Tuneable 'Nano-Shearing': An Innovative Mechanism for the Accurate and Specific Capture of Cells and Molecules (2014-2016)
Abstract
Our investigators have recently discovered a tuneable electro-hydrodynamic force which drives lateral fluid motion within a few nanometers of an electrode surface. Because the magnitude of this fluid shear force can be tuned externally (e.g., via the application of an AC electric field), it provides a new capability to physically displace weakly (non-specifically) bound cellular and molecular analytes. By performing research to further understand and develop this tuneable effect, this project aims to build and test a new platform technology to enable highly efficient capture and specific detection of low concentration pathogenic molecules and circulating tumor cells (CTCs).
