(Invited) Multimodality Sensing and Actuation Using Nanocarbons

Abstract

My team’s efforts are focused on the development and engineering of nanocarbons-based flexible platforms to interrogate and affect the properties of cells and tissue, with a specific goal to understand signal transduction (chemical or electrical) in tissue or complex 3D cellular assemblies. Our highly flexible bottom-up nanomaterials synthesis capabilities allow us to form unique hybrid-nanomaterials that can be used in various input/output bioelectrical interfaces, i.e., bioelectrical platforms for chemical and physical sensing and actuation. We have developed several approaches for monitoring (and affecting) the complex signal transduction in 3D cellular assemblies toward an organ-on-an-electronic-chip (organ-on-e-chip) platform for tissue maturation and disease progression investigations. Utilizing graphene, a two-dimensional (2D) atomically thin carbon allotrope, we can simultaneously record the intracellular electrical activity of multiple excitable cells with ultra-microelectrodes that can be as small as an axon (ca. 2µm). The outstanding electrochemical properties of the synthesized hybrid-nanomaterials allow us to develop highly efficient catalysts, that can be deployed as electrical sensors and (chemical) actuators. We demonstrated sensors capable of exploring brain chemistry and sensors/actuators that are deployed in a large volumetric muscle loss animal model. Finally, using the unique optical properties of nanocarbons in the form of graphene-based hybrid-nanomaterials and 2D nanocarbides (MXene), we have formed remote, non-genetic bioelectrical interfaces with excitable cells and modulated cellular and network activity with low needed energy and high precision. In summary, the exceptional synthetic control and flexible assembly of nanomaterials provide powerful tools for fundamental studies and applications in life science and potentially seamlessly merge nanomaterials-based platforms with cells, fusing nonliving and living systems together.