Biosensors
SENSORS AND SENSING. Organisms sense physical stimuli (e.g, fluid motion, sound pressure, etc) with structures or processing schemes that often are quite different from that employed in human-built systems, particularly because humans are so visually oriented. However, an organism's ability to gather information efficiently is often key to their survival, and organisms must perform these tasks under conditions of limited processing power or materials. Studying animal sensation therefore can yield novel sensors, or develop sensors that efficiently gather particular information for a certain task in a specific environment. The limits on neural processing machinery and sensory structures make animal strategies particularly useful for autonomous systems. Animals must also frequently communicate without exposing themselves to predators or other dangers, and provide insights in how to design private communication channels.
Project 1
Laminar trail tracer, based on asymmetric linear sensor of microcrustaceans
Jeannette Yen | School of Biology
| Georgia Tech
aims
Better understanding of the chemosensory abilities
of plankton: organisms that live at the interface
of laminar and turbulent regimes.
potential impact
Advance our understanding of Aquatic
ecosystem function,
small-scale fluid physics, Chemical communication
Better understanding of the chemosensory abilities of plankton 9
organisms that live at the interface of laminar and turbulent regimes.
current research and capabilities | relevant research
projects :
Tracking response to laminar trails using an aquatic microcrustacean
with an asymmetric linear sensor
Relevant research capabilities: Schilerenoptical pathway for 3D visualization of
small-scale flow and aquatic plankton behavior
open research questions | research issues
Role of viscosity and small-scale oceanic fluid flow
Project 2
Chemical plume tracker, based on crab guidance system
Ryan Cantor, Marc Weissburg, and Jiri Janata | School of Biology |
School of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Georgia Tech
Project 3
Auditory Retina, based on the fish ear
Minami Yoda, Peter Rogers | School
of Applied Physiology | Georgia Tech
Project 4
Sustainability and Polymer Recycling | Cyclodextrin“dye inclusion complexes
Mohan Srinivasarao | School of Polymer,
Textile and Fiber Engineering
School of Chemistry and Biochemistry | Georgia Tech
Topic Summary : Rotaxanes consist of macrocyclic rings trapped onto linear molecules by end capping the threading molecule with two bulky substituents. We synthesize and characterize rotaxanes based on cyclodextrins (cyclic sugars with 6, 7 or 8 glucose units) and are studying their optical and electro-optical properties with aim to make supramolecular devices based on them. The cyclodextrins have a hydrophobic interior and a hydrophilic exterior and thus improve the water solubility of several 'threading' molecules, say conjugated structures. In addition to improving water solubility which makes them candidates for say improving solubility of pharmaceutical compounds, these systems are ideal host-guest compounds forming model systems to receptor-substrate systems.. The architecture and specific molecular interactions provide ways of controlling luminescence, charge transport as well as chemical and mechanical stability in these molecular materials. We study the interactions and the photo-physical properties of our model compounds both o understand the underlying science and to provide material for making organic solar cells.
Project 5
bioMEMS/ Micro-fluidics
Hang Lu | School of Chemical and Biomolecular
Engineering | Georgia Tech
Project 6
NeuroLab, Butera Group
Rob Butera | School in Electrical and Computer Engineering |
Georgia Tech
Of particular interest are general studies of how single neuron properties contribute to the synchronization of neural circuits and the neural basis of respiration. We also have ongoing projects in electrophysiological instrumentation development and artificially replacing aspects of nervous system function in simple model organisms. Several of these projects involve the integration of in vitro experiments with real-time computational models. Other interests include nonlinear dynamical systems and oscillatory electronic circuits inspired by some of our neurobiological research.
