Research Areas
Welcome! These are the Web Pages for the Research Group of Robert M. Corn in the Chemistry Department at the University of California-Irvine. Our research efforts can be roughly divided into the following areas:
Single Nanoparticle SPRI Measurements
We have employed the technique of single nanoparticle SPRI microscopy to detect the adsorption of single nanoparticles in real time. We have published specifically on two applications of this methodology: (i) digital biosensing for the detection of single bioaffinity adsorption events, and (ii) the characterization of drug delivery polymeric nanoparticles via single nanoparticle refractive index measurements.
Nanostructured Mesoscale Optical Materials
We have developed various nanostructured mesoscale surfaces that possess unique optical and physical properties. Recent exemplary publications include nanocone array surfaces with unique optical and wetting properties and plasmonic nanoring arrays created from electrodeposited metallic, semiconductor and polymer materials.
Robust Attachment Chemistries for Surfaces and Nanoparticles
We have always devoted a substantial effort to the development, characterization and application of robust surface attachment and array fabrication chemistries strategies for oligonucleotides (both DNA and RNA), polypeptides, proteins, and carbohydrates onto metal, oxide and polymer planar biosensor surfaces and nanoparticles. We validate our surface attachment chemistries with a combination of SPRI, FTIR, XPS, TEM. Recent examples include surface attachment chemistries for silica nanowires and electrodeposited polydopamine microarrays.
Surface Enzyme Chemistries for Biosensing
Surface enzymatic reactions can greatly enhance the sensitivity of surface bioaffinity adsorption biosensors. We have developed a variety of new surface enzyme detection strategies and also new methods for the on-chip biosynthesis and self-assembly of RNA and protein microarrays.
Refractive Index-Based Diffraction Biosensors
We are have also helped develop the technique of refractive index-based diffraction biosensing to detect bioaffinity adsorption events in an easy-to-use format for the rapid field detection of disease biomarkers.
