Nanoparticle Surface Charge Directs the Cellular Binding of Nanoparticle-Protein Complexes 

Candace C. Fleischer 

Abstract: Nanoparticles used in biomedical applications are exposed to a host of extracellular proteins that can non-specifically adsorb to the nanoparticle surface.  We have studied how blood serum proteins can direct the cellular binding of nanoparticles. We have determined that cationic nanoparticle binding is increased in the presence of serum proteins, and binding occurs to a scavenger receptor on the cell surface. In comparison, the cellular binding of anionic nanoparticles is inhibited by serum proteins and the nanoparticle binds to native protein receptors. 

Candace is a 3rd year Ph.D. candidate in Chemistry (Research Advisor: Christine Payne).  She obtained her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Chemistry from WesternWashingtonUniversity.

Three-dimensional Silicon Micromachining for Hemispherical Polysilicon Micro-shell Resonators with Capacitive Transducers 

Xin Gao 

Abstract:  This presentation will discuss the fabrication, rudimentary testing results, and applications of the polysilicon micro-shell resonator integrated with capacitive transducers.  The capacitive electrodes are conveniently formed by doping.  The entire device structure is designed with a goal of self-alignment so that it can be used as a high-performance hemispherical resonator gyroscope. 

Xin is in his final year of the Ph.D. program in theSchoolofElectricaland Computer Engineering (Research Advisor: Farrokh Ayazi).  He received both his B.S. and M.S. in EE from Georgia Tech.