Research Interests

We focus on the design, synthesis, characterization and applications of nanoscale materials functionalized with (bio)chemical molecules/polymers. We are particularly interested in the fabrication of biosensors based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer mechanism;self- and forced assembly of nanomaterials; template-synthesis of novel nanotubes and nanowires; and controlling and probing nanoscale environments inside of nanotubes. We synthesized nanomaterials using template-synthesis method; the materials synthesized takes the shape, size and morphology of the template used. This is a very general and versatile method for preparing nanoscale materials. Using this method, we have synthesized nanotubes and nanowires of various shapes (conical, cylindercal,bent, titled); sizes (with inner diameter of nanotubes randing from <1 nm to > 5 micron); and materials (silver, gold,copper, polymers, silica etc.). We modify the surface of nanoparticles with nucleic acids, proteins, biocompatible polymers etc. This imparts them with surface functionalities that are useful in many applications such as biosensing, bioseparations, and gene and drug delivery etc. The characterization of nanomaterials is carried out using electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), AFM,optical spectroscopy and microscopy (UV-Vis, Fluorescence, and FTIR), surface analysis (XPS, ellipsometry, and SIMS).

Financial support from National Science Foundation (Grant Number 0609349) is greatly acknowledged.

Selected Publications

Kertzman, Z.; Aul, A.; Marchal, J.; Filip, P.; Kohli, P.; Aouadi, S. M. “Mechanical, Tribological, and Biocompatibility Properties of ZrN-Ag Nanocomposite Films“, J. Biomed. Mat. Res. (in press).

Kohli, P.; Harrell, C. C.; Zehui,C.; Gasparac, R.; Tan, W.; Martin, C. R. "DNA-functionalized Nanotube Membranes for Single-Mismatch DNA Selectivity" Science, 2004, 305, 984-986.