
Nanotechnology
Nanostructured materials represent the one of the five technological pillars of the Biointerfaces Institute. The focus of this work is on simulating nanomaterial self-assembly and developing the different kinds of nanotubes, nanoprobes, nanocatalysts and nanostructures for applications in medicine, energy conversion, and electronics.

Biointerfaces Institute researchers use nanostructured materials in drug delivery, neural interface, rare cell detection, different imaging modalities, and microfluidics organ replicas. Research groups from UM Medical School or Biomedical Engineering department focusing on the end-use therapeutics or diagnostics utilize nanoparticles developed by BI research groups specializing in particle synthesis. Some of the nanomaterials that developed in BI are unique to UM. They include “janus” biodegradable nanoparticles, iron sulfide (FeS2) nanoparticles, aramid nanofibers (ANFs), and biomimetic composites. Examples of ongoing projects taking advantage of unique properties of nanomaterials developed at the Biointerface Institute include selective targeting of breast cancer cells, long-term implants for brain recording, artificial bone marrow, single cell metabolism monitoring with SERS-active nanoparticle assemblies, and others.
Basic research on nanomaterials that is expected to advance the field of biointerfaces in the next 5-10 years includes replication of protein functions by inorganic nanostructures, theory and practice of nanoparticle self-organization phenomena, DNA mechanics, high-speed computer simulations of nanoparticle dynamics, membrane-particle interactions, and wetting at nanoscale interfaces. Considerable effort is also invested in understanding the challenges for scaled up manufacturing nanoscale materials and devices by bridging nanotechnologies with different types of high-throughput lithography and microelectromechanical devices.

Surface Corrugation offers important parameters to design physico-chemical properties of particles. The 'Hedgehog' particles are constructed by hydrothermal and sonochemical growth of ZnO nanowires on arbitrary microspheres.

The micron scale ovals, constructed by self-assembly of CdTe nanoparticles, are buried under layers of graphene oxide sheets. This image depicts a handful of buried eggs ready to hatch.

Related Press Releases & Articles

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- February 23, 2021 / Award
Call for Nominations: 2020-21 BI Innovator Awards
Nomination Deadline: March 31, 2021
The goal of the Innovator Awards is to recognize BI members who are actively participating in the research, innovation and translational ecosystem at BI and making a difference in our community.
This past year has been a strong reminder that the excellence and strength of our institute transcend research and innovation. BI members are continually contributing to their community through exceptional service and commitment to causes and activities that extend beyond science.
As in previous years, three Innovator Awards will be granted, with one awarded at the faculty, graduate student and postdoctoral level, respectively.
This year, we will be adding a fourth Innovator Award to recognize a person (graduate student, undergraduate student, faculty, postdoctoral fellow or staff) who is making a difference in the BI community, in particular, as it relates to contributions that extend beyond the topic of their scientific work. Examples of such exceptional achievement might include creation and launch or leadership in new programs and initiatives related to outreach, mentoring programs, diversity, equity and inclusion, well-being.

- February 1, 2021 / Article
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- January 1, 2021 / Article
Anna Schwendeman Promoted
Congratulations to Anna Schwendeman on being named the William I. Higuchi Collegiate Professor of Pharmacy!

- December 9, 2020 / Award
Nick Kotov Elected to National Academy of Inventors
Professor Nick Kotov was elected to the 2020 Class of Fellows by the National Academy of Inventors

- December 1, 2020 / Article
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- October 30, 2020 / Article
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- October 12, 2020 / Award
Kotov Recipient of Alpha Chi Sigma Award
For his work in self-assembly processes at the nanoscale, Nick Kotov received the 2020 Alpha Chi Sigma Award.

- September 30, 2020 / Article
Recent BI Publications
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- July 31, 2020 / Article
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- June 30, 2020 / Article
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- June 12, 2020 / Article
How Rod Shaped Particles Might Distract Neutrophils
Lola Eniola-Adefeso reports on the effect on the rod-shaped particles on neutrophils and their impact on targeting COVID-19

- May 29, 2020 / Article
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- April 30, 2020 / Article
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- April 13, 2020 / Article
Kotov Lab publishes findings on complex nanoparticle assemblies in Science
Research from the Kotov group on complex nanoparticle assemblies and their chemical and chiroptical properties was published in Science. The article is entitled “Emergence of Complexity in Hierarchically Organized Chiral Particles.”

- March 31, 2020 / Article
Recent BI Publications
Publications from BI Research Groups in March

- March 2, 2020 / Award
2020 BI Innovator Awardees
Congratulations to the 2020 BI Innovator Award Recipients. BI Innovator awards recognize members of the BI research community who are active participants in the research, innovation and translational ecosystem at BI.
The 2020 awardees will be featured speakers at the BI Research Day on March 18.

- February 28, 2020 / Article
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