSF CAREER Grantees will also present their accomplishments and thoughts via two Poster sessions. Furthermore, a panel session consisting of the distinguished speakers and grantees will be held at the conclusion.
Intellectual Merit: The outcome of the workshop will help the participants to develop new system programs and encourage them to submit unsolicited proposals. The outcome will also be very useful to the members of the NSF, in making decisions for future funding for micro/nano-systems in Bio and Health areas. It would also provide useful information for the future EFRI Programs in the Directorate for Engineering, Cyber-Physical Systems, the STC and the ERC programs in the NSF. It is hoped that the outcome of this workshop will bridge the gap between the areas of research in nanotechnology and biology. It is expected that this workshop will lay the foundations for the emerging areas of nano-medicine including targeted drug delivery and implantable devices.
Broader Impact: The plenary speakers? presentations, the Grantees presentation, their poster sessions and the outcome of the panel discussions will be videotaped and documented. The outcome and the discussions at the workshop will be widely disseminated through the web. It is anticipated that the workshop will have a long term impact on a broader group of researchers and educators in the physical science, biology, and health sciences. It will also be useful to those who consider entering into the new interdisciplinary areas of research in micro/nanosystems for health and nanomedicine. This will also encourage the development of new interdisciplinary courses and curriculum for undergraduate and graduate students.
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1 |
2015 — 2016 |
Ghodssi, Reza Kelly, Deanna L |
R56Activity Code Description: To provide limited interim research support based on the merit of a pending R01 application while applicant gathers additional data to revise a new or competing renewal application. This grant will underwrite highly meritorious applications that if given the opportunity to revise their application could meet IC recommended standards and would be missed opportunities if not funded. Interim funded ends when the applicant succeeds in obtaining an R01 or other competing award built on the R56 grant. These awards are not renewable. |
Microsystem Development For Clozapine Monitoring in Schizophrenia @ University of Maryland Baltimore
DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Clozapine is the most effective antipsychotic for schizophrenia treatment, a lifelong debilitating and devastating disorder. It is also the only antipsychotic with clinical practice guidelines recommending to have dosage guided by blood level measurements for optimum efficacy. Yet, clozapine remains underutilized because of its frequent blood draws for monitoring blood levels and white blood cell counts. In fact, clozapine may be one of the most underutilized evidence based treatments in mental health. Real time monitoring of efficacy and safety through therapeutic plasma ranges, and eventually monitoring for side effects (particularly white blood cell counts), will enable personalized medicine and lead to better utilization of this medication, improve treatment success rates and potentially lead to millions of dollars in decreased hospitalization and treatment costs. Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) devices are translational microsystems that provide numerous advantages in clinical diagnostics, bringing bench top methods into the point of care. The proposed innovative research project will develop a novel and high throughput biosensor based on an arrayed electrochemical LOC, integrated with chitosan-based selective probes for real time low volume analysis of clozapine blood levels. The device will be optimized for sensitive and specific in-situ clozapine detection. We will validate the LOC with blood sample analysis in clozapine-treated patients with reference to standard laboratory means, both in a highly controlled inpatient setting for sensitivity and in an outpatient setting for selectivity. This work is the first step towards fture research proposals for the development and integration of white blood cell monitoring and elicited user requirements into the LOC. Such future devices with sample handling and automation micro-systems will allow treatment teams to do blood analysis on-site, thus improving use and acceptance, decreasing costs and revolutionizing schizophrenia treatment with clozapine. 1
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0.972 |
2017 — 2019 |
Ghodssi, Reza Bentley, William |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Eager: Gut-Nav: a Gut Navigator For Real-Time Diagnostic Reporting On Gastro-Intestinal Health @ University of Maryland College Park
Recent advancements in the field of micro- and nano-electronics have enabled the development of patient-friendly systems, for diagnostics and treatment of diseases. They also bypass the need for invasive sample extraction and labor-intensive laboratory analysis. Along these lines, this proposal demonstrates a capsule-microsystem with sensors and integrated electronic components for monitoring and wirelessly sharing the diagnostics on pancreatic health. The sensors will be fabricated by standard lithographic processes and integrated with bio-materials, sensitive to the pancreatic secretions. The two biomaterials of choice will be (i) single-strand microRNA (Ribo-Nucleic Acid) sequences that bind to microRNA markers secreted by pancreatic cells; and (ii) thin films of naturally-derived macromolecules, such as starch, polypeptides, and triglycerides, that can be digested by pancreatic amylase, protease, and lipase. These biomaterials will be interfaced with capacitance and impedance based electrical sensors, encapsulated within the ingestible capsule. The capsule skeleton will be 3D printed with a bio-compatible polymer. As the sensors are exposed to pancreatic secretions in the gut, they will collected diagnostic data in real-time and transmit it wirelessly to the connected devices. The fabrication of sensing systems utilizing these technologies can provide location specific data on an array of analytes for a better understanding of the complex biological interactions triggering a disease process. This knowledge will lead to effective early detection strategies for the pancreatic health and other pathological disorders of the gut. In addition to co-advising and training one graduate student, this capsule technology and its parallels to the film the Fantastic Voyage will be used to capture general public's imagination, serving as a basis for many stimulating and educational outreach activities.
The proposed research aims to demonstrate an ingestible wireless capsule system capable of in situ sensing of enzyme and microRNA biomarkers in the gastrointestinal tract for pancreatic health monitoring. Capsule technologies do exist, but no ingestible technology is currently available that allows for sensing of specific biomolecular analytes within targeted regions within the gut. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma manifests in the form of chemical and biomolecular changes in pancreatic secretions. However, these secretions are difficult to access as they are emptied into the duodenum via the pancreatic duct, and there is currently no method for effectively indicating early stages of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The proposed device involves impedance and capacitive sensing of material degradation or marker probe functionalization over electrodes in response to analyte exposure and specific reactivity. The materials consist of naturally-derived macromolecules, such as starch, polypeptides, and triglycerides, that have been deposited in the form of thin films that are digested by pancreatic amylases, proteases, and lipases, respectively. The probes are single-strand microRNA sequences functionalized on an electrode surface that bind to microRNA markers secreted by pancreatic cells. The electrical signals described above are read and transmitted via a network of components, including an analog-to-digital converter, a Bluetooth low-energy chip, a low power timer integrated circuit, and a lithium polymer battery. The packaging consists of a 3D-printed biocompatible capsule, with micromesh structures for retaining polymers that dissolve at a specified pH, thereby allowing for GI location targeting. This tool represents a foundation for sensing systems based on the biodegradation of polymer coatings, biomarker detection, microelectronics integration, and packaging. The developed system serves as a platform for a variety of other sensing applications and paves the way for the design of smaller ingestible or implantable systems for use in various segments within the body.
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1 |
2018 — 2019 |
Bentley, William Ghodssi, Reza Abshire, Pamela (co-PI) [⬀] Paley, Derek Elmqvist, Niklas |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Planning Grant: Engineering Research Center For Adaptive Small-Systems For Data Analytic Pain Management (Erc-Asap) @ University of Maryland College Park
The Planning Grants for Engineering Research Centers competition was run as a pilot solicitation within the ERC program. Planning grants are not required as part of the full ERC competition, but intended to build capacity among teams to plan for convergent, center-scale engineering research.
The National Academy of Medicine's Institute of Medicine (IOM) estimates that 116 million people in the United States are impacted by pain every year, at an annual cost to the country in the hundreds of billion dollars. Chronic pain conditions are particularly difficult to treat, since pain is a complex experience that is not the result of a single factor. The key to better understand the complexity of pain conditions is to identify the biological changes it creates. The Engineering Research Center for Adaptive Small-systems for data Analytic Pain management (ERC-ASAP) proposes to place miniaturized autonomous sensing systems in several areas of the body. This will allow simultaneous monitoring of biological activities across multiple organs, providing insight into the causes of chronic pain and its onset. This grant enables planning activities to establish the proposed Center, potentially leading to new breakthrough technologies for diagnosis and monitoring that could alter the national pain management landscape.
The activities of the NSF ERC-ASAP Planning Grant will allow for the development of the management structures and multi-disciplinary team formation. Planning grant activities will also include a diverse set of stakeholder community members, necessary for effective convergent engineering practices. The center goals are to engage representatives from the main stakeholder community for constructive dialogues to identify challenges and solutions. One major outcome will be to co-develop the center mission and goals with active, continuous user community collaboration and investment. Expert-guided stakeholder engagement workshops will build and establish a strong partnership with institutional and industrial collaborators, as well as medical experts, systems engineers and data scientists, health professionals, decision and social behavior scientists, and federal regulators. In addition, a state-wide online survey and questionnaire will be conducted within the health service community to identify specific challenges, delivery, treatment options, and payer models for a device-driven engineering approach.
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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1 |
2018 — 2021 |
Ghodssi, Reza Payne, Gregory Bentley, William Pierobon, Massimiliano (co-PI) [⬀] |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Semisynbio: Redox-Enabled Bio-Electronics For Molecular Communication and Memory (Re-Bionics) @ University of Maryland College Park
The goal of the RE-BIONICS project (Redox-enabled Bio-Electronics based on Molecular Communication) is to create first-of-kind bioelectronics devices that will mediate the rapid and facile information exchange between biology and electronics. These devices will have the potential to transform healthcare, enabling tele-monitoring and remote/autonomous drug delivery and facilitating environmental monitoring in agriculture and cyber-defense where connecting biological phenomena with electronics are important. The technical underpinnings of this work recognize that microelectronic devices depend on electrons for information processing while biology depends on molecules (e.g., insulin, antibodies). These systems are not intrinsically compatible as there are no free electrons in biology that could be transmitted to biological wires and control cell-based electronic circuits. Instead, biohybrid devices are envisioned that transmit information across this electron-molecule divide. New interfaces are needed that accept molecules from biology and create electrons for devices and the reverse. Such integrated systems designed and constructed within RE-BIONICS will be capable of this bidirectional communication for memory and computation. The project will build the components and information theory needed to construct biohybrid devices that could eventually be embedded within a biological system and provide electronic control. In addition to building capabilities for designing and constructing completely new biodevices, a most important aspect of this work is that it will bring together researchers and stakeholders from many disciplines, including biology, chemistry, materials science, and computer, electrical, chemical, and bioengineering. The project builds on the interdisciplinary nature of the project with Research Team from computer science, electrical engineering and bioengineering. The research thrusts span computer science and information theory, microelectromechanical systems, biofabrication and redox biology, and synthetic biology. Also, two interdisciplinary teams of undergraduate students from UMD and UNL will participate in the international Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) program and competition, and participate in specific outreach activities targeting Middle and High school students within the Future Problem Solving Program (FPSPI) at UNL. Further, this project will promote the participation of women, historically underrepresented in electrical engineering, representing more than majors in biology and bioengineering. RE-BIONICS researchers will also interact with federal agencies including NIST, FDA, and the Army Research Laboratory, gaining exposure to manufacturing and regulatory issues, as well as direct application areas such as national security.
This project exploits reduction-oxidation (redox) mediators that are the biological equivalents of free electrons in electronics. The reactions represent packets of information transferred within biology. The project is organized into three specific aims. In Aim 1, the team will design, build and test device elements that facilitate information transfer from molecules of biological systems to electrons of microelectronic systems and the reverse. Using the principles of synthetic biology, bacterial cells will be engineered to recognize small signaling molecules, an example being pyocyanin that is secreted by opportunistic pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Based on this recognition, these and other engineered sensing cells will produce -galactosidase, an enzyme that can be electrochemically quantified. In addition, cells will be engineered to accept electrons from devices and in a programmed manner, "turn on" gene expression that can modulate cell behavior. In Aim 2, the team will design and construct a biological read/write memory device, based on the biopolymer melanin, that can be accessed both biologically and electronically. In Aim 3, the team will integrate these elements creating biohybrid circuits, such as bioelectric logic gates, and biologic to electronic to biologic signaling systems, culminating in an electronically-controlled device that interprets molecular information, computes desired outcomes and electronically actuates cells to signal and control biological populations. There are three fundamentally novel aspects to this work. First, it will demonstrate the potential to transfer information from biological systems to microelectronic systems and the reverse, forming the basis for bioelectronic integrated computing systems. Second, it will demonstrate electronically-controlled synthesis of a novel, reliable and stable biological memory device. Third, it will develop a technological framework for the development of bio-hybrid computing devices that efficiently sense and process chemical information as well as operate within and control complex biological systems.
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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1 |
2018 — 2021 |
Ghodssi, Reza Bentley, William |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Development of Flexible Microsystems For Bacterial Biofilm Management @ University of Maryland College Park
Bacterial biofilms, a major cause of infection and environmental biofouling, are difficult to remove and contribute to the rapid increase in antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. They often induce catastrophic consequences in an array of inaccessible environments with complex curved geometries, ultimately leading to persistent infections, implant failure, and systemic contamination. There is demand for viable methods to detect, prevent, and remove biofilms in locales including urinary catheters, prosthetic implants, and water systems, where currently effective methods do not exist to detect and eradicate biofilms. Advances in flexible device technology yield opportunities for feedback-driven biofilm management systems for operation in these vulnerable areas. The objective is to develop a paradigm enabling dynamic flexible sensor microsystems for detecting, monitoring, and inhibiting biofilms on multidimensional surfaces, in particular the cylindrical environment of a urinary catheter. The surface bacterial species, fluid conditions, and geometry are the basis for this approach, creating a guide for identifying methods of biofilm detection and prevention on demand. Successful monitoring and removal of biofilm will have a dramatic impact, improving quality of life for people of all demographics. These systems have the potential to reduce the spread of antibiotic-resistant and healthcare-acquired infections, and are particularly attractive for addressing these challenges in resource-poor regions. Moreover, the potential for low-cost manufacturing of these devices will enable their inclusion by high school teachers into laboratory-based STEM curricula.
To systematically develop this methodology, the objective of this proposal is divided into three tasks: 1) Optimization of microsystems for sensing and inhibiting biofilms in complex, 3D environments: Thin film electrodes will be selected as a simple and sensitive electrochemical impedance sensor, tested in a microfluidic system as a sensor and biofilm inhibitor via the bioelectric effect. Furthermore, the device will be optimized for biofilm detection via a computational model. The model will examine changes in the electric field of the sensor for the relevant geometry. 2) Manufacturing of integrated flexible devices for biofilms: appropriate materials and fabrication processes are determined by specific geometric and environmental requirements of each application, notably flexible substrates, such as polyimide, with gold as an inert electrode material. The flexible substrates will enable folding and scaling of the device as required to interface with the vulnerable complex curved surface. 3) Device testing using environmental model with data transmission and feedback control: A urinary catheter will serve as a test case. This will be developed considering the unique geometric, bacterial, and fluidic conditions. 3D-printed structures precisely recreate geometry interactions with biofilm, where sensor response and bioelectric treatment will be evaluated simultaneously. A wireless controlled (using Bluetooth or Wifi) electronic system will be developed to operate the impedance sensor and control the biofilm removal using the electrodes will be developed. Feedback-driven dynamic biofilm control will be developed, considering threshold impedance sensing values corresponding to biofilm biomass. The system will introduce a bioelectric effect treatment based on impedance sensor data indicating the formation of a biofilm in real-time. This project addresses the challenge of preventing, identifying, and removing biofilms on a complex surface. An interdisciplinary approach combining applied microbiology and engineering disciplines is required to overcome these problems. Complex interactions between flexible sensors, bacterial biofilms, and bioelectric treatment will be explored. Electrical reduction of biofilm enables remote programmability in vulnerable systems. The impact on system design of key parameters including bacterial species, surface geometry, and fluidic conditions will be clearly enumerated. The fundamental methodology developed here will enable further research to address biofilm monitoring and removal in areas of dire need.
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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1 |
2019 — 2022 |
Bentley, William Ghodssi, Reza Losert, Wolfgang (co-PI) [⬀] Herberholz, Jens (co-PI) [⬀] |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Ncs-Fo: Developing Engineering Solutions to Investigate Microbiome-to-Neuron Communication @ University of Maryland College Park
The goal of this project is to create an engineering solution to measure and predict the molecular communication across the gut-microbiome-brain axis. This platform has the potential to facilitate the fundamental understanding of gut microbiome communication with the nervous system. The project will quantify release patterns of key molecules involved in this cross-talk and identify their influence on neural activation and behavior. The gut-microbiome-brain axis, comprising a vast network of nerves innervating the gut and propagating signals to the brain, is a major influencer of behavior and cognition. The neurotransmitter serotonin is a key molecule in this pathway; gut epithelial cells sense luminal conditions and release serotonin to stimulate nearby neurons. The gut microbiome has been shown to mediate this serotonin release, a process that is also linked to the co-occurrence of gastric and neural disorders. The technical underpinnings of this work involve designing and constructing a device that enables researchers to assemble the essential components of the gut-microbiome-neuron tissue interface. The device is fabricated with sensors to obtain information that is currently inaccessible - collecting molecular information at the length and time scales of the cells and tissues under investigation. The data extracted from this platform will enable temporal correlation and prediction of microbial, gut, and neural signaling patterns. This work provides opportunities to bring together researchers and stakeholders from various disciplines including electrical and computer engineering, bioengineering, molecular biology, neuroscience, and data science to develop a system-oriented approach. Further, this project promotes the participation of women, historically underrepresented in engineering, and undergraduates through programs such as Women in Engineering Research Fellowship and First-Year Innovation and Research Experience (FIRE).
Multidisciplinary engineering methods are essential to building an in vitro discovery platform capable of directly monitoring chemical transduction patterns along the gut-neuron axis. In TASK 1, electrochemical sensors will be directly fabricated on a porous cell culture substrate, allowing direct access to cellular and molecular mechanisms of an in vitro model gut epithelium. Impedance monitoring of the cell layer will detect physical changes over time (e.g., barrier integrity). Potentiometric monitoring will detect real-time serotonin released from gut cells due to bacterial metabolite stimulation. In TASK 2, the neural effect of gut serotonin signaling will be studied by exposing this cell-released serotonin to an isolated ex vivo crayfish nerve cord with connected and innervated hindgut. Neurobehavioral activation patterns will be recorded during hindgut peristalsis in motor and sensory neurons that bidirectionally connect the central and enteric nervous systems. Machine learning approaches will identify key variables to quantify discrete serotonin release and neuronal activation patterns. In TASK 3, the mucosal layer of the gut epithelium will be colonized with specific gut microbes to assess bacterial influence on barrier integrity, serotonin release patterns, and resulting neuromuscular activation. Classification via machine learning will quantify the wholistic and synergistic effects of different microbial combinations on time-dependent serotonin release profiles and downstream effects. There are multiple novel aspects of this work. First, this is a new platform implementing extensive integrated cell-interfacial sensors for direct access to real-time cell and molecular data. Second, the use of this technology to investigate the interplay between gut and nervous system can give unprecedented insight into the vast and relatively inaccessible gut-brain transduction pathways. Third, machine learning analysis can identify meaningful patterns of serotonergic communication and predict the expected impact of gut bacteria on neural behavior.
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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1 |
2022 |
Ghodssi, Reza Rajaraman, Swaminathan |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Hilton Head Solid State Sensors, Actuators and Microsystems Workshop, June 5-9, 2022 @ The University of Central Florida Board of Trustees
ABSTRACT
This grant will fund travel for students and post-doctoral fellows who are US citizens to attend the Solid-State Sensors, Actuators and Microsystems Workshop, to be held over five days in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina from June 5 to June 9, 2022. This is the 20th in the series of Hilton Head Workshops on the science and technology of solid-state sensors, actuators, and microsystems. It is an exciting multidisciplinary event that has occurred biennially since 1984 with a rich history going back to the establishment of the field of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS). The main theme of the workshop is Grand Challenges in Engineering and how microsystems technologies in combination with other technologies can address these challenges. Topics such as industrial short courses, MEMS and Sensors Industry Group (MSIG) special session, and early faculty development will also be addressed in special sessions within the workshop.
The travel awards enabled by this NSF grant provide travel assistance to US citizen students and post-doctoral associates of various groups including those underrepresented in science and engineering. The PIs will select travel award winners from the list of accepted papers paying close attention to diversity and inclusion including outreach to microsystems faculty in HBCUs, HSIs and 4-year Undergraduate in Engineering programs. The Workshop will benefit students with interest in academic and industrial careers as well as active faculty members. It is important to provide an inclusive climate for the participants and to help expand their network of professional contacts to ensure their future success. The hope is that they will return to their institutions inspired by their interactions and the technical content they witness at the workshop under the guidance of workshop leaders. The impact to the profession is recruitment and retention of well-informed personnel that feel supported and empowered. The website developed for the workshop will provide information about its activities and the organizing committee.
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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0.931 |