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Research

Our laboratory aims to exploit the optical
properties of gold nanoparticles (AuNP) to develop biosensing applications based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Not only do these technologies offer several advantages compared to classical microbiological approaches to diagnostics, they will facilitate our investigations into the mechanism behind SERS and antibody-antigen binding kinetics, and aid in the identification of novel ligands with enhanced stability and specificity.

The scope of this work is such that students with interest in fundamental and applied research are needed. The interdisciplinary nature also requires students interested in both biology and chemistry. Work in this lab will provide opportunity for hands-on training in surface chemistry, spectroscopy, biological assay design and development, safe handling of biosafety level 2 pathogens, and chemometrics.

Projects

Current

  • Rational Design of Antibody-AuNP Conjugates
  • SERS-based Point-of-Care Diagnostics
  • Coupling SERS and PSI-MS for On-Site Analysis of Chemical Evidence

Completed

  • Dynamic Light Scattering and Gold Nanoparticles for the Detection of Infectious Agents
  • Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis to Monitor Biomolecular Interactions at Nanoparticle Surfaces
  • Accelerating Antibody-Antigen Binding Kinetics with Nanoporous Gold Membranes in a SERS Immunoassay

People

Principle Investigator

  • Dr. Jeremy D. Driskell 

Current Students

  • McKenzie Riley (2020 – )
  • Tosin Ogunlusi (2020 – )
  • Eunice Ebbah (2021 – )

Past Students

  • Evan Strandquist (B.S. December 2020)
  • Samuel Okyem (M.S. 2020; current Ph.D. program at UIUC)
  • Olatunde Awotunde (M.S. 2020; current Ph.D. program at Notre Dame)
  • Richard Frimong (M.S. 2020)
  • Daniel Burr (M.S. 2019)
  • Kiran Tripathi (M.S. 2018; current Ph.D. program at UT-Dallas)
  • Lupe Ruiz (B.S. 2018)
  • Nicki Ryan (B.S. 2018)
  • Skylar Clement (B.S. 2018)
  • Francis Lovato (B.S. May 2017)
  • Seth Filbrun (M.S. May 2017; current Ph.D. program at Georgia State)
  • Alexandra (Mandl) Filbrun (B.S. May 2016; current Ph.D. program at Georgia Tech)​
  • Franklin Chang (visiting 2017)
  • Yen Lai (M.S. May 2015)
  • Lindsey Cermak (B.S. May 2015)
  • Arielle Lopez (B.S. May 2015; current Ph.D. program at Notre Dame)
  • Carleigh Larrick (B.S. May 2015)​
  • Kaleena Mormann (2013-2014)
  • Michelle Penn (M.S. 2014; current Astrix Technology)
  • Czarina Pempe (B.S. May 2014)
  • Colton Pate (B. S. May 2014)
  • Dr. David Drake (research associate, summer 2012/2013)
  • Christopher Trunell (Summer 2013; visiting undergraduate)
  • Samantha Capel (B.S. May 2014; current Ph.D program at UIUC)
  • Blair Smith (B.S. 2013)
  • Andre James (graduate; 2011-2013)​

Major Instruments

  • Raman Spectrometer (Enwave ProRaman-L)
  • Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (Nanosight LM-10)
  • Dynamic Light Scattering (Malvern Zetasizer Nano ZSP)

Funding

  • Illinois State University
  • National Science Foundation – CBET (2011 – 2014)
  • Defense Threat Reduction Agency (2013 – 2017)
  • National Institute of Justice (2017 – 2019)
  • National Science Foundation – MSN (2018-2021)

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