Sensors and Electron Devices Directorate Research Areas

Bioinspired Devices and Sensors

Advisor: Pellegrino, Paul M.  (paul.m.pellegrino@us.army.mil 301-394-2030)
Keywords: Biosensor; Biomimetic; Photonics; Electronics; Biotechnology; Sensors; Bioengineering

The objective of our research is to investigate biologically-inspired routes and advanced biotechnology for improved performance and fabrication ability of photonic/electronic devices and sensors. Natural evolution could be considered the pinnacle of engineering science. Mimicking or understanding the unique processes, structures, and phenomena generated by this natural engineering could shed new insight into physical limitation imposed by classical methodologies. The combination of modern biotechnology, which imparts us with the ability to manipulate organisms, cells, and DNA and bioengineering, could provide researchers a new paradigm for development of revolutionary photonics, electronics, organic-electronic hybrids, and sensors. In an effort to capitalize on these advances, targeted investigations will be conducted on the following areas: biosensors to either sense biology or sense with biology, biomimetic sensors, photonic and electronics devices which replicate/mimic or harness biology, and bioelectronics built from biological structures or assembled/enabled by biological structures. These efforts include the development of new characterization methods (spectroscopy and metrology) geared specifically to organic or organic-inorganic hybrid materials. Practical use of advanced biotechnology for electro-optic devices and sensors is inherently a cross-disciplinary pursuit. Large effort must be applied to find advantageous biological-inspired routes for the respective technology areas and will include input from classical technical disciplines (biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering).