Event

Bioengineering Seminar Series: Gregory Payne

Friday, September 19, 2008
11:00 a.m.
Room 2108, Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Bldg.
Professor William Bentley
(301) 405-4321
bentley@umd.edu

Chitosan: Bridging the Bio-Device Communication Gap

Dr. Gregory Payne
Director, Center for Biosystems Research
University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute

There is great interest in coupling the capabilities of electronics with the molecular recognition properties of biology to generate hand-held devices that can; diagnose diseases at the point-of-care, analyze environmental samples in the field, and assess food safety from the farm to the table. A key challenge is overcoming the inherent differences in signaling modalities between electronic devices and biology. For instance, microfabricated devices are designed to apply localized electrical signals with exquisite spatiotemporal control, yet few biological systems utilize the flow of electrons for communication. Two common goals for bio-sensing systems are to: (i) employ convenient electrical signals to assemble biological components at device addresses; and (ii) transduce biological recognition events into device-compatible signals. The aminopolysaccharide chitosan offers a unique combination of properties that enable it to serve as the “interpreter” at the bio-device interface.

About the SpeakerGregory F. Payne received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University in 1979 and 1981, respectively. He received his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from The University of Michigan in 1984. After completing his Ph.D., he returned to Cornell to do post-doctoral work with Michael Shuler in biochemical engineering. In 1986 Dr. Payne joined the faculty with joint appointments in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) and in the Center for Agricultural Biotechnology (now the Center for Biosystems Research) at the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute (UMBI). Currently he is a Professor and the Director of the Center for Biosystems Research. His research is focused on biofabrication–the use of biological or biomimetic materials and processes for construction. Specifically, his group biofabricates using enzymes and biologically-derived polymers such as chitosan.

There will be pre-seminar refreshments from 10-11 a.m. in Room 2237 of the Jeong H. Kim Engineering Building.