A SAMPLING OF FUNDED NANOSCIENCE PROJECTS WINTER 2008 (Continued)

PROJECT RESEARCHER DESCRIPTION HIGHLIGHTING RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AT UCF DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS Geometric Modeling for Computer-aided Nano Design Yan Wang Study multi-scale geometric modeling and simulation for Computer Aided Nano Design (CAND) by the aid of hyperbolic surfaces (NSF—CAREER) DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL, MATERIALS & AEROSPACE ENGINEERING UCF Reinforced Al and Ti Linan An Process and characterize the Al/Ti based nanocomposites reinforced with ceramic (Oak Ridge National Lab) Novel Brush Plating for In Situ Fabrication of Metallic Quanfang Chen Developed for in situ fabrication of CNTs reinforced metallic nanocomposites for various surface engineering applications (NSF) Development of a Large Format and Stroke MEMS Deformable Mirror Quanfang Chen Develop an innovative deformable mirror (DM) for revolutionary adoptive optical for Direct Imaging of Extrasolar Planets systems & Commercialization Acquisition of NIL (Nanoimprint Lithography) System Hyoung Jin Cho Study nanoimprint (NIL) and soft lithography techniques, which were developed in 1990’s are high-throughput, low cost replication methods (NSF) Nano-particles/tubes Integrated MEMS device for Point Contact Hyoung Jin Cho Research nano-particles/tubes and integrated device for point contact highly-sensitive Highly-sensitive Hydrogen Sensor hydrogen sensor N D I N G A • B O B I L Highly Selective Nano-MEMS Low Temperature Hydrogen Sensor Hyoung Jin Cho Develop low temperature based hydrogen detection technology for the US space A N I T Y program and vehicles M • C K U 3-D Prous Nanostructured Hydroxyapatite Bone-grafts Doped with Samar Kalita Build 3-D porous bone-grafts and examine influences of nano-ceramic and trace I N H I Q Essential Trace Elements elements . U J E Composite cathodes for Intermediate Temperature SOFCs: A com- Nina Orlovskaya Selection and characterization of the cathode materials and cathode processing S E L prehensive approach to designing materials for superior functionality M A Development of Surface Modification Techniques for Synthesis of Yongho Sohn Develop hybrid tungsten nano powders for pressure-assisted plasma compaction A B J O Hybrid Tungsten Nano-Powders (also with Advanced Materials (US Army Research Laboratory) R Processing and Analysis Center) H A T Failure Mechanisms, Lfe Prediction and Enhanced Performance of Yongho Sohn Understanding in materials engineering and physics related to failure mechanisms, life I T O Thermal and Environmental Barrier Coatings (also with Advanced Materials prediction, and performance enhancement of thermal and environmental barrier coat- W Processing and Analysis Center) ings (TBCs and EBCs) for prime-reliant applications in fuel-flexible gas turbine engines R Y DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS A & Ion nanobeams, focused ion beams for the nano era, Buenos Aires, Gabriel Braunstein Review the state of present developments, and will explore potential future advances, • Q Argentina, February 2006 in the field of finely focused ion beams (NSF) N • A FIB Fabrication of carbon nanotubes devices for High Tech Lee Chow Develop new thermal protection system of space shuttle orbiter based on carbon applications nanotubes E N

Gas-phase Catalytic Processes on Metal Nanoclusters Beatriz Roldan Cuenya Establish a relationship between nanoparticle size, shape, and chemical composition C O

and catalytic properties (NSF) N R Low dimensional vibrational dynamics on size selected 57Fe and Beatriz Roldan Cuenya Provide further insight into the catalyic properties of metal nanoparticles E 57FePt nanoparticles sysnthesized by inverse micelle encapsulation I E C S Surface Plasmon polariton dependence on metal surface morphology Robert Peale Study characteristics of surface Plasmon polaritons (SPP) on metal films as a function S E of film quality A Controlling Structural, Electronic, and Energy Flow Dynamics of Talat Rahman Carrying out theoretical and compuational studies of processes that are related to O R Catalytic Processes through Tailored reactivity and selectivity of chemical reactions on surfaces and on nanostructures N

C [US Department of Energy (DOE)] A

H Testing Carboneous Samples with Vibrational Micro-Spectroscopy Alfons Schulte Perform micro-Raman and micro-FTIR measurements on carboneous compounds N

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PERMIT NO. 3575 S H 0703RES027-02/08 N A C E N O S C I E N UCF winter 2 0 0 8 UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA Cookin’ with M.J.

Nanoscience at UCF Moves into New Phase

Being able to work with materials at a scale far beyond detection by the human eye offers M.J. Soileau

& Commercialization researchers across the board an exciting array of Vice President for Research & Commercialization possibilities for discovery. Science at the nanoscale is not new but it is to concentrate his efforts on teaching and his generating a buzz in the scientific community as research, which is making inroads in using applications in medicine, materials, computing nanotechnology to help those who suffer from and electronics are entering the mainstream. spinal cord injuries, Alzheimer’s and Lou N The state of Florida recognized this Gehrig’s disease and which has received $2.3 E potential five years ago when UCF was million in funding since his arrival at UCF. A C granted $4 million to start a nanoscience Hickman set the tone for recruiting top faculty N N initiative. In 2003 the NanoScience Technology to the NSTC, developing facilities for the O E Center (NSTC) was formed. James J. Hickman, center and helping the center faculty secure S C I who was hired as founding director in 2004, sponsorship for their work. succeeded in consolidating UCF researchers UCF has much to look forward to as we across multiple disciplines and hiring many explore the world of the small. See the many HIGHLIGHTING RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AT UCF more to better respond to nanoscience funding exciting projects featured in this publication for opportunities and develop the technologies examples. Just one such example is the work demanded by the industries of the future. of Sudipta Seal. Contents In 2007 the NSTC officially opened a 20,000- Seal, who served as UCF’s first nanoscience square-foot renovated research facility in the coordinator and who is currently a professor A Short HIstory of Nanoscience NanoScience Technology Center Focus Areas Central Florida Research Park. A total of 15 in the Department of Mechanical, Materials faculty and 42 graduate students at the center and Aerospace Engineering and the Advanced While technology is now enabling startling new A diverse group of scientists, most of whom have joint John C. Hitt are creating tools to treat neurological diseases; President, University of Central Florida Materials Processing and Analysis Center applications for science at the nanoscale, a historical look appointments with other academic units on campus, are materials that can advance solar and fuel cell [email protected] as well as the NanoScience Technology shows that humans have made use of for working in UCF’s NanoScience Technology Center to technology; and longer-lasting batteries that can Terry Hickey Center, recently submitted a proposal to a 4 8 thousands of years. research and discover the potential of nanotechnology Provost and Executive Vice President make ever-smaller electrical devices a reality. prestigious National Science Foundation [email protected] Q&A with James J. Hickman, Founding to treat disease, create materials and power ever-smaller As we begin 2008 program. His proposal and 15 other proposals, M. J. Soileau Director of NanoScience Technology Center electrical devices. Vice President for Research the NSTC will move from universities including the University of and Commercialization into its next phase Minnesota, University of Michigan, Johns The founding director of the NanoScience Technology A Sampling of Nanoscience Projects at UCF [email protected] as Debra Reinhart, Hopkins, the University of Washington, Center answers questions about the latest research being Tom O’Neal executive associate 5 Nanoscience is an enabling technology, touching almost Berkeley and Harvard, were the only ones done at UCF. Associate Vice President for Research every discipline on campus. A sampling of funded research Chief Executive Officer, dean for the College funded out of 267 submissions. Not bad Nanoparticles Enable Physicians to Visualize UCF Technology Incubator of Engineering and company. projects at UCF includes photonics, the biomedical [email protected] Tumors at an Earlier Stage of the Disease 10 Computer Science, sciences, solar energy, physics and other areas. Barb Compton Abney Industry has recognized the potential of takes on a new Nanoparticles can be designed to latch onto cancer cells Editor nanoscale science for some time. Communities NEWS [email protected] and signal their presence, giving researchers and physicians responsibility as are beginning to see a payoff, not just in 6a new tool for early detection of small tumors. interim director of Debra Reinhart terms of companies and jobs but also in the Recent research projects are uncovering unexpected UCF RESEARCH is produced by the Office of Research & Commercialization the Nanoscience development of new tools that make life easier Unique Laboratory Enables Integration of uses of a particular type of rare earth nanoparticle that at the University of Central Florida. For more information about UCF’s Center. A national search for a person to serve sponsored research activities, contact Tom O’Neal, Associate Vice and, in some cases, longer. Electronics and Living Brain Samples has been found in tests on rat brains that increases President for Research, 12201 Research Parkway, Suite 501, Orlando, FL as director of both the NanoScience Technology 11 The science we are conducting at UCF is longevity, reduces risk of spinal cord disorders and 32826 (407-882-1120). For information about stories contained in the Center and the Advanced Materials Processing The science conducted at UCF’s unique Hybrid Neuronal exciting and, for this community, just what improves eyesight. newsletter, contact the editor or the appropriate Web site. and Analysis Center (AMPAC) is under way Systems Laboratory is not possible at any other lab in Opinions expressed do not reflect the official views of the university. we need to see. 7the world. and is being chaired by Dean Eric VanStryland Use of trade names does not constitute endorsement by the University Cheers! of Central Florida. of the College of Optics and Photonics. Please credit University of Central Florida UCF RESEARCH when UCF owes a special thanks to James (aka ‘J’) UCF R esearch 3 reproducing content from the publication. Hickman who asked to return to the faculty MJS [email protected] winter 2 0 0 8 UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA

A Short History of Nanoscience Q&A with James J. Hickman, Founding Director, UCF NanoScience Technology Center

For thousands of years to perform various functions at the president Bill Clinton who dedicated humans have worked with nanoscale atomic scale. This vision was similar to billions of federal dollars to the National James J. Hickman was named the director of UCF’s NanoScience Technology Center in 2004. He has materials without their knowledge. the concept explored in the 1966 classic Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) to expand a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in chemistry, as well as B.S. and M.S. degrees movie “Fantastic Voyage” starring Rachel practical utilization of this technology. Nanoscience and nanotechnology deal in chemistry from Penn State University. with materials, devices and systems on a Welsh, in which a miniature submarine Largely because of the hype generated nanometer scale which is a thousand times was injected into an artery in a mission to from Drexler’s speculative conjectures, smaller than a single strand of hair—or destroy a blood clot. Drexler went on to many have been concerned with this new between 1-100 billionth of a meter in size. write a more technical book “Nanosystems: discipline. There have been questions about In fact, the earliest uses of nanotechnology Molecular Machinery, Manufacturing, and nanoscience’s impact on the environment, have been traced to the Roman period. The Computation” in 1992 and he coined the on personal health and, in some cases, Lycurgus cup, which dates to the fourth phrase “gray goo,” for what would result if What is your pioneer in the area of nanotherapeutic particles, Chris Clausen and have even led to extreme predictions about particular century and currently molecular “assemblers” the actual threat posed by progress in this Cherie Geiger, professors of chemistry, and Debra Reinhart, interim resides in the British went out of control and area of director of the NTSC, received a NASA Invention of the Year field. Many public organizations have been research? Museum in London, continued to reproduce created to study the ethics and societal award for developing nanoparticles to help clean up contaminated actually contains copies of themselves, Describe some sites at Kennedy Space Center. impact of nanotechnology. The NanoEthics of your major nanosized gold thereby destroying the Group (www.nanoethics.org) was created in research Have UCF researchers created any products and silver particles. environment. 2003 to bring clarity to this dialogue. projects. or innovations as of yet? Another example Drexler’s ideas were from antiquity is Patrick Lin, the founder and research very speculative and director of the Nanoethics group, says he is I was educated as a We can now actually create devices from adult neuronal cells as well the ruby red color of in the end alienated surface chemist. My current some of the stained not surprised by the questions and hopes his as disease models or transgenic models in rats and mice. We hope many in the scientific organization can provide a forum to “try to research dates back to some of we can extend these findings to humans. glass that was made community. The my early work in nano catalysis as bring science and common sense” back to Nanotherapeutics offers commercial applications that we will during the Medieval central critique of well as in self-assembled layers on microstructures. Since that time the debate on nanotechnology. certainly see within the next five years. period. That color was Drexler’s work is I’ve been applying nanoscience to interface design and fabrication made possible because his overemphasis Funding for nanotechnology continues to to integrating biological materials with electronic components and Some of the composite materials being developed here will be of nano-sized gold on the creation of rise in the United States and across the other non-biological systems. One aspect of this allows us to create integrated into existing products in that time frame as well. nanoparticles. atom-sized machines, world. In 2003, President George W. Bush sensors based on living cells for toxicology, drug discovery and How is nanotechnology impacting the Scientists started to The Lycurgus Cup while he overlooked signed the 21st Century Nanotechnology biological information processing. Central Florida economy? think seriously about the practical Research and Development Act, authorizing Since our group works primarily with neuronal cells, we are also We’re developing a workforce and offering an undergraduate track. nanoscience and nanotechnology after the applications of this developing technology $3.7 billion of funding for 2005-08. The seeking ways to address problems in disease such as Alzheimer’s, There are a large number of grants that we have already received Nobel-prize winning physicist Richard at somewhat larger levels. Richard Smalley, 2008 federal budget provides nearly $1.5 ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), neuropathic pain and spinal cord within and outside of the center and we are partnering with local Feynman delivered a speech in 1959, in a Rice University chemist who shared billion for the NNI, up from $464 million in 2001. repair. companies, such as VaxDesign and Raydiance. which he postulated that it should be the 1996 Nobel Prize for discovering What are some of the other areas of nano possible to write the entire contents of the , a soccer ball-shaped It is known that physical, chemical and research being conducted at UCF? Encyclopedia Britannica on a pin. That carbon molecule, took Drexler to task biological properties of materials at the speech, titled “There’s Plenty of Room at in the pages of the journal Chemical and nanoscale differ in fundamental ways from Nano-optics—People are trying to use nanoparticles as contrast the Bottom,” challenged scientists and Engineering News, charging him with being the properties of bulk matter, but there is materials to enable various types of imaging. the intellectual elite the world over to naïve and creating unrealistic hype and much that remains unknown about what Composite materials—Attempt to create extended battery investigate science at scales so small that concern with the general public, thereby, can be done at such a minute scale. concepts, structural materials, new electronic devices and a host of they were unimaginable at that time. limiting real progress in the field. While we know nanoscience and other applications. A Massachusetts Institute of Technology On a positive note, most scientists nanotechnology are going to impact our Single-molecule electronics—Researchers are studying how student, Eric Drexler, took the idea to understand the real value of nanotechnology everyday life, touching everything from the molecules transmit electrons at low temperatures as a means the next level in the 1970s when he to solve problems, such as treating cancer. design of our toothbrushes to the way we of looking at quantum effects. This could have applications in began focusing his studies on molecular In this case, nanoparticles can be used to study medicine, the research possibilities are quantum computing, quantum teleportation and other areas. nanotechnology. His book “Engines selectively bind to cancer cells, thereby, endless and exciting. of Creation: The Coming Era of killing them without exposing the patient to Is UCF on the leading edge? Nanotechnology” (1986) was visionary the widespread side effects of chemotherapy. ­—Jeffrey Anderson, Ph.D.and in scope. He popularized the notion that In January 2000, this promising science Saiful Khondaker, Ph.D., UCF NSTC; UCF is certainly in the forefront in nanophotonics and the related miniature machines could be created received a tremendous boost from then- Barb Abney contributed to this article area of bioimaging. Researcher Sudipta Seal, who has been a

4 UCF R esearch UCF R esearch 5 SPRING 2 0 0 7 UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA Unique Hybrid Laboratory Enables Integration of Electronics and Living Brain Samples

Functional Circuits Provide New Window into Alzheimer’s, ALS and Spinal Cord Injury

A unique laboratory at UCF’s NanoScience Technology The Cell Culture Laboratory is a biological clean room that provides Center gives scientists the unprecedented ability to integrate the neuronal cell cultures of individual neurons, which are the electrical and neuronal systems and create, in essence, a piece of the building blocks of these functional circuits. It is also used for the brain on a circuit. The lab allows researchers to model circuits with other cell types as well. They have achieved significant success in neurons from patients with brain disorders, such as Alzheimer ’s developing a defined medium which supports long-term survival disease, in the hope of finding a cure. A separate project is focusing of different cells. Here the cells are cultured on the top of surface on spinal cord injuries and the mechanism that keeps some patients patterns created on glass coverslips or on the top of microelectrode Nanoparticles Enable Physicians to from walking or to find a solution for those suffering from ALS arrays. Functional testing of the neuronal circuits occurs in the (or Lou Gehrig’s disease as it is commonly called). Other ongoing Electrophysiology Lab, which is a state-of-the-art complex equipped Visualize Tumors at an projects include efforts in creating an in vitro model of the lung, with two dual patch-clamp electrophysiology rigs that can examine cardiac model systems as well as the development of new wound the dynamic behavior of these now functional neuronal circuits. It Earlier State of the Disease healing methodologies. also contains a spinning disk confocal microscope, the solid state The science conducted in the Hybrid Neuronal Systems Laboratory recording systems as well as a time-lapse video recording system. Finally, the Biochemistry Lab contains all the necessary equipment Imaging tools such as is not possible at any other lab in the world. Because of the Magnetic Research now being pursued by UCF complexities involved in producing functional in vitro systems for modifying surfaces with protein signaling molecules to control Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed faculty members are moving this field where neurons connect with each other and their signals are cellular behavior. Tomography (CT) have revolutionized forward. J. Manuel Perez, who studied recorded, the lab’s ability to keep the circuits alive and functioning medicine, but they are not perfect. For under Weissleder and who is now at the for up to three months is critical. The ability to do this with adult instance, when someone has cancer you can NanoScience Technology Center, has neurons is unique. visualize large tumors when the disease is designed sensitive nanoparticles that The application of nanotechnology produces the surface interface advanced, but MRI is poor at revealing small become activated (light up) upon reaching chemistry that favors cellular attachment and supports long term tumors. Because of this limitation in MRI, a particular target. This work is supported survival of these individual cells and makes this survival rate possible. many contrast agents have been created in by a career development grant from NIH’s the past decade. When they are injected National Cancer Institute. Researchers in the lab also can pattern neurons and cardiac cells prior to a scan, the agents help to highlight on solid-state electronic systems, such as micro-electrode arrays Another approach is being pursued by tumors. Nanoscience has helped this process (MEAs), utilizing advanced surface chemistry techniques. These Swadeshmukul Santra, also from the NSTC, significantly because small particles (i.e., This image shows selective imaging of rat brain electrically active cells form functional circuits in which the cells are who is creating multimodal Quantum Dots tissue using fluorescent Quantum Dots (Q-Dots). nanoparticles) can be designed to bond to in communication with each other as well as the electronics. The An example of an in vitro engineered network with two living brain cells that (or Q-Dots) that are activated (or light up) The pink glow demonstrates that the Q-Dots have formed individual synapses to each other. cancer cells. Once they bond to the cells or have passed through the blood-brain-barrier and electrical responses of the cells are then monitored by the MEA in either a MRI, an optical scanner, or even have entered brain tissue. This is an important molecules, the cancer can be visualized at an step in using Q-Dots with human patients. and when these cells are exposed to different chemical compounds, an X-Ray earlier stage of the disease. including toxins, their electrical responses change in a way that This combination of research laboratories and expertise could be machine. These dots offer researchers and is consistent and specific to each compound. This enables these used to help spinal cord injury patients walk again. By integrating “Current molecular imaging techniques physicans the ability to perform multiple time monitoring of intra-cellular processes, patterned MEAs to be used for unknown toxin identification and, fundamental neuroscience, microsystems engineering, cell biology essentially allow us to do three things and tests on a suspect area with a static marker. and sensitive detection of pathogens. potentially, to predict the responses of electrically active cells to and surface chemistry, researchers have been able to reestablish do them much better than we were able Patients are relieved of the need to be Santra’s research is supported in these drugs, including those in discovery phase. connections between motorneurons and muscle cells. The fabrication to do them a couple of years ago. One of injected with multiple marking agents. efforts through a prestigious Nanoscale of this functional in vitro system enables the creation of hybrid The Hybrid Systems Lab is actually four interconnected labs, each them is to detect disease much earlier. The Interdisciplinary Research Team (NIRT) devices on modified surfaces (in vitro) in order to simplify the with a separate purpose. While they usually exist independent second one is to stage cancer and some These nanoparticles can be made to target award from the National Science number of variables in this complex system and perfect the process. of each other, all four labs must collaborate in order to create the other diseases much more accurately and specific areas in the body, depending on Foundation. These findings were also The ultimate goal is to develop and promote this technology from neuronal circuits. non-invasively, and the third is to facilitate the molecules attached to the surface. This recently published in the prominent Journal the laboratory to the patient (in vivo) and clinical collaborations and speed up the drug development technology can be used for understanding of the American Chemistry Society. The Surface Chemistry Lab is the first stop in the process of creating have already been established to achieve this goal. process,” said Dr. Ralph Weissleder, director stem cell “homing” and “differentiation” functional cellular systems. It provides the patterned surfaces of Harvard Medical School’s Center for pathways, early diagnostic cancer imaging that supply the environmental clues for guiding the attachment, —James J. Hickman, Ph.D. and Peter Molnar, Ph.D., Molecular Imaging. and treatment, ultra-sensitive and real- —Jeffrey Anderson, Ph.D., UCF NSTC differentiation and interconnection of the various cell types. Steve Lambert, Ph.D. and Aman Behal, Ph.D., UCF NSTC

6 UCF R esearch UCF R esearch 7 winter 2 0 0 8 UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA

metal electrode arrays for nanoprobes for various animal and lab based novel nanolithography patterns on surfaces. NanoScience Technology Center Focus Areas subsequent recording on a applications, such as understanding how stem After a full chemical, morphology and elec- computer. Behal’s approach cells become located in various tissues after trochemical characterization of the modified AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA, a diverse group of scientists are exploring an expanding scientific frontier. In 1959, is to quantify the relation- they are placed in a patient, early diagnostic surface is determined, he can then apply such Nobel-prize winning physicist Richard Feynman opened the door to scientific research into nanotechnology with a challenging talk ship (possibly nonlinear) cancer imaging and treatment, ultrasensitive nanostructured surfaces in the preparation of titled, There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom. UCF researchers at the NanoScience Technology Center have accepted the challenge between the experimentally and real-time monitoring of intracellular pro- sensor devices. Diaz is an assistant professor of exploring this “room at the bottom” and are in the process of creating tools to treat our most troubling clinical disorders obtained input output data cesses, as well as sensitive detection of patho- in the Department of Chemistry and in the (including Alzheimer’s disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and diabetes); novel materials that can advance the fields of sets while keeping the quantification succinct gens. Santra is an assistant professor in the NSTC. solar and fuel power technology; and long-lasting batteries that make ever-smaller electrical devices a reality. While the scientists so that many such objects can then be put to- NSTC, the Department of Chemistry and the PHOTONICS all work in the NanoScience Technology Center, most also have appointments with other UCF academic units. gether to form a larger system (with predictive Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences. capabilities). A further goal is to predict the Andre J. Gesquiere ex- Jeffrey Anderson, the as- existence of certain signaling mechanisms or plores the extreme sensi- IN VITRO TEST SYSTEMS sociate director of the cade, great progress has been made in develop- and advanced surface char- dynamical structures inside these cells through tivity of single molecule ing new sustained and controlled drug delivery acterization techniques, NTSC, coordinates re- James J. Hickman spe- use of optimization approaches and systems laser scanning confocal systems utilizing nanoscale materials. Using and absorption kinetics of search projects that use im- cializes in the creation of theory. Behal is an assistant professor in the microscopy which allows nanofibers with stimuli-sensitive molecules on steel aging systems such as func- hybrid systems for bio- School of Engineering and Computer Science him to detect the pres- and nanoparticles, the release of drugs can substrates. His nanomateri- tional Magnetic Resonance logical computation and and in the NSTC. ence of a single molecule be controlled by temperature, light and mag- als research focuses on pro- Imaging (fMRI), structural fundamental investigations QUANTUM DYNAMICS or nanoparticle in a material. The excellent netic/electrical fields, potentially enabling a ducing powders, coatings MRI, & functional near-infrared spectroscopy in neuroscience and cell spatial resolution of this research tool allows much more effective method of keeping blood and thin films for sensors, high temperature (fNIRS) to explore neurological disorders such biology. He has formed Michael N. Leuenberger the tracking of biological processes at the mo- sugars stable. coatings, optics and electronic applications. He as traumatic brain injury. interdisciplinary teams that work in a unique is exploring the fascinat- lecular level. He quantitatively examines bio- has been recognized as a pioneer in creating NANOELECTRONICS Hybrid Systems Laboratory (HSL). Work- Talat Shahnaz Rahman is ing world of quantum dy- physical processes at the single molecule level functional coatings for extreme environments. namics and the possibility to understand the mechanism and kinetics of ing in the HSL, which combines a cell culture researching the theoretical Saiful I. Khondaker’s Seal is a professor in the Department of Me- of teleportation. TV and biologically important processes, such as DNA lab, a biochemistry lab, a chemistry lab and an and computational model- primary research is in the chanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineer- movies aside, quantum tele- and protein folding dynamics, and biochemi- electrophysiology lab, scientists in Hickman’s ing of materials with par- electron transport proper- ing and also served as coordinator of UCF’s portation does not teleport cal reactions involving enzymes. His work also group are able to keep stem cells alive for up to ticular interest in under- ties of nanoscale materi- Nanotechnology Center Initiative. He is on matter, it teleports quantum information. The involves the development of novel imaging and three months while, at the same time, they pre- standing mechanisms that als. The overall goal of his the faculty of the Advanced Materials Process- current focus of his studies is in the transfer of spectroscopic techniques for biological systems. pare specialized materials and apply electrodes control chemical reactivity research is to investigate ing and Analysis Center and is the director of quantum information from one These include tracking individual nanoparticles to monitor changes. Hickman is the founding of nanostructured surfaces and nanoparticles. the fundamental electronic the Surface Engineering and Nanotech Lab in to another one, distant from the first one. It is to study processes inside living cells. This mul- director of the NanoScience Technology Cen- Rahman is a Provost Distinguished Research properties of nanomaterials and to create pro- the NanoScience Technology Center. noteworthy that Dr. Leuenberger completed a tidisciplinary research program shows promise ter and a professor in chemistry in the Bur- Professor and chair of the Department of totype functional devices like field effect tran- COMPUTER SIMULATIONS total of three postdoctoral fellowships and is of having a significant impact on the emerging nett School of Biomedical Sciences and in the Physics. sistors, single electron transistors, and sensors School of Electrical Engineering and Com- a first author for an article for the prestigious fields of nanobiology and nanomedicine. Ger- Qun “Treen” Huo super- Artem E. Masunov uses involving nanomaterials. He pioneered and puter Science. journal Nature. Leuenberger is an assistant quiere is an assistant professor in the NSTC vises a nanomaterial chem- advanced computational demonstrated a simple and highly reproduc- professor in the NSTC as well as in the De- and in the Department of Chemistry. Peter Molnar’s work ex- istry group that specializes systems to model and ex- ible technique for the fabrication of below five partment of Physics. INTEGRATED NANODEVICES plores the physiology and in the synthesis, property plore the theory of energy BIOMEDICAL IMAGING nanometer spaced electrodes using colloidal pathophysiology of neu- study and application conversion processes and gold nanoparticles and used these electrodes Research in Ming Su’s ronal systems and stem development of nanopar- the design of functional Research in J. Manuel for the fabrication of functional devices in- group is focused on the cell innervation of nano ticle materials. In this materials used for that pur- Perez’s laboratory focuses cluding individual nanoparticles, conjugated fabrication of novel nano- myotubes. One recent lab- bottom-up approach towards nanomaterial pose. The thermoelectric devices he models on the development of organic molecules and polymers. In addition, structured materials using based study explored the development, she creates nanobuilding blocks hold great promise for increasing the efficiency nanoparticle technologies he is also exploring the utility of nanocrystal a variety of existing and use of nanotubes and stem cells as a bridge and assembles these nanobuilding blocks into of conventional power generators, renewable and their application in arrays, nanowires and nanotubes. Khondaker is emerging techniques. He to fill the gap when the spinal cord has been materials or devices with expected structures, energy sources (e.g., solar and geothermal), nanomedicine, molecular as assistant professor in the NSTC and in the also investigates the pro- severed. Molnar is an assistant professor in the properties and functions. But because the prop- and refrigeration and air conditioning systems. imaging and molecular di- Department of Physics. cess of integrating these materials into devices NSTC as well as in the Burnett School of Bio- erty of a nanomaterial is also determined by the Advantages of this power generation system agnostics. His specific area of research -inter Work in Diego Díaz’s lab- for a number of possible applications, such as medical Sciences. architectural organization of those nanobuild- include solid state operation, zero emissions, est include the development of nanoagents for oratory focuses on the in- disease detection and energy management. Re- ing blocks, it is extremely important to con- vast scalability, no maintenance, long operat- cancer diagnostics. His work also involves the FUNCTIONAL NANOMATERIALS tegration of scanning probe cently, he developed a method to create large trol both the chemical structures of individual ing life, high reliability, lack of moving parts creation of nanoparticles that can be used in microscopies (AFM) and arrays of nanocolumns with controlled size, as- Lei Zhai is an assistant nanoparticles and the architectural structures and possibility of miniaturization. NASA has optical imaging. He also has created nanopar- electrochemistry which of- pect ratio and intercolumn spacing. The excel- professor in the NSTC of the assembled nanoparticle materials. Cur- used this principle to provide electrical power ticles that can detect the presence of toxins. fer the ability to not only lent controllability and tunability of this unique and the Department of rently, she has two major research projects: the for deep space probes such as Voyager I and II Perez is an assistant professor in the NSTC as image surfaces at very high method enables the use of these materials in a Chemistry. In diabetics, first one is controlled chemical functionaliza- and the Cassini mission to Saturn. Masunov well as in the Department of Chemistry. resolution, but to control interactions on the wide range of integrated devices. For instance, is an assistant professor in the NSTC and the insulin and glucose levels tion of nanoparticles and the second one is to Swadeshmukul Santra’s surface at the nanoscale level. He can currently one of his ongoing research projects is to es- Department of Chemistry. vary during the day as the study their applications in the development research work focuses on modify AFM probes with different chemicals tablish a platform for the integration of on- patient consumes food and of nanoparticle/polymer hybrid materials Aman Behal’s research focus is the identifica- the development of multi- in order to tailor the tip to different chemical chip handling, separation and the detection of the body processes it. While diabetic patients with well-defined architectural structures and tion and modeling of the behavior of signaling modal biodegradable/bio- reactions. In this technique that he calls Redox biomarkers using this integrated nanocolumn inject insulin to compensate for the lack of this properties. Huo is an associate professor in the pathways inside cells as well as the interaction compatible nanoparticles Probe Microscopy, the tip is the electrochemi- array platform. Su is an assistant professor in important compound, the insulin is not always NSTC and the Department of Chemistry. of living cells with non-biological surfaces such which act as probes. Upon cal probe and it allows him to spatially control the NSTC and the Department of Mechani- delivered at the same time the body is process- Sudipta Seal studies nanomaterials process- as electrodes. A few systems under study are ion reaching their targets these the electrochemistry. The careful control of the cal, Materials and Aerospace Engineering. ing food, causing insulin levels to vary widely ing and characterization, biomaterials and channels in neuronal cells and the transduction nanoprobes will light up in either a MRI or an electrochemistry, together with the high spatial at any given time. However, over the past de- biocell/material interaction, surface science of electrical signals from the neuronal cells onto optical scanner. The goal is to develop “smart” resolution of an AFM, permits him to create

8 UCF R esearch UCF R esearch 9 winter 2 0 0 8 A SAMPLING OF FUNDED NANOSCIENCE PROJECTS Nanoscience is an enabling technology that touches almost every discipline. While the bulk of nanoscience research at UCF is NEWS conducted by faculty of the NanoScience Technology Center, the list below shows some of the other disciplines on campus in which funded projects are under way. Federally funded projects are noted. QUANTUM DOT LASERS SPUR FUNDING, INDUSTRY INTEREST PROJECT RESEARCHER DESCRIPTION NANOSCIENCE TECHNOLOGY CENTER A microscopic dot that has the ability was hired as UCF’s first Florida Photonics Quantum dots, which are basically Nanoscale Optical and Electronic Processes in Active Andre Gesquiere Investigate the opto-electronic processes in materials and devices energy conversion to change the way light is formed is the Center of Excellence (FPCE) nanoscale regions in a crystal, have the Nanostructures and Devices for Solar Energy Conversion National Science Foundation (NSF) basis of a new area of emphasis at UCF’s Nanophotonics Chair in September 2005. ability to trap the electrons and “holes” Nanoscale processes in energy conversion materials and devices Andre Gesquiere Effect of the of the materials, interfaces and layers in devices (NSF) Center for Research and Education in Deppe’s work with quantum dots and the that transmit current in a semiconductor. Function-based biosensors for use in hazardous waste remediation James Hickman Develop function-based biosensors for use in hazardous waste remediation Department of Energy (DOE) Optics and Lasers. creation of specialized films enables the What starts as an electrical current can High Throughput Electrophysiology for Pathway Identification James Hickman Focus on the marriage of solid-state electronics and neuronal function Dennis Deppe, whose expertise is in creation of high performance devices, be reshaped into light or optical power. National Institutes of Health (NIH) semiconductor lasers and whose research such as computer chips and DVDs, at Deppe’s group is working on controlling An In Vitro Model of Stem Cell Innervation of Myotubes James Hickman Build and test a hybrid device, leading eventually to designing schemes to prevent, group demonstrated one of the first a much smaller size and with much how those electrons and holes sit on a diagnose, and treat developmental abnormalities and chronic neurological/muscle disorders (NIH) lower power requirements than required film, developing light sources capable of successful uses of quantum dots as an Nanoscience Technology Development & Applications James Hickman Develop research efforts linking nanotechnology to the degradation of volatile alternative to traditional laser diodes, currently. extremely specialized functions. chemicals “Determining Extra-cellular Matrix Deposition Quantity and James Hickman Enable rapid integration of research efforts to determine the composition and quantity Composition from Cells in Response to Electronic Materials” of the extracellular matrix (ECM) deposited by cells when placed in contact, in vivo or in vitro, with electron ic materials to enable analysis of ECM in real devices for use in Multidisciplinary Company Funds Nanoscience operations related systems (Air Force Office of Scientific Research) Total chemical synthesis, property and theoretical modeling study Qun Huo Use chemical methods to synthesize nanohybrid materials Team Explores Life UCF Researchers for of nanoparticle/polymer hybrid materials NSF Nanoscale Interdisciplinary Research Teams (NIRT) Researchers Gold nanoparticles with single copy functional groups synthesis Qun Huo Develop a synthetic methodology to prepare nanoparticles with single surface Extending Mechanism Clean Manufacturing and study functional groups (NSF—CAREER) in Nanoparticles Process Reap Prestigious Room Temperature single electron transistor using Saiful Khondaker Demonstrate a novel approach to fabricate room temperature SET using single wall carbon nanotubes Awards Numerical Renormalization Group Techniques Michael Leuenberger Implementation of numerical renormalization techniques to make quantitative calcula- Experiments on rats have shown that certain A UCF researcher tions for Berry-phase oscillations of the Kondo effect in single-moleculate magnets types of nanoparticles have some amazing and is developing an Three UCF nanoscience researchers Computer simulations of decomposition thermodynamics and Artem Masunov Theoretical investigation of the Chemical Physics of phase transitions in hydrogen received prestigious early career kinetics of hydrogen clathrate hydrates as novel hydrogen storage clathrate hydrate unexpected abilities—they have shown the environmentally materials awards from the National Science potential to extend lifespan, preserve eyesight friendly process Engineered neuronal networks for drug screening Peter Molnar Develop engineered neuronal networks (NIH) Foundation in 2008, joining four and protect against spinal cord neuron using waste Development of Magnetic Sensors for MRI Cancer Research J. Manuel Perez Use of magnetic nanoparticle conjugates to detect telomerase activity in cancer cells damage. A UCF team is now looking for the other affiliated faculty members who (NIH) materials to make a Development of Sogel Derived Monosized Oxide Nanoparticles Sudipta Seal Collaborate with the University of South Wales (Australia) in nanotechnology research biomolecular explanation of why it works. have also been honored with the new building material achievement. (NSF) The question is especially perplexing Development of Metal/Ceramic Nanocomposite Powder and Sudipta Seal Further develop nanocomposite materials using sol-gel potentially stronger than concrete. Saiful Khondaker, Andre Gesquiere because of how the particles were initially Laser Consolidation to Bulk Nanocomposite Components (Office of Naval Research—Young Investigator Award) Sudipta Seal, an engineering professor and Lei Zhai all received notification Development of H2 gas sensor with selectivity and sensitivity Sudipta Seal Nanotechnology for hydrogen sensor technologies used: to coat industrial machinery that who works in both UCF’s Advanced of their new awards in January. based on doped nanocrystaline-nanoporous metal/metal oxided operates at super high temperatures. Because for space exploration Materials Processing and Analysis They all have faculty appointments of their unique structure, including multiple Electrically induced deflective amplification for molecular sensing Ming Su Explore a novel concept of chemical and biological devices for the detection and Center and the NanoScience in UCF’s NanoScience Technology and recognition analysis oxygen vacancies or spots that intensify Technology Center, received $475,000 Center. Khondaker is working on Bio-inspired Smart Surfaces with Extreme Wetting Properties Lei Zhai Nature has developed an approach to achieve extreme wetting properties such as chemical reactions, the nanoparticles are now a project involving fabrication of superhydrophobicity from nSolGel, LLC, to apply his A Novel User Interface for Operating an Assistive Robot in Aman Behal Collaborative research (NSF) being studied for use in solid oxide fuel cells single electron transistor devices proprietary technology into chemical Unstructured Environments and as catalysts in catalytic converters. using carbon nanotubes; Gesquiere, Multimodal QDot-Based Nanoprobe for Real Time Noninvasive Swadeshmukul Santra Funding to develop multimodal (fluorescent and paramagnetic) quantum dot-based With funding from the National Science conversions of industrial wastes to the on understanding optoelectronic Bioimaging nanoprobes and use them to label hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) (NSF) Foundation and the National Institutes creation of a processes in materials for solar energy BURNETT SCHOOL OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES conversion and Zhai, on increasing Human In Vitro Lung Model for Infectious Diseases Pappachan Kolattukudy Develop a functional tissue equivalent of lung from human cells for assessing infectious of Health, William T. Self, a UCF new class of materials for construction. challenge (US Army Medical Research and Material Command) microbiologist, and Supdita Seal, a professor Seal and colleague Larry Hench, director the efficiency of organic electrons by Biologically compatible engineered nanoparticles to prevent William Self Research nanoparticles and bio compatibility (NSF) in the Department of Mechanical, Materials of special projects for UCF’s Office of building ordered polymer structures. UV-radiation induced damage Other faculty who have recently DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY and Aerospace Engineering and the Research & Commercialization and a Nanoscience Technology Development & Applications Christian Clausen, III Develop research efforts linking nanotechnology to the degradation of volatile received the award include Pieter Kik, Advanced Materials Processing and Analysis retired professor of ceramic materials chemicals a professor in the College of Optics and and NanoScience Technology Centers, are at Imperial College, London, have Nanocrystalline Composites as novel, high-performance electrodes Diego Diaz Implement novel methodologies to find alternatives to fossil fuels and our dependence Photonics, for a project titled “Silicon for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells for space applications: Breaking the on oil characterizing nanoparticles of varying sizes jointly developed the processing concept Compatible Hybrid Nanophotonic Ru-Pt catalyst barrier (project linked to 68019016) Polypeptide Nano-Templating: A New Method for Creating Metal Stephen Kuebler Develop material deposition chemistries for a new approach to nanofabrication called and chemistry to uncover the properties that which is based on chemical bonding of Systems”; Beatriz Roldan Cuenya, make them effective catalysts. and Semiconductor Nano-Scale Structures with 3D-Shape Control “Polypeptide Nano-Templating” nanomaterials. assistant professor in the Department CREOL & FPCE, COLLEGE OF OPTICS & PHOTONICS of Physics, “Gas-phase Catalytic FPCE Chair Nanophotonics Dennis Deppe Funding to support nanophotonics research Human Lung Model for Infectious Diseases Funded by the Army Processes on Metal Nanoclusters”; Ellipsometry of Nanolaminate Films William Folks Ellipsometry of nanolaminate films (Sandia National Labs) Qun Huo, associate professor in the Nanoscopic Optical Sensors Aravinda Kar Develop a fundamental understanding of nanoscale changes in the refractive index of a high temperature material and vibration-tolerant interferometry A UCF research team, led by Pappachan Kolattukudy, director of the Burnett School NSTC, “Gold nanoparticles with single Nanoscopic Optical Sensor Science and Engineering Aravinda Kar Develop a fundamental understanding of high temperature materials using of Biomedical Sciences in the College of Medicine, and VaxDesign, Inc. are developing copy functional groups synthesis vibration-tolerant interferometry a functional tissue equivalent of a lung from human cells. The model will be used to and study”; and Joe Cho, assistant Nonlinear Spectroscopy: Absorption and Refraction Eric Van Stryland Investigation of the spectra of nonlinear optical (NLO) absorption and the dispersion assess infectious and environmental challenges to the lung. The project, which involves professor of Mechanical, Materials and of NLO refraction in a variety of materials types (NSF) Er Doped Si nanocrystal sensitized microlasers Pieter Kik Develop Er Doped Si nanocrystal sensitized microlasers UCF researchers from the Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers, Aerospace Engineering, “A Micro SPR Research Support—Plasmon Nanofibers Pieter Kik Research work in the field of plasmon nanofibers the NanoScience Technology Center and the Department of Materials, Mechanical and Sensor with Integrated Microfluidic Silicon Compatible Hybrid Nanophotonic Systems Pieter Kik Develop silicon compatible hybrid nanophotonic systems (NSF) Aerospace Engineering, is funded by the U.S. Army. Components for In-situ Monitoring of FLORIDA SOLAR ENERGY CENTER Biomolecules.” Nanocrystalline10 UCF Mg-Al RAlloysesearch for Hydrogen Storage Darlene Slattery Prepare nanocrystalline MG-Al alloys and send them to FSEC where they will be characterized for use