Research Projects
Arrayed Imaging Reflectometry
Simple methods for detecting and quantifying proteins in a multiplex (many proteins at once) fashion would potentially have considerable utility in the construction of point-of-care diagnostic devices, as well as tools for basic studies in biology and medicine. One technique under study by our group is Arrayed Imaging Reflectometry, a method whereby an antireflective coating (a in the figure) on a silicon chip is perturbed by protein binding (b) resulting in reflected light that’s proportional to the amount of protein bound.
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Dynamic Combinatorial Chemistry
Identifying high-affinity small molecule binders for medically relevant drug targets typically involves the iterative synthesis of large numbers of compounds. What if we could set up a system whereby small molecule fragments could undergo recombination in the presence of the target of interest, thereby allowing selection and amplification of the highest affinity binder? This idea, originally developed by a few labs (including ours) in the late 1990s, has developed into a vibrant field known as Dynamic Combinatorial Chemistry or Dynamic Covalent Chemistry (DCC).
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Photonic Biosensor-Enabled Tissue Chips
Microphysiological systems, or tissue chips, seek to reproducibly mimic human physiology in vitro. These devices contain human cells, and use microfluidic channels to deliver nutrients and appropriate signals to the developing tissues. By incorporating photonic ring resonator biosensors, we are able to monitor the secretion of specific protein analytes in a label-free and real-time manner.
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Solving the Sequence-Selective RNA Binding Problem
Through the efforts of a number of laboratories, we now have a code that allows us to synthesize high-affinity, high-selectivity ligands for DNA if we know the sequence. Developing an analogous code for RNA constitutes a landmark challenge in science. Using Resin-Bound Dynamic Combinatorial Chemistry (RBDCC) to expand on a general design hypothesis for RNA-binding compounds, we identified the first synthetic compounds able to bind (CUG) repeat RNAs, a toxic RNA important in type 1 myotonic dystrophy.
Learn more about Solving the Sequence-Selective RNA Binding Problem
Ultrasensitive Optical Detection of Viruses with Silicon 2-D Photonic Bandgap Structures
Direct single- or near-single copy detection of viruses is an important challenge in human health. Applications include the need to monitor emerging viral threats (H5N1 influenza and the SARS virus, for example), and the importance of understanding the long-term implications of nearly undetectable reservoirs of infection following antiretroviral therapy for HIV.