People in Bioengineering

Ph.D. Electrical and Computer Engineering
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1990
Research Statement:
My research group is focused on the application of sub-wavelength optical phenomena and fabrication methods to the development of novel devices and instrumentation for the life sciences. The group is highly interdisciplinary, with expertise in the areas of microfabrication, nanotechnology, computer simulation, instrumentation, molecular biology, and cell biology. In particular, we are working on biosensors based upon photonic crystal concepts that can either be built from low-cost flexible plastic materials, or integrated with semiconductor-based active devices, such as light sources and photodetectors, for high performance integrated detection systems.
Using a combination of micrometer-scale and nanometer-scale fabrication tools, we are devising novel methods and materials for producing electro-optic devices with nanometer-scale features that can be scaled for low-cost manufacturing. Many of our techniques are geared for compatibility with flexible plastic materials, leading to applications such as low cost disposable sensors, wearable sensors, flexible electronics, and flexible displays. Because our structures manipulate light at a scale that is smaller than an optical wavelength, we rely on computer simulation tools such as Rigorous Coupled Wave Analysis (RCWA) and Finite Difference Time Doman (FDTD) to model, design, and understand optical phenomena within photonic crystals and related devices.
In addition to fabricating devices, our group is also focused on the design, prototyping, and testing of biosensor instrumentation for high sensitivity, portability, and resolution. Advanced instruments enable high resolution imaging of biochemical and cellular interactions with the ability to monitor images of biochemical interactions as a function of time. Using the sensors and instrumentation, we are exploring new applications for optical biosensor technology including protein microarrays, biosensor/mass spectrometry systems, and microfluidics-based assays using nanoliter quantities of reagents. The methods and systems developed in the laboratory are applied in the fields of life science research, drug discovery, diagnostic testing, and environmental monitoring.
Research Interests:
- Optical Biosensors
- Photonic Crystals
- Nanofabrication
- Finite Difference Time Domain Analysis
- Sensor design and instrumentation
For more information:
Honors, Recognition, and Outstanding Achievements
- Senior Member, IEEE, 2007
- Army Research Fellowship, 1987-1990
- Semiconductor Research Corporation Fellowship Award University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 1987
- Bronze Tablet University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 1986
Honors, Recognition, and Outstanding Achievements for Teaching
- Incomplete list of faculty rated "excellent" by students, Fall 2005, Spring 2007, Spring 2008
Honors, Recognition, and Outstanding Achievements for Research
- 2009 Association for Laboratory Automation Innovation Award Top Candidate for paper "A General Method for Screening Protein-DNA Interactions using Label-Free Photonic Crystal Biosensor Microplates" by L.L. Chan, M. Pineda, J. Heeres, P.J. Hergenrother, and B.T. Cunningham
- 2008 Grainger Program in Emerging Technologies Grant for "Nanofilter-based Infrared Spectroscopic Imaging" (co-awarded with Prof. Rohit Bhargava)
- 2008 Xerox Award for Faculty Research
- 2007 3M Nontenured Faculty Grant
- 2006 Draper Laboratory Best Patent Award, "Flexural Plate Wave Sensor and Array"
- 1996 Draper Laboratory Engineering Lead Project: "MEMS Chemical Analysis Array"
Chapters in Books
- "Label-Free Optical Biosensors: An Introduction," B.T. Cunningham, Label Free Biosensors - Techniques and Applications, edited by M. Cooper, Cambridge University Press, 2008.
- "High Resolution Label-Free Detection Applied to Microarray Research," L. Laing and B.T. Cunningham, Functional Protein Microarray in Drug Discovery, edited by P.F. Predki, CRC Press, p. 217-236, 2007.
- "Optical Biosensors," B.T. Cunningham, Encyclopedia of Sensors, American Scientific Publishers, 2005
Journal Articles
- "Label-free detection of soybean rust spores using photonic crystal biosensor," R. Vittal, W. Zhang, L.L. Chan, B.T. Cunningham, and G. Hartman, Phytopathology Vol. 99, No. 6, S136, 2009.
- "Photonic Crystal Surfaces as a General Purpose Platform for Label-Free and Fluorescent Assays," B.T. Cunningham, Journal of the Association of Laboratory Automation, accepted November 2009 (invited).
- "Optimizing the spatial resolution of photonic crystal label-free imaging," I.D. Block and B.T. Cunningham, Applied Optics, Accepted, November 2009.
- "Vapor phase deposition of monofunctional alkoxysilanes for sub-nanometer level biointerfacing on oxide surfaces," B. Dorvel, R. Reddy, Jr., I.D. Block, P.C. Mathias, S.E. Clare, D.E. Bergstrom, B.T. Cunningham, and R. Bashir, Advanced Materials, Accepted, (DOI: 10.1002/adfm.200901688) September 2009.
- "Photonic Crystal Integrated Microfluidic Chip for Determination of Kinetic Reaction Rate Constants," C. J. Choi, I.D. Block, B. Bole, D. Dralle, B.T. Cunningham, IEEE Sensors Journal, Accepted, August 2009.
- "A combined enhanced-fluorescence and label-free imaging instrument," I.D. Block, P.C. Mathias, N. Ganesh, I.D. Jones, B.R. Dorvel, V. Chaudhery, L. Vodkin, R. Bashir, and B.T. Cunningham, Optics Express, Vol. 17 Issue 15, pp.13222-13235, 2009.
- "A method for identifying small molecule aggregators using photonic crystal biosensor microplates," L.L. Chan, E.A. Lidstone, K.E. Finch, J.T. Heeres, P.J. Hergenrother, and B.T. Cunningham, Journal of the Association for Laboratory Automation (JALA), Accepted, July 2009.
- "Employing two distinct guided-mode resonances to improve fluorescence enhancement from photonic crystals," P.C. Mathias, H.-Y. Wu, and B.T. Cunningham, Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 95, p. 021111-021113, 2009.
- "Cartilage tissue engineering on fibrous chitosan scaffolds produced by a replica molding technique," G. Ragetly, G. Slavik, B.T. Cunningham, D.J. Schaeffer, and D. Griffon, Journal of Biomedical Material Research Part A, In Print, September 2009.
- "Microfluidic chip for combinatorial mixing and screening of assays," B.R. Schudel, C.J. Choi, B.T. Cunningham, and P.J.A. Kenis, Lab on a Chip, Vol. 12, p. 1676-1680, 2009.
- "Leaky-mode assisted fluorescence extraction: Application to fluorescence enhancement biosensors," N. Ganesh, I.D. Block, P.C. Mathias, W. Zhang, E. Chow, V. Malyarchuk, and B.T. Cunningham, Optics Express, Vol. 16, No. 26, p. 21626-21640, 2008.
- "Application of Photonic Crystal Enhanced Fluorescence to a Cytokine Immunoassay," P.C. Mathias, N. Ganesh, and B.T. Cunningham, Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 80, No. 23, p. 9013-9020, 2008.
- "Photonic crystals with SiO2-Ag "post-cap" nanostructure coatings for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy," S.-M. Kim, W. Zhang, and B.T. Cunningham, Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 93, p. 143112, DOI: 10.1063/1.2998695, Published Online October 9, 2008.
- "Rapid label-free selective detection of porcine rotavirus using photonic crystal biosensors," M.F. Pineda, L.L. Chan, T. Kuhlenschmidt, M. Kuhlenschmidt, and B.T. Cunningham, IEEE Sensors Journal, Vol. 9, No. 4, p. 470-477, 2009.
- "Fluorescence enhancement by a photonic crystal with a nanorod-structured high index layer," W. Zhang and B.T. Cunningham, Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 93, p. 133115, DOI: 10.1063/1.2994696, published online October 2, 2008.
- "Plastic distributed feedback laser biosensor," M. Lu, S. S. Choi, U. Irfan, and B.T. Cunningham, Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 93, No. 11, p. 111113 (DOI 10.1063/1.2987484), Published Online September 18, 2008.
- "Enhanced fluorescence on a photonic crystal surface incorporating nanorod structures," W. Zhang, N. Ganesh, P.C. Mathias, and B.T. Cunningham, Small, Vol. 4, No. 12, p. 2199-2203, 2008.
- "General Method for Discovering Inhibitors of Protein-DNA Interactions using Photonic Crystal Biosensors," L.L. Chan, M.F. Pineda, J. Heeres, P. Hergenrother, and B T. Cunningham, ACS Chemical Biology, Vol. 3, No. 7, p. 437-448, 2008.
- "VCSEL Optoelectronic Biosensor for Detection of Infectious Diseases," M.C.Y. Huang, C.F.R. Maeus, J.E. Foley, R. Beatty, B.T. Cunningham, and C.J. Chang-Hasnain, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, Vol. 20, No. 6, p. 443-445, 2008.
- "Advantages and application of label-free detection assays in drug screening," B.T. Cunningham and L.G. Laing, Expert Opinions in Drug Discovery, Vol. 3, No. 8, p. 891-901, 2008.
- "Label free biosensor incorporating a replica-molded, vertically emitting distributed feedback laser," M. Lu, S. S. Choi, C. J. Wagner, J. G. Eden, and B. T. Cunningham, Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 92, 261502, 2008.
- "Honey I Shrunk the World: Research and Development in Nanotechnology at the University of Illinois," I.S. Ahmad and B.T. Cunningham, IEEE Nanotechnology Magazine, December, p. 5-10, 2008.
- "Low temperature plasma channels generated in microcavity trenches with widths 20-150 um and aspect rations as large as 10000:1", M. Lu, S.-J. Park, B.T. Cunningham, and J.G. Eden, Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 92, p. 101928, 2008.
- "Distance dependence of fluorescence enhancement from photonic crystal surfaces," N. Ganesh, P.C. Mathias, W. Zhang, and B.T. Cunningham, Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 103, p. 083104, 2008.
- "High Sensitivity Plastic-Substrate Photonic Crystal Biosensor," I.D. Block, M.F. Pineda, C.J. Choi, and B.T. Cunningham, IEEE Sensors Journal, Vol. 8, No. 9, p. 1546-1547, 2008.
- "Optically tuned resonant optical reflectance filter," F. Yang, G. Yen, G. Rasigade, J. Soares, and B.T. Cunningham, Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 92, No. 9, p. 091115, DOI: 10.1063/1.289071, 2008.
- "Graded Wavelength One-Dimensional Photonic Crystal Reveals Spectral Characteristics of Enhanced Fluorescence," P.C. Mathias, N.Ganesh, W.Zhang, and B.T. Cunningham, Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 103, p. 094320, 2008.
- "Vertically emitting, dye-doped polymer laser in the green (lambda ~ 536 nm) with a second order distributed feedback grating fabricated by replica molding," M. Lu, J.G. Eden, and B.T. Cunningham, Optics Communications, Vol. 281, p. 3159-3162, 2008.
- "High Sensitivity Photonic Crystal Biosensor Incorporating Nanorod Structures for Enhanced Surface Area," W. Zhang, N. Ganesh, I.D. Block and B.T. Cunningham, Sensors and Actuators B, Vol. 131, p. 279-284, 2008.
- "A sensitivity model for predicting photonic crystal biosensor performance," I.D. Block, N. Ganesh, M. Lu, and B.T. Cunningham, IEEE Sensors, Vol. 8, No. 3, p. 274-280, 2008.
- "Label-free imaging of cancer cells using photonic crystal biosensors and application to cytotoxicity screening of a natural compound library," L.L. Chan, S. Gosangari, K.L. Watkin, and B.T. Cunningham, Sensors and Actuators B, Vol. 132, p. 418-425, 2008.
- "A Replica Molding Technique for Producing Fibrous Chitosan Scaffolds for Cartilage Engineering," G.J. Slavik, G. Ragetly, N. Ganesh,a D.J. Griffon, and B.T. Cunningham, Journal of Materials Chemistry, Vol. 17, p. 4095 - 4101, 2007.
- "A voltage-tuned resonant reflectance optical filter for visible wavelengths fabricated by nanoreplica molding," F. Yang, G. Yen, and B.T. Cunningham, Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 90, p. 261109-261111, 2007.
- "Enhanced fluorescence emission from quantum dots on a photonic crystal surface," N. Ganesh, W. Zhang, P.C. Mathias and B.T. Cunningham, Nature Nanotechnology, v 2, no 8, p. 515-520, 2007 .
- "A 96-well microplate incorporating a replica molded microfluidic network integrated with photonic crystal biosensors for high throughput kinetic biomolecular interaction analysis," C. J. . Choi and B.T. Cunningham, Lab On A Chip, Vol. 7, p. 550-556, 2007.
- "Compact Wavelength Detection System Incorporating a Guided-Mode Resonance Filter," N.Ganesh, A. Xiang, N.B. Beltran, D.W. Dobbs, and B.T. Cunningham, Applied Physics Letters, v. 90, p. 081103-081106, 2007.
- "Combined Enhanced Fluorescence and Label-Free Biomolecular Detection with a Photonic Crystal Surface," P.C. Mathias, N. Ganesh, L.L. Chan, and B.T. Cunningham, Applied Optics, Vol. 46, No. 12, p. 2351-2360, 2007.
- "A label-free photonic crystal biosensor imaging method for detection of cancer cell cytotoxicity and proliferation," L. Chan, S. Gosangari, K. Watkin, and B.T. Cunningham, Apoptosis, Vol. 12, No, 6, p. 1061-1068, 2007.
- "Microplasma devices and arrays fabricated by plastic-based replica molding," M. Lu, S.-J. Park, J.G. Eden, and B.T. Cunningham, JMEMS, Vol. 16, No. 6, p. 1397-1402, 2007.
Invited Lectures
- "Deposited nanorod films for biosensor applications," W. Zhang, S.-M. Kim, N. Ganesh, I.D. Block, P.C. Mathias, and B.T. Cunningham, American Vacuum Society 2009 Meeting, San Diego, CA, November 2009.
- "Application of Photonic Crystal Enhanced Fluorescence to a Cytokine Immunoassay," B.T. Cunningham, EMBC 2009 Conference, Minneapolis, MN, September 2009.
- "Screening Small Molecule and Cell-Based Targets using Photonic Crystal Biosensors," B.T. Cunningham, Target Discovery World Congress, San Francisco, CA, August 2009.
- "Deposited nanorod films for biosensor applications," W. Zhang, S.-M. Kim, N. Ganesh, I. Block, P.C. Mathias, and B.T. Cunningham, AVS 56th International Symposium & Exhibition, San Jose, CA, November, 2009.
- "A general method for screening protein-DNA interactions using photonic crystal biosensor microplates," ACHEMA Conference, Frankfurt, Germany, May 2009.
- "Photonic Biosensors," Electrical Engineering Department Colloquium, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, May 2009.
- "Microplate-based, Label-free Applications: Native Cell Profiling and Pharmaceutically Relevant Targets," Society for Biomolecular Screening Spring Meeting, Lille, France, April 2009.
- "Nanophotonic resonators as biosensing substrates," Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal, Engineering Physics Department Seminar, March 2009.
- "Photonic crystal biosensors for high throughput drug discovery, environmental monitoring, and biomarker detection," Pittcon 2009, Chicago, IL, March 2009.
- "Photonic crystals: A platform for label-free and enhanced fluorescence biomolecular and cellular assays," 2008 MRS Fall Meeting, Boston, MA, December 2008.
- "Optical Resonators for Label Free Detection: Photonic Crystals and Lasers," University of Illinois Electromagnetics Symposium, Urbana, IL, September, 2008.
- "Photonic Crystal Biosensors and Tunable Resonant Optical Devices," IEEE LEOS Conference on Optical MEMS and Nanophotonics, Freiburg, Germany, August, 2008.
- "Sensors for Embedded Intelligence," Baxter Corporation Biannual Conference on Global R&D, Vienna, Austria, July, 2008.
- "Preliminary studies on biologically active proteins/peptides from medicinal plants," ASABE Conference, Providence, RI, June, 2008.
- "Photonic crystal biosensors for label-free detection and fluorescence enhancement," Gordon Research Conference in Bioanalytical Sensors, Providence, RI, June, 2008.
- "Tunable photonic crystal reflection filters on flexible plastic substrates," Tri-Service Information Exchange on Agile Laser Protection, Hilton Head, SC, April 2008.
- "Photonic crystal optofluidics for high throughput biosensing," C.J. Choi, and B.T. Cunningham, Conference on Lasers and Electro Optics, May 2008, San Jose, CA.
- "Optical Resonators for Label-Free Detection: Photonic Crystals, Microrings, and Lasers," SBS Symposium on Label-Free Technologies in Drug Discovery, June 2008, Dresden, Germany.
- "Photonic Crystal Biosensors," SPIE Defense and Security Symposium, Orlando, FL, March 2008.
Patents
- 7,615,339 Method for producing a colorimetric resonant reflection biosensor on rigid surfaces (B.T. Cunningham and J. Qiu), November 10, 2009.
- 7,611,836 Method of making a plastic colorimetric resonant reflection biosensor on rigid surfaces (J. Qiu, P. Li, and B.T. Cunningham), November 3, 2009.
- 7,575,939 Optical detection of label-free biomolecular interactions using microreplicated plastic sensor elements (B.T. Cunningham, J. Pepper, B. Lin, P. Li, H. Pien, and J. Qiu), August 18, 2009.
- 7,534,578 Self-referencing biodetection method and patterned bioassays (C. Baird and B.T. Cunningham) May 19, 2009
- 7,531,786 Photonic crystal sensors with integrated fluid containment structure (B.T. Cunningham and C.J. Choi) May 12, 2009.
- 7,521,769 Photonic crystal biosensor and fabrication method (B.T. Cunningham) April 21, 2009.
- 7,479,992 Detection of biochemical interactions on a biosensor using tunable filters and tunable lasers (B.T. Cunningham, P.Y. Li, C. Chang-Hasnain, C. Mateus) March 3, 2009.
- 7,479,404 Photonic crystal biosensor structure and fabrication method (B.T. Cunningham, I. Block, L. L-Y. Chan) January 20, 2009.
- 7,468,138 Flexural plate wave sensor (M.S. Weinberg, B.T. Cunningham, and E. Hildebrant) December 23, 2008.
- 7,422,891 Label-free high-throughput optical technique for detecting biomolecular interactions (B.T. Cunningham) September 9, 2008.
- 7,371,562 Guided mode resonant filter biosensor using a linear grating surface structure (B.T. Cunningham, J. Pepper, B. Lin, P. Li, J. Qiu, H. Pien) May 13, 2008.
- 7,327,454 Method and apparatus for detecting biomolecular interactions (B.T. Cunningham, P.Y. Li, F, DeFilippi) February 5, 2008.
- 7,312,090 Label-free methods for performing assays using a colorimetric resonant reflectance optical biosensor (B. Lin, J. Pepper, B.T. Cunningham, J. Gerstenmaier, P. Li, J. Qiu, and H. Pien) December 25, 2007.
- 7,309,614 Self-referencing biodetection method and patterned bioassays (C. Baird, B.T. Cunningham, P. Li) December 18, 2007.
- 7,301,628 Method and apparatus for detecting biomolecular interactions (B.T. Cunningham, P.Y. Li, and F. DeFilippi) November 27, 2007.
- 7,300,814 Method for fabricating micro-mechanical devices (B.T. Cunningham and M.S. Weinberg) November 27, 2007.
- 7,300,803 Label-free methods for performing assays using a colorimetric resonant reflectance optical biosensor (B. Lin, J. Pepper, B.T. Cunningham, J. Gerstenmaier, P.Y, Li, J. Qiu, and H. Pien) November 27, 2007.
- 7,298,477 Method and apparatus for detecting biomolecular interactions (B.T. Cunningham, P.Y. Li, and F. DeFilippi) November 20, 2007.
- 7,292,336 Method and instrument for detecting biomolecular interactions (B.T. Cunningham and P.Y. Li) November 6, 2007.
- 7,266,990 Flexural plate wave sensor and array (B.T. Cunningham and J.R. Williams), September 17, 2007.
- 7,264,973 Label-free methods for performing assays using a colorimetric resonant optical biosensor (B. Lin, B.T. Cunningham, and P.Y. Li) September 4, 2007.
- 7,217,574 Method and apparatus for biosensor spectral shift detection (H. Pien, W.C. Karl, D. Puff, P.Y. Li, and B.T. Cunningham) May 15, 2007.
- 7,202,076 Label-free high-throughput optical technique for detecting biomolecular interactions (B.T. Cunningham, J. Pepper, B. Lin, P.Y. Li, and H. Pien) April 10, 2007.
- 7,197,198 Biosensor substrate structure for reducing the effects of optical interference (S.C. Schulz and B.T. Cunningham) March 27, 2007.
- 7,175,980 Method of making a plastic colorimetric resonant biosensor device with liquid handling capabilities (J. Qiu, P.Y. Li, and B.T. Cunningham) February 13, 2007.
- 7,171,844 Apparatus and method for measuring the mass of a substance (B.T. Cunningham and J.R. Williams) February 6, 2007.
- 7,170,599 Method and instrument for detecting biomolecular interactions (B.T. Cunningham and P.Y. Li) January 30, 2007.
- 7,158,230 Method and apparatus for detecting biomolecular interactions (B.T. Cunningham, P.Y. Li, and F. DeFilippi) January 2, 2007.
- 7,153,702 Label-free methods for performing assays using a colorimetric resonant reflection optical biosensor (B. Lin, J. Pepper, B.T. Cunningham, J. Gerstenmaier, P. Li, J. Qiu, and H. Pien) December 26, 2006.
- 7,148,964 Method and apparatus for detecting biomolecular interactions (B.T. Cunningham, P.Y. Li, and F. DeFilippi) December 12, 2006.
- 7,142,296 Method and apparatus for detecting biomolecular interactions (B.T. Cunningham, P.Y. Li, and F. DeFilippi) November 28, 2006.
- 7,118,710 Label-free high-throughput optical technique for detecting biomolecular interactions (B. T. Cunningham) October 10, 2006.
- 7,109,633 Flexural plate wave sensor (M.S. Weinberg, B.T. Cunningham, and E. Hildebrant) September 19, 2006.
- 7,101,660 Method for producing a colorimetric resonant reflection biosensor on rigid surfaces (B.T. Cunningham and J. Qiu) September 5, 2006.
- 7,094,595 Label-free high-throughput optical technique for detecting biomolecular interactions (B.T. Cunningham, J. Pepper, B. Lin, P. Li, and H. Pien) August 22, 2006.
- 7,074,311 Biosensor electrophoresis (B.T. Cunningham) July 11, 2006.
- 7,070,987 Guided mode resonant filter biosensor using a linear grating surface structure (B.T. Cunningham, J. Pepper, B. Lin, P. Li, J. Qiu, and H. Pien) July 4, 2006.
- 7,023,544 Method and instrument for detecting biomolecular interactions (B.T. Cunningham and P. Li) April 4, 2006.
- 7,000,453 Flexural plate wave sensor and array (B.T. Cunningham and J.R. Williams) February 21, 2006.
- 6,990,259 Photonic crystal defect cavity biosensor (B.T. Cunningham) January 24, 2006.
- 6,951,715 Optical detection of label-free biomolecular interactions using microreplicated plastic sensor elements (B.T. Cunningham, J. Pepper, B. Lin, P. Li, H. Pien, and J. Qiu) October 4, 2005.
- 6,851,297 Flexural plate wave sensor and array (B.T. Cunningham and J.R. Williams) February 8, 2005.
- 6,837,097 Flexural plate wave sensor and array (B.T. Cunningham and J.R. Williams) January 4, 2005.
- 6,688,158 Flexural plate wave sensor and array (B.T. Cunningham and J.R. Williams) February 10, 2004.
- 5,903,383 Electrostatic memory micromirror display system (J. Bernstein and B.T. Cunningham) May 11, 1999.
- 6,168,906 Micromachined membrane with locally compliant and stiff regions and method of making same (B.T. Cunningham and P.V. Richard) May 4, 1999.
- 5,900,630 Radiation detection apparatus (T.T. Tang, B.T. Cunningham, D.L. Lee, R.F. Adams, and S. Liberman) May 4, 1999.
- 5,688,699 Microbolometer (B.T. Cunningham and B. Patel) November 18, 1997.
