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Last decade has seen an extensive
research geared towards developing microsystems for biological and
environmental applications. A number of microdevices are being developed
that range in application from
bedside diagnostic testing to on-field biosensor probes. My research work is a combination of
Microfluidics, BioMEMS and integrated optics to realize biochemical analysis
tools.
I am currently involved in developing field
flow fractionation (FFF) based
microchromatography
systems and on-chip
detection schemes for the development
of basic platform for
micro total analysis systems.
Micro separation systems under study
are capable of separating soluble and colloidal sample ranging from few
nanometers to several microns and can be used for detection and size analysis
or sample preparation for further downstream processing. These 25
mm in height, 2 mm wide and 5 cm long FFF devices use a variety of driving force which include
electrical, thermal, dielectrophoretic in combination or alone. My
work is related to devise the experimental methods to study not so well
understood aspects of these systems, improvement in existing systems and
development of new products.
In following section I have listed a
brief description of the research work carried out as part of my M.S. thesis
and outgrowth of it, which I have continued to work on during my Ph D. For
detailed reference, reader is requested to visit the publications or follow
the links given below.
Theoretical
 | For my M.S. thesis I worked on improving the existing geometrical scaling models for
the field flow fractionation systems. These findings have shown
improvement in the performance of field flow fractionation systems
with miniaturization and paved the way for them to be a primary candidate
as the sample preparation units for
lab-on-a-chip
or micro total analysis systems. |
| Currently I am working on understanding the
wall repulsion effects on the sample cloud in case of micro FFF systems.
In general this effect is found in a number of other situation that
include microfluidic systems,
biosensors, biological interaction studies
and so on. |
| I am also associated with a project that
involves the use of
CFD (using
FIDAP and Fluent software) to study the entrance
effects in microfluidic channel and improvement in sample injection
scheme for micro field flow fractionation systems using. The unique
approach taken in this case shows how effective microfabrication
techniques are in solving the problems which can be very difficult
to solve otherwise. |
Design and Manufacturing
| I have gained extensive theoretical and hands on
experience of the latest microfabrication equipment at
IFM,
Louisiana Tech University and HEDCO,
University of Utah |
| At Louisiana Tech in conjunction with a research
group member of my M.S. thesis co-advisor Dr. Steven A. Jones, I designed and
developed a microfluidic platform for the shear activation study of platelet.
A combination of
microfabrication,
softlithography and
nanotechnology
(layer by layer
self assembly)
was used to realize the test specimens. |
| In order to produce microsystems in fast and
inexpensive way I am working on developing new rapid prototyping
techniques to produce
microfluidic laminates and also modifying
the existing fabrication scheme to yield glass and plastic based devices
with in-house equipments. |
Development
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I have designed and developed a new thermal-electric
field flow fractionation system. This
project involves a detailed study of the microscale heat transfer and
complex effect of the combined driving force on separation ability of the
system, in addition to unique adjustment in fabrication approach.
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As part of my effort to make FFF
systems more suitable for biochemical analysis I am developing both on and
off chip optical detection schemes. This includes monolithically
fabricated integrated evanescent
type
waveguide based detector
and a flexible off-chip fiber optic detection manifold. |
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To further the application of micro
FFF devices, I am developing a microfabricated direct read out particle
size measurement device. |
In addition, I have trained and
assisted fellow
research group members (undergraduate, M.S. and Ph D level students) on
fabrication and testing of the micro FFF/ SPLITT related projects. |
