21 / ROBOTICS AND AUTONOMY
MICRONBASE LAB
The Micro / NanoScale Biotic / Abiotic Systems Engineering Lab
BAHAREH BEHKAM | Director
The Micro / NanoScale Biotic / Abiotic Systems Engineering Laboratory was founded in 2009 to take part in research experimental and theoretical investigations of phenomena at the interface of biological and synthetic systems ( bio-hybrid engineering ) at both the micro and nano scales . Current research in the MicroNBASE Laboratory can be categorized as developing bio-hybrid engineered systems in which biological components are used for actuation , sensing , communication and control ( such as nanoscale bacteria-enabled autonomous drug delivery systems for cancer therapy , or NanoBEADS ); and studying the mechanisms of adhesion , motility and sensing in mammalian cells and unicellular microorganisms ( to see the effect of surface nanotopography on fungal biofilm formation ). Establishing well-defined and repeatable test environments for projects is done through the use of 2D and 3D microfluidic platforms .