Nano Group, University of Southampton

Nano Group

Hybrid Biodevices

Hybrid Biodevices are micro or nano-structured systems that can provide technological solutions for a multitude of Life Sciences research areas, ranging from artificial life and systems biology to rapid diagnosis of disease. Core to the activity is the use of technologies that enable tiny amounts of fluid (nanolitres) to be manipulated and analysed on a chip. These micro analytical devices (Lab on a Chip) systems are used for tissue engineering on chip (ex vivo), for drug discovery, cell manipulation and sorting, molecular diagnostics and implantable sensors.

Microfluidic devices are designed and created within a specialised Rapid Prototyping facility in the Southampton Nanofabrication Centre. These devices are developed into functional platforms in the new Wolfson Laboratory for Hybrid Biodevices , comprising 300 m2 of custom laboratory space which is designed, among other applications, for analysing clinical samples, culturing biological organisms, and performing chemical biofunctionalization reactions. This laboratory, which also contains a substantial suite of state-of-the-art optical and electrical instrumentation, is located in the new Biological Sciences building and forms an integral part of the University's new cross-disciplinary Institute for Life Sciences. Also, the group is actively involved in the strategic development of novel microsystems for environmental analysis in the Centre for Marine Microsystems.

Key topics:

  • Medical Diagnostics
  • High-throughput Screening Platforms
  • Tissue Engineering
  • Synthetic and Systems Biology
  • Environmental Sensing
  • Nanotoxicity
  • Microfluidic device materials and technology