1. School of Biomedical Engineering, Science & Health Systems WWW.BIOMED.DREXEL.EDU/ResearchPortfolio/ V 1.0 SD [020214] The sensor market is one of the fastest growing markets in economy, with annual growth of about 18%. In particular, the market for biosensors is very promising. For example, the annual market in the US alone is about 500 million dollars for immunosensors and above one billion dollars for DNA probes. In addition to their medical uses, the emerging need for monitoring biological agents can significantly enlarge the biosensor market in the very near future. Piezoelectric solid-state transducer technology provides a wide range of micro- and nanodevices that are sensitive, accurate, small, portable, robust, and have excellent aging characteristics. Piezoelectric biosensors are typically designed to operate in a resonant-type sensor configuration implemented as an oscillator. The output sensor signal is the frequency, which facilitates the subsequent signal processing operations. Sensors configured as an oscillator can be equipped with an antenna for remote sensing and control. Another advantageous feature of using piezoelectric materials is that the same electro- mechanical transduction mechanism can be used not only for a sensing, but also for actuation. This property is essential for the design of piezoelectric surgical micro-cutters or liquid micro-flow systems. Therefore, it is possible to develop smart biostructures in which both sensing and actuating are realized within the same piezoelectric technology platform, and thus a piezoelectrically-based Chem-Lab-on-a Chip could revolutionize chemical and biochemical analytical diagnostics. In summary, the piezoelectric sensing platform offers a very versatile technology base for the development of sensors, actuators, and smart structures. Below the major piezoelectric major biosensor groups are described and their applications are presented. BIOSENSORS RESEARCH PROGRAM OVERVIEWPROGRAM OVERVIEW Faculty: Dr. Ryszard M. Lec, Drexel University. E-mail: r.lec@coe.drexel.edu Cell-based Acoustic NanoBioSensors Piezoelectrically-based Smart Micro- and Nano-Structures and Systems Antibody-based Piezoelectric NanoBioSensors Immunosensors have been the most explored and the most advanced class of acoustic biosensors. The interest results from the fact that antibodies can be obtained against almost any substance, antibody immobilization techniques are numerous and well developed, and the pertinent acoustic sensing mechanism is simple and is mostly determined by mass accumulation. NanoBioSensors incorporating living cells are capable of delivering functional information in contrast to previously discussed protein-based sensors, which provide analytical data. Functional information (i.e., information about the physiological effect of an analyte on a living system) is often desired in many important applications in pharmacology, toxicology, cell biology, and environmental measurements. In piezoelectric materials, an electro-mechanical transduction process takes place within a given material. Piezoelectrics are hence referred to as 'smart materials' because of this internal material transduction process. Such a material-based transduction process influences very positively the performance of piezoelectrics in terms of their reliability, size, and cost. Piezoelectric materials are very stable, chemically inert, and have excellent mechanical properties and very good aging characteristics.

2. School of Biomedical Engineering, Science & Health Systems WWW.BIOMED.DREXEL.EDU/ResearchPortfolio/ V 1.0 SD [020214] Brass Housing Solution Piezoelectric Plate O-ring Electrode A single-well piezoelectric transducer in the enclosure Immunosensors have been the most explored and the most advanced class of acoustic biosensors. The interest results from the fact that antibodies can be obtained against almost any substance, antibody immobilization techniques are numerous and well developed, and the pertinent acoustic sensing mechanism is simple and is mostly determined by mass accumulation. The detection process of antigens does not require labeling, which is the obvious advantage. Piezoelectric immuno- nanosensors are inexpensive, easy-to-use, and feature rapid response, hence they may allow for wide screenings and the development of effective preventive strategies for a broad range of diseases, including bio-agent detection such as anthrax or smallpox, viral infections, and cancer. ANTIBODY-BASED PIEZOELECTRIC NANOBIOSENSORS PROJECTONEPAGERPROJECTONEPAGER Faculty: Dr. Ryszard M. Lec, Drexel University. E-mail: r.lec@coe.drexel.edu

3. School of Biomedical Engineering, Science & Health Systems WWW.BIOMED.DREXEL.EDU/ResearchPortfolio/ V 1.0 SD [020214] CELL-BASED ACOUSTIC NANOBIOSENSORS PROGRAM OVERVIEWPROGRAM OVERVIEW NanoBioSensors incorporating living cells are capable of delivering functional information in contrast to previously discussed protein-based sensors, which provide analytical data. Functional information (i.e., information about the physiological effect of an analyte on a living system) is often desired in many important applications in pharmacology, toxicology, cell biology, and environmental measurements. Because a cell-based sensing process is physiologically relevant to natural cellular machinery, these type of sensors will experience growing significance in the near future. Moreover, these types of sensors should find applications in monitoring unknown bioagents, or exposure to the conditions with simultaneous multi-bioagent presence. Piezoelectric biosensor: A piezoelectric transducer with biological sensing layer (AG - AB) Faculty: Dr. Ryszard M. Lec, Drexel University. E-mail: r.lec@coe.drexel.edu

4. School of Biomedical Engineering, Science & Health Systems WWW.BIOMED.DREXEL.EDU/ResearchPortfolio/ V 1.0 SD [020214] PIEZOELECTRICALLY-BASED SMART MICRO- AND NANO-STRUCTURES AND SYSTEMS PROGRAM OVERVIEWPROGRAM OVERVIEW In piezoelectric materials, an electro-mechanical transduction process takes place within a given material. Piezoelectrics are hence referred to as 'smart materials' because of this internal material transduction process. Such a material-based transduction process influences very positively the performance of piezoelectrics in terms of their reliability, size, and cost. Piezoelectric materials are very stable, chemically inert, and have excellent mechanical properties and very good aging characteristics. Actuating features of piezoelectric materials can be used for the development of a variety of micro nano-devices, such as micro nano-fluidic pumps, valves, switches, mixers, and separators. In combination with micro nano- biosensors fabricated within the same technology platform, piezoelectric technology can potentially yield in the development of a completely novel class of smart nano-devices mimicking biological design. It is worth noting that most biological objects such as cells and proteins are piezoelectrics, thereby using man- made piezoelectric materials could be very advantageous. Metal Micro- Pumps Fluid in Crystal Substrate Wells Micro Channels Fluid out Faculty: Dr. Ryszard M. Lec, Drexel University. E-mail: r.lec@coe.drexel.edu