William E' Bentley, PI, University of Maryland

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Biofunctionalized Devices - On Chip Signaling and
"Rewiring" Bacterial Cell-Cell
CommunicationMarch 09 Mid Year Update

• William E. Bentley, PI, University of Maryland
• Reza Ghodssi, Co-PI, University of Maryland
• Gregory Payne, Co-PI, University of Maryland
• Gary Rubloff, Co-PI, University of Maryland

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Exciting Result Nanofactory that Captures Cells
and Synthesizes and Delivers Signal Molecules
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Expected Transformative Benefits

• We are pursuing Biofabrication in which
  biological elements are used in the fabrication
  of the devices and become components of the
  functional device.
• This is accomplished by Biofunctionalization,
  where prefabrication of a completed microfluidic
  device is followed by on-demand, programmable
  insertion of functional biological entities at
  specific locations to serve the biotechnology
  application.
• In this vision, there is promise to dramatically
  expand the role of biohybrid devices in our
  society. Our overarching objective is to exploit
  the recognition and self-assembly capabilities
  found in biological systems for fabrication.
• Both (1) the means by which materials and devices
  are fabricated and (2) the components of the
  subsequent product can be found in nature. We
  offer this view of fabrication as a
  transformational process

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Project Management --- in light of
multi-disciplinary nature

• Promising Approaches
• We have bimonthly meetings with all PIs,
  students, and postdocs. At least 2 individuals
  give a presentation on their work.
• Our researchers, after being trained in each
  other PIs lab, are free to come and go among
  labs. They work on projects jointly and carve out
  research thrusts that will ensure each gets first
  author publications.
• Many of the researchers are in the Bioengineering
  Graduate Program, which embraces students from
  many backgrounds in a multidisciplinary degree
  program.
• Challenges
• Some of us are web and data storage savvy. Some
  arent. We are developing a tool that allows
  online discussion and data storage and public
  dissemination of our Collaborative
  (http//www.biochip.umd.edu).