This dissertation presents two experimental studies of DNA polymers inside nanofluidic devices with well-defined topographic features. Those features include square pits and rectangular trenches etched …
DNA damage is the primary molecular mechanism responsible for cancer and aging. DNA lesions can derive from oxidation, deamination, or alkylation of the nucleobases. If …
KMT2A-translocations are seen in 5-10% of patients with leukemia, but it is present in approximately 50% of pediatric AML diagnoses. Acute leukemias carrying chromosomal translocations …
Regions of repetitive DNA, in particular trinucleotide repeats, are common throughout the human genome and are of interest as a source of genomic instability. DNA …
We explore the interactions between engineered nanoscale structures (primarily nanopores and nanotubes) and biomolecules on three inter-related fronts: DNA and protein separation, drug delivery, and …
This project aimed (1) to learn the fundamental mechanism of DNA extraction on a novel microfluidic chip that takes advantage of hydrophilic/hydrophobic interactions between sample …
Nanopore system is important for its many promising applications in rapid DNA sequencing, large biological molecule detection, polynucleotide-enzyme interaction study and etc. Following the first …
DNA stores the genetic information of almost all organisms and its integrity and stability are essential to life. Unfortunately, mutations can occur within the genome …
In recent years, attempts at mapping neuronal circuitry have become more effective with the advent of new technologies that can label precise synapses and provide …
Biological Aging is a multifactorial process that is affected by both environment and genetics. Within cells, aging is jointly affected by genes encoded in both …
The intercalation of silver ions into DNA occurs via non-canonical base pairing with cytosine-cytosine mismatches. We present a characterization of these duplexes through the following …
Accurate prediction of RNA editing sites requires being able to differentiate genuine edit events from single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) events and sequencing machine error events. In …
There exists a fluidic version of the electrostatic field-effect, by which the transport of ions and charged objects in solution can be controlled in nanoscale …
Nanopores can be used as sensors to probe the structure of single polymers. In a typical experiment, a thin insulating membrane containing a nanometer-scale pore …
Theoretical studies have shown that, contrary to the traditional belief that noise is unwanted and an experimental nuisance, under certain circumstances noise can play a …
We present an experimental study of the driven diffusion of colloids and DNA inside a micro-channel, and interstitials in two-dimensional colloid crystal. Photo-lithography and soft-lithography …
