University of Southern California

Triggered Assembly of Functional Protein Microdomains in the Cytosol

MacKay J.A., Pastuszka M.K., Shi P., Dhandhukia J., University of Southern California, US

Biology is unparalleled in the replication of complex structures with diverse functions on the molecular and cellular scale. By using biological materials to assemble structures, process information, and harness energy, the emerging field of synthetic [...]

Label-Free, Electrical Detection of the SARS Virus N-Protein with Nanowire Biosensors Utilizing Antibody Mimics as Capture Probes

Chang H.K., Ishikawa F., Chiang P.C., Zhou C., University of Southern California, US

In this report, we introduce evolved AMPs as a new class of capture agents for nanowire/nanotube biosensors, and demonstrate selective detection of a protein related to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), using devices based on [...]

Arrayed, Piezoelectrically-Actuated Mirrors and Gratings for Spectrometer

Chen S.J., Chi D., Lo J., Kim E.S., University of Southern California, US

This paper describes a technology for a compact spectrometer based on a 2D piezoelectric mirror and/or grating array. The piezoelectric mirror/grating array is composed of angularly movable, 2-D array of micromirrors/microgratings that is supported on [...]

High Fidelit Loud Microspeaker Based on PZT Bimorph Diaphragm

Choe Y., Chen S.J., Kim E.S., University of Southern California, US

This paper describes a microspeaker (composed of a 8mm square mechanically-polished PZT bimorph diaphragm and bulk-micromachined silicon top cover) that shows flat diaphragm displacement from DC to 11 kHz. A bimorph diaphragm is formed by [...]

Frequency-Interleaved MEMS Ultrasound Transducer

Chen S.J., Choe Y., Kim E.S., University of Southern California, US

This paper presents an ultra-sensitive, broad-bandwidth ultrasound transducer based on frequency interleaving of resonant transducers. A large number of cantilever-like diaphragm transducers with piezoelectric ZnO films have been optimally connected in series and parallel, so [...]

Amelogenin Nanospheres Supra-Molecular Assembly and the Preferential Orientation of Apatite Crystals

Moradian-Oldak J., Du C., Falini G., University of Southern California, US

Amelogenin self-assembly into nanospheres has been recognized as a key factor in controlling the oriented and elongated growth of carbonated apatite crystals during tooth enamel formation. We investigated the process of amelogenin self-assembly into higher [...]

Calcium-Alginate Nanoparticles for Nonviral Gene Delivery

You J-O, Peng C-A, University of Southern California, US

Natural biopolymers are widely used in the filed of drug and gene delivery. In this study, alginate nanoparticles were prepared using water-in-oil microemulsion as a template followed by calcium crosslinking of guluronic acid units of [...]

Enhanced Gene Delivery Efficiency in Resonant Acoustic Fields

Lee Y-H, Peng C-A, University of Southern California, US

Enhancement of DNA delivery efficiency has been improved by several physical and chemical approaches in the past decade. However, the application of those methods is hampered by large-scaled configurations. To augment gene delivery efficiency with [...]

Nanotube Stochastic Resonance: Noise–enhanced Detection of Subthreshold Signals

Lee I.Y., Liu X., Kosko B., Zhou C., University of Southern California, US

Noise can help signal detection at the nano-level. Experiments on a single-walled carbon nanotube transistor confirm that a threshold is sufficient for a nondynamical system to exhibit stochastic resonance: a judicious amount of noise can [...]

Microscope Slide Electrode Chamber for Nanosecond, Megavolt-Per-Meter Biological Investigations

Sun Y., Vernier P.T., Behrend M., Marcu L., Gundersen M.A., University of Southern California, US

Nanosecond pulsed electric fields pass through the external membranes of biological cells (which have typical response times much greater than nanoseconds) and perturb fast-responding intracellular structures and processes. To enable real-time imaging and investigation of [...]