Our Science
Innovation overload! ⚡Biomolecular Mechanics
"Everything in biology is mechanical." – Julio Fernandez
The overarching research objective of the BIONICS LAB is to uncover the fundamental physical forces that govern how cells generate, detect, and respond to mechanical forces at the molecular level. We have developed a set of DNA nanotechnology, super-resolution microscopy, biophysics, protein engineering and molecular analytic tools that empower us to achieve our goals.
Biomolecular Nanotechnology
"What I cannot create, I do not understand." – Richard Feynman
Our lab is using DNA nanostructures to reconstruct mechanically-functional biomolecular systems while capturing their spatial and mechanical contexts.
These biologically, spatially, and mechanically-relevant reconstituted systems are amenable to mathematically-rigorous, physically-sound, and highly-predictive modeling.
The Mechanobiology of Malaria Parasite Invasion
The initial theme of our lab will focus on the mechanical interactions that power and guide malaria parasite invasion. Malaria, an infectious disease caused by deadly Plasmodium parasites, is a global health concern. In 2013, malaria was responsible for ~200 million cases and claimed >500,000 lives, which is equivalent to ~1 death per minute.
Low-Cost Single Molecule Nanoarray for Democratizing Digital Diagnostics
Finally, our lab will put this knowledge to work. From the biomedical translational standpoint, we will also develop lithography-free cm-scale DNA origami nanoarrays for high-throughput single-molecule biophysics and low-cost digital diagnostics that target minuscule concentrations of biomarkers.
The origins of life
"All of us who study the origin of life find that the more we look into it, the more we feel it is too complex to have evolved anywhere." – Harold Urey
The most fundamental principle of the living system could have been concealed within the secret recipe to initiate life itself. Our lab combines various branches of science from organic chemistry, fluid mechanics, into geophysics and astrophysics to develop and test a protocell model that emerged from hydrodynamic forces acting on oil slicks trapped by an ancient ocean gyre. The oil slicks are light and water-insoluble organic materials made out of micrometeorite kerogen.
Our family of Bionauts ⚡
Ranjan
Sasmal 🇮🇳Postdoctoral scholar
Ph.D. – Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, India
Prathamesh
Chopade 🇮🇳
Postdoctoral scholar
Ph.D. – Sungyukwan University
Deepak
Karna🇳🇵
Postdoctoral scholar
Ph.D. – Kent State University
Gde Bimananda Mahardika Wisna 🇮🇩
Graduate student
ASU – Physics
Youssef
Hassan 🇺🇸
Undergraduate Researcher
ASU – Biochemistry
Sri Ujjwal Reddy Beereddy 🇮🇳
Undergraduate Researcher
ASU – Computer Science
Rayhan
Rizqi 🇮🇩
Undergraduate Researcher
ASU – Computer Science
Aaron
Sakai 🇺🇸
Undergraduate Researcher
ASU
Jae Woo
Jeong 🇺🇸
Undergraduate Researcher
ASU – Physics
Prananti
Chintada 🇺🇸
Highschool Researcher
BASIS Chandler
Anshum
Patel 🇺🇸
Highschool Researcher
BASIS Chandler
Collaborators ⚡
Xu Wang
ASU
Po-Lin Chiu
ASU
"Bernie" Yurke
Boise State University
Jong Seto
ASU
Hao Yan
ASU
BIONICS Cartoon
in collaboration with Sapto
BIONICS Outreach
for Science, for humanity, for a better future
"Lab life" = "Eat, sleep & innovate"
We celebrate everyone's birthday and our successes with papers, grants, and life events.
Where we are
The Biodesign Institute A (BDA), Arizona State University
