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Nanoporous Organic Semiconductor Thin Films Fabrication Dr. Ying Diao has identified a new nanoporous thin film fabrication method using simple solution processing methods applicable to both polymer... Read More Dr. Ying Diao has identified a new nanoporous thin film fabrication method using simple solution processing methods applicable to both polymer and small molecule semiconductors. Using the novel additive method, she has developed a OFET chemical sensors comprising of nanoporous thin film. Templated by the nanostructured PVP:HAD layer, the pore sizes in the semiconductor layer are widely tunable from 50 nm to 1µm. Compared to the currently available sensors, the invention exhibited ultrafast and ultrasensitive response to ammonia as well as formaldehyde molecules down to 1ppb at hundred-millisecond time scale, a breakthrough of 10-fold sensitivity enhancement. The excellent performance, simple fabrication, and diverse form-factors of nanoporous transistors has opened up a wide range of applications of the invention in the fields of personal health and environmental monitoring, both fields which demand sensors with high sensitivity on the ppb level with fast response.
Process for Making Modular Bioactuators Dr. Rashid Bashir has developed a process for manufacturing modular bioactuators. The process utilizes stereolithographic 3D printing to create injection... Read More Dr. Rashid Bashir has developed a process for manufacturing modular bioactuators. The process utilizes stereolithographic 3D printing to create injection molds for cell/hydrogel cultures and for skeletal scaffolds for the actuators. The resulting ring-like actuators can then be manually placed on the scaffold. This introduces a modular design that is customizable and transferable. These actuators are also triggered optogenetically and exhibit directional motion and 2D steering.
Cas9 Mediated Genome Editing Tools for Archaea Dr. Metcalf from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a novel method for genome editing in archaea utilizing the Cas9 system. This method utilizes... Read More Dr. Metcalf from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a novel method for genome editing in archaea utilizing the Cas9 system. This method utilizes Cas9 machinery with the native archaeal HDR mechanism to edit the genome with no off-target activity. This method can also be combined with archaeal NHEJ machinery to allow random mutagenesis at a location of interest. Notably these tools allow efficient genome editing in methanogenic species potentially leading to novel biogenic strategies for methane production.
MRSI Improvements Dr. Liang from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed new MRI acquisition methods and post-acquisition data processing techniques that allow for a... Read More Dr. Liang from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed new MRI acquisition methods and post-acquisition data processing techniques that allow for a standard MRI instrument to perform traditional spin density imaging as well as susceptibility mapping, quantitative susceptibility mapping, and metabolite mapping with high resolution and signal to noise ratio from a single scan. Unlike other techniques, such as CT scans, the current technology does not require ionizing radiation and is thus safer for patients and radiology professionals.
A Machine Learning Approach to Elasticity Imaging Professor Insana from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed an information based technique to determine the... Read More Professor Insana from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed an information based technique to determine the mechanical properties of soft biological media. This technique has been adapted from the Auto-progressive algorithm that was originally developed for civil engineering applications. This algorithm is a unique combination of Force Displacement, Finite Element Algorithm (FEA), and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) along with what to sample and where to look. It is better than the inverse analysis or dynamic imaging techniques in that it has a machine learning aspect which eliminates the need of making any initial assumptions about the media being imaged. The technology has a lot of potential in non-linear imaging and is not tied to any one particular type of imaging technique. Its primary application is in ultrasound imaging.
A System for High-Fidelity Multiplex Detection of Biomarkers Dr. Aksimentiev from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with colleagues at Northeastern and University of North Carolina,... Read More Dr. Aksimentiev from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with colleagues at Northeastern and University of North Carolina, has developed multiplex detection platform for general biomarker sensing. This platform uses nanopore-based fingerprinting of nucleic acid nanoparticles to detect the presence of biomarkers. Using a single nanoparticle kit, this invention makes it possible to detect a variety of biomarkers and, thus, diagnose a variety of health conditions. The primary application for this biomarker sensing platform is in the diagnosis of health conditions (e.g., cancer). Additional applications include encryption for homeland security and biodefense.
Novel Endocannabinoid Therapeutics Dr. Aditi Das from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a novel set of therapeutic endocannabinoid derivatives.... Read More Dr. Aditi Das from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a novel set of therapeutic endocannabinoid derivatives. These derivatives retain the anti-inflammatory, anti-cancerous, anti-angiogenic, and anti-platelet aggregatory properties while having an increased half life. As these compounds are based off endogenous endocannabinoids it is predicted side-effects will be miminal. Importantly these derivatives show enhanced anti-migratory properties compared to the endogenous compound suggesting they will act as potent drugs.
Novel Endocannabinoid Therapeutics Therapeutic endocannabinoid derivatives showing an increased half-life and enhanced anti-migratory properties. These compounds retain the anti-inflammatory, anti-cancerous... Read More Therapeutic endocannabinoid derivatives showing an increased half-life and enhanced anti-migratory properties. These compounds retain the anti-inflammatory, anti-cancerous, anti-angiogenic, and anti-platelet aggregatory properties and are predicted to have minimal side-effects.
Large Scale Parallel DNA Detection by 2D Solid-state Multi-pore Systems A scalable device design of a dense array of multiple 2D nanopores made from nanoscale semiconductor materials to simultaneously detect multiple DNA strands and identify... Read More A scalable device design of a dense array of multiple 2D nanopores made from nanoscale semiconductor materials to simultaneously detect multiple DNA strands and identify translocations of many biomolecules in a massively parallel detection scheme. The technology is based on the variation of the transverse sheet current across each membrane. The electronic sensing across the nanopore membrane offers a higher detection resolution compared to ionic current blocking technique in a multi-pore setup, irrespective of the irregularities that occur while fabricating the nanopores in a 2D membrane.
Robotic Surgery with Haptic Feedback Researchers from University of Illinois have advanced the field of robotic surgery by introducing haptic feedback based on the 3D point cloud reconstruction technique. The... Read More Researchers from University of Illinois have advanced the field of robotic surgery by introducing haptic feedback based on the 3D point cloud reconstruction technique. The point cloud can be seen in the display and the doctor receives a feedback if the tip of the tool touches any unexpected region or with too great a force. The application has great potential since a small mistake can lead to death due to excessive bleeding.