Our lab is dedicated to bridging the worlds of nanoelectronics and biology. We design nanoscale electronic, optical, and hybrid devices that allow us to directly interface with biological systems — from single molecules to tissues. By integrating nanofabrication with biophysics, spectroscopy, and systems biology, we aim to create tools that not only measure but also modulate biological processes with molecular precision. This work opens new frontiers in neuroscience, intracellular signaling, diagnostics, and sequencing technologies.
A central focus of our research has been the development of devices capable of probing biomolecules one at a time. Early on, we created feedback-controlled metallic nanogaps, which offered reproducible fabrication of sub-10 nm gaps ideal for constructing molecular electronic devices.
More recently, our group introduced solid-state nanopore devices integrated with transverse tunneling junctions. These hybrid devices not only allow controlled translocation of biomolecules but also provide real-time electrical and Raman-based signatures at the single-molecule level. Our patented Quantum-NanoElectroPore (Q-NEP) platform combines nanopore sensing with reproducible plasmonic enhancement, overcoming longstanding challenges of diffusion limits and variability in single-molecule detection. This work paves the way for robust diagnostic technologies, environmental monitoring, and even next-generation DNA sequencing.
Representative publications
Understanding the brain requires tools that can capture fast and localized electrical activity. We have developed silicon nanowire field-effect transistor (FET) arrays capable of recording extracellular signals from cardiomyocytes and acute brain slices. These arrays achieve both high temporal and spatial resolution, allowing us to map dynamic neural circuits and study how networks process information.
By carefully tuning device size and geometry, we quantified how nanoscale design influences recording resolution, helping establish design principles for next-generation bioelectronic interfaces.
Representative publications
To move beyond extracellular recording, we developed kinked silicon nanowires and free-standing nanoscale FET probes that penetrate individual cells in a minimally invasive fashion. Coated with biomimetic membranes, these bend-up probes mimic natural interfaces and achieve stable intracellular recordings of action potentials.
Our free-standing kinked nanowire probes extend this approach by allowing precise 3D targeting of specific cells and regions within tissues. With these tools, we can multiplex recordings across multiple cells, monitor drug effects in real time, and gain unprecedented access to the inner workings of living cells.
Representative publications
Our devices are not limited to single cells. By integrating flexible and ultrathin nanoelectronic scaffolds into synthetic tissues, we have shown that engineered tissues can be embedded with active bioelectronic functionality. These hybrid constructs allow long-term monitoring and modulation of cellular behavior in engineered environments, opening new directions for regenerative medicine and synthetic biology.
Representative publications
Beyond sensing, we also develop methods to control intracellular signaling with precision. We discovered that alternating current electric fields (AC EFs), applied through microelectrodes, can directly modulate ERK signaling dynamics in mammary epithelial cells. Importantly, this modulation occurs without electroporation or chemical stimulation, revealing a new, non-invasive way to regulate cellular pathways.
By tuning waveform, amplitude, and timing, we achieved synchronization of signaling activity and demonstrated control over cell fate decisions.
Representative publications
Our work demonstrates that nanoelectronics can do more than measure biology — they can shape it. By advancing single-molecule detection platforms, neural interfaces, and methods for controlling cell signaling, we aim to establish transformative technologies for diagnostics, brain–machine interfaces, and synthetic biology. The convergence of nanotechnology, spectroscopy, and biology promises to redefine how we study and manipulate life at its most fundamental scales.