MEMS affinity sensors for monitoring of metabolites   We are pursuing the integration of MEMS sensors and microfluidics for biophysical characterization. Studies of biophysical properties play an important role in understanding various biomolecular processes. For example, measurement of viscous and viscoelastic properties of solutions of biomolecules provides quantitative biomolecular information Conventional instruments for such biophysical measurements are bulky, expensive or labor intensive, and require large amounts of biological materials that are typically expensive or rare. Miniaturized instruments that integrate MEMS sensors and microfluidic elements will effectively address these limitations and allow biophysical measurements to be performed with, for example, optimized sensitivity and throughput, maximized spatial/temporal resolution, and minimized consumption of biological samples and reagents.     Projects: Affinity sensor for subcutaneous glucose monitoring