The focus of our lab is to explore the light-mattering interactions, develop new tools to detect and control mechanics in the micro/nano scale, and apply these tools to tackle interdisciplinary problems. We are developing various sensing measurement tools with two main themes: 1) food and water and 2) health. Below are a few on-going research projects in our group.
Optical tweezers, or optical trapping systems, are a group of tools that utilize radiation pressure (optical forces) to manipulate particles at the micro/nanoscale and to sense forces down to femto-Newton (10^-15 N). In our lab, different from most of our peer researchers, optical fibers are used to build up optical tweezers. Optical fibers are a mature and low-loss waveguide, which bestow our fiber optical tweezers low cost, small sizes, and potential of being integrated. This research has been supported by National Science Foundation (NSF).
In addition to single cell manipulation in liquid, we are currently studying airborne particle trapping (publication pending). Our long-term goal will be developing portable optical fiber-based trapping systems for on-chip diagnostics, environmental monitoring, manufacturing process monitoring and control, and agriculture.
Fiber Optical Sensors for food and pharmaceutical industries
We are developing various fiber optical sensors for food, agriculture, pharmaceutical, and pulp&paper industries. The information we aim to obtain includes humidity, moisture content, deformation below the surface, aroma, chemical composition, and structural information. These sensors were developed by close mentoring of leading industrial members of NSF I/UCRC CARD. The support of this research includes funding from CARD, Department of Energy (DoE), the Massachusetts state government, and the US Army. These sensors will be applied to the DoE-supported smart dryer testbed at WPI, which was co-developed by the research team at WPI and UIUC.
Healthcare Instrumentation
In addition to the sensors, we are collaborating with medical doctors, engineers, and scientists to develop surgical tools that could make an impact to numerous patients. We are developing a steerable catheter for laser surgical removal of laryngeal lesions, by collaborating with Prof. Loris Fichera (WPI) and Dr. Thomas Carroll (Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Harvard Medical School). We also work with Prof. Yihao Zheng (WPI), Prof. Aswin Gnanaskandan (WPI), and Dr. Luis Savastano (UCSF Health) on a smart catheter for thrombectomy in the brain. Both projects are under the support of active National Institutes of Health (NIH) fundings.
Food, Water, and Air Safety Sensors
This is a new direction that we are pursuing, in response to the urgent and severe concerns of environmental crisis. We will look into both organic and inorganic contaminants in food, water, and air and understand their impact to both our health and the earth. Stay tuned.
(Subpages of Research section are under construction.)
updated 12/2022
[whohit]Research[/whohit]