Selected Research Projects
Metasurfaces optimized for the detection of peanut allergens
We are developing a peanut allergen sensor based on complementary metamaterials modified to maximize the interaction of the electric flux in the substrate with the allergenic proteins. The modification consists in adding an array of holes within the capacitive regions of the resonators which do not affect their electric field distribution on resonance.
This project is supported by a MARC/RISE fellowship for Guillermo Naranjo and a User Proposal from the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT). |
We are investigating the role that Se, Te and SeTe nanoparticles have as antibacterial, antifungal and anticancer agents. This project is divided into two major areas: 1) the synthesis and characterization of the nanoparticles and 2) the evaluation of their role as antibacterial, antifungal and anticancer agents. In terms of the synthesis, we are using pulsed laser ablation in liquid of bulk pellets and powders in order to synthesize the nanoparticles. We are using nanosecond and femtosecond pulsed sources at various wavelengths and comparing the characteristics of the nanoparticles synthesized in the different conditions. In order to evaluate the nanoparticles’ effectiveness as antibacterial, antifungal and anticancer agents we are conducting experiments on cultures of various types of bacterial, fungus and cancerous cells respectively.
This project was funded by the San Antonio Area Foundation and is being pursued in collaboration with Dr. Kelly Nash.
This project was funded by the San Antonio Area Foundation and is being pursued in collaboration with Dr. Kelly Nash.
All dielectric metamaterials with electric or magnetic activity
We have simulated realistic all dielectric metamaterials with electric or magnetic activity for operation at THz frequencies. The material parameters used are those of barium titanate and include losses. We are currently working with researchers at CINT to fabricate these metamaterials using rapid laser prototyping technology.
This project was partially supported by an NSF PREM grant and a User Proposal from the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies. |
Bioeffects of gold nanoparticles on neuronal cells
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