1. BioMEMS, Bio-Nanotechnology, and Agricultural Research
Michael R. Ladisch, Rashid Bashir, Arun Bhunia
Laboratory of Renewable Resources Engineering,
Departments of ABE, ECE, BME and Food Science
Schools of Agriculture and Engineering
Purdue University

2. Multi-disciplinary Agriculture Engineering Medicine Science
Biotechnology
Medicine
Science

3. Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
Fabrication, study and modeling of devices and structures where at least one dimension is 200 nm or smaller.
Nanotechnology:
Enables devices that are compact, portable, energy efficient, integrate sensing, and carry out complex functions of a full-scale laboratory BioMEMS
Bio electromechanical systems

4. Nanotechnology: Size and Scale
Atoms
Proteins
Lysozyme
Carbon
Nano-tubes
Most Bacteria
Virus
Transistor
0.18µm
Plant and Animal Cells
100µm
Human Hair
75 µm
10µm
1µm
Feature Size
100nm
Nanotechnology
10nm
1nm
0.1nm
Cooper, 2001

5. Evolution of Technologies
Nanotechnology
“Wearable” Wireless
Internet Appliances
Molecular Electronics
Nano-Robots
Performance
Time
1900
1950
2000
2050
Semiconductor
Technology
Transistor
Radio
Computers
Cell
Phones
The Internet
Vacuum Tube
Technology
Radio
Radar
Television
Cooper, 2001

6. Branches of Nanotechnology
Micro-Mechanical
Systems (MEMS)
Electronic Nanotechnology
Microfluidics
& Bio-Chips

7. Smaller than a Postage stamp
10 mm
Biochip:
Smaller than a Postage stamp
sealed channels and wells (volume of 1 to 10 nL/well)
electrodes for detection
connecting pads
fluidic I/O ports
Bashir et al.

8. Role of Biotechnology Provides Bioreceptors Biomarkers (targets)
Knowledge of mechanisms
Interfaces macro- and nano-worlds
Templates for design of small devices

9. DNA mRNA Protein Information Component for Machine
Polymer of Amino Acids
Information
Assembly Point Disbands

10. Opportunities for Research
Design and Assemble Technology Platform
Chips
Receptors
Bioseparations
Signal Transduction
Interface Hardware and Software
Component Assembly and Packaging

11. Technology Issues We must know: Target molecule and its receptor
Threshhold for detection (sensitivity)
We must achieve:
Rapid sampling and conditioning
Specificity for target over biomolecules
High signal to noise

12. The Vision Detect Gene Expression Products Applications
Food, Agriculture
Biosecurity
Animal Health
Medicine
Research, Industry, Hospital, Home

13. Applications in Agriculture For Example-What is the cost of undetected pathogens?
Food Products
$13.1 billion in soda pop
7.5 billion in breakfast cereals
60.0 billion in fresh meats
Branded meats, precooked products,
micro-waveable red meats
Livestock, poultry
Sales figures from Kilman, Wall Street Journal, Feb 20, 2002

14. BioMEMS - Devices and Systems
Combine micro and nano devices with biology
at the molecular level
Implanted Diagnostic and Therapeutic Devices
Organs
Implants
Pacemaker
Tissues
Drug Delivery
Drug Delivery
Biochips
Polymers
Bottoms-Up
Nano-bio
Inorganic
Organic/Biological

15. Specific Objectives of National Research Program
1. Identify systems unique to agriculture
(cell membranes, starches, cellulose, oils)
2. Study biology of self-assembly processes
3. Apply to design, fabrication of BioMEMS
a. Tubes
b. Channels
c. Surfaces
Case studies must be agriculturally related

16. Potential Outcomes and Impacts
Bio-inspired design of inorganic devices
Methods for mass-producing components for BioMEMS through agriculture
a. A new fiber (cotton?) industry
b. Self assembling oils
c. Bio-based materials
3. Sampling methods and detection of pathogens

17. Research Budget Estimate
Bio-inspired assembly processes
$ 1 million / year
Methods for assembling nano-components into micro-devices $1 million /year
Applications testing in the field