Research

Semiconductors for SERS

The ability to probe biological processes at a cellular level is critical to the examination of disease pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment.

Semiconductors and dielectric materials could provide a much-needed alternative for detection and mapping, with the biocompatibility and stability required in vitro. As such, we are working on developing semiconductor-based SERS nanoprobes for live cell imaging and analyte detection in real-time.

 

Devices for Exosome-Based Sensing

To develop ultrasensitive screening devices for multifactorial diseases like Alzheimer’s, we are working on developing microfluidic devices incorporating surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). SERS is an optical biosensing technique with unmatched spatial and temporal detection capabilities, endowing it with significant potential for highly sensitive detection of extracellular vesicle-derived constituents. 

Engineering Exosomes for Advanced Functionalities  

The multifaceted nature of exosomes (i.e., size, diverse macromolecular constituents, and a composition that reflects their cell of origin) means that exosomes have enormous potential for multiplexed detection and high throughput analysis to benefit a variety of biological applications, as well as therapeutic applications and delivery. Our lab is investigating there application in strategies to combat Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease,  and cancer.