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 articleChoi H, Kim JA, Cho Y, et al., 2014, , RSC Advances, Vol: 4, Pages: 41922-41926
© the Partner Organisations 2014. The reduction of resistance and surface roughness obtained by CO2cluster jet were up to 81% and 42.3% compared with pristine graphene. The shifts in Raman spectra also implied chemical doping and "mono-layerization". Thus, CO2cluster jet has the potential for planarization, cleaning and flattening of the graphene. This journal is
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Journal articleGahng S, Ra CH, Cho YJ, et al., 2014, , APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS, Vol: 104, ISSN: 0003-6951
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- Citations: 29
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Journal articleDugasani SR, Kim JA, Kim B, et al., 2014, , ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES, Vol: 6, Pages: 2974-2979, ISSN: 1944-8244
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- Citations: 31
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Journal articleQin H, Xu Y, Kim J, et al., 2014, , MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING B-ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL SOLID-STATE MATERIALS, Vol: 184, Pages: 72-79, ISSN: 0921-5107
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Conference paperKim JA, Qin H, Hwang T, et al., 2014,
Novel environmental monitoring sensor technologies with fiber optics and various sensing layers
In this study, we have suggested various sensors for aerosol, VOCs (volatile organic compounds), and biomolecules detecting with diverse sensing layers such as, tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), thymol blue, polypyrrole, graphene, graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (rGO), DNA, and so on. Every sensors have shown very interesting sensing characteristics with good performances. Steadily, we are proceeding various fiber optic sensors with fascinating sensing layers and mechanisms as well.
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Conference paperHwang T, Kim JA, 2014,
Glucose Waveguide Sensor Based on Graphene
, 13th IEEE Sensors Conference, Publisher: IEEE, ISSN: 1930-0395 -
Journal articleGnapareddy B, Kim JA, Dugasani SR, et al., 2014, , RSC ADVANCES, Vol: 4, Pages: 35554-35558, ISSN: 2046-2069
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- Citations: 5
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Conference paperKim JA, Hwang T, Dugasani SR, et al., 2014,
Functional Graphene Composite Films for Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensor Technology
, 13th IEEE Sensors Conference, Publisher: IEEE, ISSN: 1930-0395 -
Journal articleHwang T, Kim JA, Kulkarni A, et al., 2013, , SENSORS AND ACTUATORS B-CHEMICAL, Vol: 187, Pages: 319-322, ISSN: 0925-4005
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- Citations: 8
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Journal articleKim JA, Hwang T, Dugasani SR, et al., 2013, , SENSORS AND ACTUATORS B-CHEMICAL, Vol: 187, Pages: 426-433, ISSN: 0925-4005
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- Citations: 124
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Contact Us
The Hamlyn Centre
Bessemer Building
South Kensington Campus
Imperial College
London, SW7 2AZ