Education and Research Activities in the Laboratory

We are advancing our research on sensor- and device-related fundamental technologies such as micromachining technology. We take advantage of these technologies to conduct research on various devices such as electrophoresis chips, cell culture chips (see Fig. 1), microreactors, electro-osmotic pumps, and vapor-liquid separation chips (see Fig. 2). Furthermore, we are advancing our research on molecular imaging technology as an application in the medical diagnosis field, as well as working on the integration of these technologies to realize highly functional ultramicro chemical analysis systems (μTAS：Micro Total Analysis Systems).

Research Theme

We take advantage of semiconductor manufacturing process technologies to apply micromachining to silicon substrates or glass substrate of sub-micron dimensions, thus developing functional devices with one-micron sized three-dimensional structures that are used for chemical analysis and chemical manipulation (reaction or extraction). In addition, we integrate these functional devices to realize further sophisticated μTAS systems such as DNA analysis systems, real-time cell function analysis systems, onsite environmental analysis systems, field-portable analysis systems, thus advancing our research on fundamental technologies. We are also working on molecular imaging-related technologies such as molecular design of molecular probes or microreactor-based synthetic apparatuses, aiming at the application of these technologies to the medical diagnosis field as exemplified by cancer detection at its very early stage.
The following shows the research themes conducted in our laboratory:
・ Ultramicro chemical analysis system
・ Microreactor and micropump
・ Vapor-liquid separation chip, cell culture chip
・ Polymer micelle (lactosome)
・ Probe synthesis system with microreactors

Explanatory Pictures of Research Activities

Recent Research Papers and Achievements

“Development of Ultramicro Analysis Apparatus for the Field of Fuel Cells” as a part of the Advanced Analysis Apparatus Development and Practical Application Project (fiscal 2006-2008) supported by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (currently underway) (in Japanese)

“Development of Micro Gas-Chromatography System for On-site Environmental Measurement,” as a part of the Development of Systems and Technology for Advanced Measurement and Analysis (fiscal 2005- 2007) supported by JST (completed) (in Japanese)

T. Munaka, H Abe, Y. Fujiyama, M. Kanai, T. Sakamoto, H. Nakanishi, T. Yamaoka, S. Shoji and A. Murakami, “Real-time monitoring of antibody secretion from hybridomas on a microchip by time-resolved luminescence anisotropy analysis,” Analytical Biochemistry, 353 (2006), 1-6

M. Kanai, H Abe, T. Munaka, Y. Fujiyama, D. Uchida, A. Yamayoshi, H. Nakanishi, A. Murakami and S. Shoji, “Micro chamber for cellar analysis integrated with negligible dead volume sample injector,” Sensors and Actuators A, 114 (2004), 129-134

H. Nakanish, T. Nishimoto, A. Arai, H. Abe, M. Kanai, Y. Fujiyama and T. Yoshida, “Fabrication of quartz microchips with optical slits and development of a linear imaging UV detector for microchip electrophoresis systems,” Electrophoresis, 22 (2001), 230-234