The Micro-Nano Innovation Lab ("mini lab") investigates convergence science approaches to develop new intelligent sensing and robotic strategies in micro/nano scales.
What we do
The Micro-Nano Innovation Lab ("mini lab") investigates convergence science approaches to develop new intelligent sensing and robotic strategies in micro/nano scales. We study nanotechnology, light-matter interactions, micro-particle dynamics, microscale fluid dynamics, and bioengineering to reach our goal. The research involves the design and manufacture of micro/nano systems for diagnostics (e.g. infections, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases) and microscopic therapies/surgeries (e.g. localised drug delivery, novel minimally invasive procedures).
Why is it important?
Timely identification of illnesses, less intrusive interventions, and precise/personalised treatments in challenging areas within our bodies, like narrow blood vessels, are essential technologies for improved healthcare management. The foundation for empowering these technologies lies in the development of devices capable of sensitively detecting disruptions in microenvironments that impact normal physiology and of precisely addressing these issues via targeted drug delivery, surgery, etc. at the cellular and molecular levels (micro/nano scales). Understanding the pathophysiology and engineering of the designs and functionalities of such devices accordingly is, thus, vital to enhancing current medical technology. Also, this has the potential to drive the development of advanced medical micro-robots with integrated sensing and therapeutic capabilities, offering new opportunities for future advancements in healthcare.
How can it benefit patients?
Early detection of diseases followed by minimally invasive, targeted and personalised therapy can have evident advantages for patients in terms of prognosis, health management, and economic implications. First, it can reduce excessive physical and biochemical alterations to the microenvironments, e.g. scarring after resection, antimicrobial resistance after antibiotics administration, etc., offering a better prognosis with fewer side effects. Micro/nanodevices can also be engineered to be implantable, enabling long-term health monitoring and treatment. Finally, the localised and precise manner of the technology allows efficient planning of the optimal procedures and accurate dosage, resulting in reduced cost.
Meet the team
Masters and Undergraduate Students
- Mr Zhue Jie Tan, MEng in Mechanical Engineering (2026)
Open Vacancies
We will be recruiting a Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) position in microrobotics for precision manufacturing of miniaturised medical devices soon. If you are enthusiastic about multidisciplinary engineering at the microscale for the precision, automated manufacturing of medical devices, please keep an eye on Imperial Jobs posting.
Alumni
- Mr Justin Wong, MRes in Biomedical Research (2025)
- Miss Judy Huang, MEng in Mechanical Engineering (2025)
- Miss Stefani Georgallidou, MRes in Biomedical Research (2024)
Results
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Journal articleKim M, Min T, Kwon O-K, et al., 2015, , JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Vol: 29, Pages: 5523-5529, ISSN: 1738-494X
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- Citations: 2
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Journal articleGnapareddy B, Ahn SJ, Dugasani SR, et al., 2015, , COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES, Vol: 135, Pages: 677-681, ISSN: 0927-7765
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- Citations: 6
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Journal articleVellampatti S, Mitta SB, Kim JA, et al., 2015, , CURRENT APPLIED PHYSICS, Vol: 15, Pages: 851-856, ISSN: 1567-1739
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- Citations: 5
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Journal articleDugasani SR, Kim M, Lee I-Y, et al., 2015, , NANOTECHNOLOGY, Vol: 26, ISSN: 0957-4484
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- Citations: 31
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Conference paperChoi HM, Kim JA, Cho YJ, et al., 2015, , Pages: 68-70, ISSN: 1012-0394
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- Citations: 2
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Conference paperKim JA, Kim C, Park K, et al., 2015,
Development of an Integrated Optical Contact Force Monitoring Sensor for Cardiac Ablation Catheters
, 37th Annual International Conference of the IEEE-Engineering-in-Medicine-and-Biology-Society (EMBC), Publisher: IEEE, Pages: 4363-4366, ISSN: 1557-170X- Cite
- Citations: 3
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Conference paperKulkarni A, Dugasani SR, Kim JA, et al., 2015,
Photoelectric properties in metal ion modified DNA nanostructure
, 37th Annual International Conference of the IEEE-Engineering-in-Medicine-and-Biology-Society (EMBC), Publisher: IEEE, Pages: 4359-4362, ISSN: 1557-170X -
Journal articleGnapareddy B, Ha T, Dugasani SR, et al., 2015, , RSC ADVANCES, Vol: 5, Pages: 39409-39415
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- Citations: 14
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Journal articleKim H-U, Dugasani SR, Kulkarni A, et al., 2015, , RSC ADVANCES, Vol: 5, Pages: 67712-67717, ISSN: 2046-2069
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- Citations: 7
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Journal articleSan BH, Kim JA, Kulkarni A, et al., 2014, , ACS Nano, Vol: 8, Pages: 12120-12129
The electronic properties of biomolecules and their hybrids with inorganic materials can be utilized for the fabrication of nanoelectronic devices. Here, we report the charge transport behavior of protein-shelled inorganic nanoparticles combined with graphene and demonstrate their possible application as a bionanohybrid capacitor. The conductivity of PepA, a bacterial aminopeptidase used as a protein shell (PS), and the platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) encapsulated by PepA was measured using a field effect transistor (FET) and a graphene-based FET (GFET). Furthermore, we confirmed that the electronic properties of PepA-PtNPs were controlled by varying the size of the PtNPs. The use of two poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-coated graphene layers separated by PepA-PtNPs enabled us to build a bionanohybrid capacitor with tunable properties. The combination of bioinorganic nanohybrids with graphene is regarded as the cornerstone for developing flexible and biocompatible bionanoelectronic devices that can be integrated into bioelectric circuits for biomedical purposes.
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Contact Us
The Hamlyn Centre
Bessemer Building
South Kensington Campus
Imperial College
London, SW7 2AZ