BIONANOTECHNOLOGY
I N T E G R AT E D N A N O M AT E R I A L S L A B O R AT O R Y
Nanopores for label-free detection of single molecules
An drop in current indicates momentary change in
the resistance of a nanopore due to the presence of
a biomolecule moving through the pore.
Left, translocation events of intercalated
circular DNA reveal changes in topological
conformations.
• Uniform translocation events have a
longer translocation time attributed to the
lengthening molecule, increased mass
and decreased charge
• Translocation events with multiple
discrete current drops suggests
increasing amounts of branching
topology
Above, Schematic of a nanopore
experiment with cDNA and a
voltage applied across the
nanopore.
Biomolecules to Bio-hybrid Systems
10 nm
Right, 300 nm
AFM scan of
DNA with
branched
topology
Left, TEM image of
nanopore drilled in SiNx
membrane with focused ion
beam.
Tissue engineering with 2D crystals as culture templates
a
To address the advances of medical science in
tissue transplantation, implantable biocompatible
medical devices, degenerative and autoimmune
disease research
b
100 µm
100 µm
c
d
40 µm
• Use 3D scaffolding to direct the dimensions of
the cell/tissue growth
• Use the electronic and mechanical properties of
the 2D crystals to manipulate the rate of growth
and differentiation
a) Graphene on nickel scaffolding deposited via CVD
b) Non-differentiated C2C12 myoblasts on glass
c) C2C12 cells cultured on GF with nuclei (blue) and actin
(red) staining
d) C2C12 differentiated 6 days on laminin-coated GF
20 µm
The 2D crystals are grown and processed into 3D
scaffolding in the Integrated NanoMaterials Lab at
Boise State. The Biomedical Research Center at
Boise State houses optical equipment necessary to
fluorescently image cells and intercellular organelles.
Neural Interface Circuits & Cellular Electrodes
Neuroprosthetic
To measure electrical interactions between engineered materials & biological
tissue, to utilize novel materials to develop high-performance bioelectronics
Neurons/muscle cells cultured on
graphene microelectrode arrays
• Apply electrical signal to cells
via patch clamp
electrophysiology
• Observe signal characteristics
of the cell/graphene interface
via micro-probing
Left, Graphene
microelectrode array
with gold contacts
Above, SH-SY5Y human
neuroblastoma cells (10 µm dia.)
on graphene microelectrode array
Potential applications:
• Neuroprosthetics
• Neuroscience research &
diagnostics
Electrophysiology experiment with
micro probing analysis