Biomedical Microdevices
Research in biomedical microdevices centers around development of devices and structures made with micro and nanofabrication techniques to create the next generation of biomaterials, medical devices and point-of-care diagnostics.
Faculty research in microsystems engineering includes developing systems for analyzing single cells, high throughput screening of cell cultures, culturing microscale tissues and sensing DNA and other molecules.
Devices are fabricated across both campuses using The NC State Nanofrabication Facility and The Chapel Hill Analytical and Nanofabrication Laboratory (CHANL). The joint department is also home to a class 1000 soft wall cleanroom that contains tools for fabrication and is geared towards studies at the interface of engineering and biology.
Biomedical Microdevice Laboratories

Biointerface Lab
The Biointerface Lab’s primary area of interest is the broad application of soft nanomaterials to engineer devices that monitor, mimic or augment biological function. Specific topics of research include wearable and implantable biosensors, organ-on-chip models and human-machine interfaces.

Biomolecular Engineering Laboratory
The Sode Lab uses biomolecular engineering to create molecules and develop biosensing technologies for application in health care management. The laboratory focuses on creating theranostic biomolecules and biodevices that recognize, sense and diagnose health-related conditions. Research in the Sode Lab ultimately provides advancements in medicine and treatments for patients suffering from a wide range of issues, such as metabolic conditions, cancer and mental health disorders.

Polacheck Lab
The Polacheck Lab is an interdisciplinary team of scientists and engineers who build microfluidic models of human tissues. Researchers use these human microtissue models to study how cells interact with their environment and how these interactions are disrupted in diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and fibrosis. The lab’s long-term objectives are to translate the technology and techniques developed to build microtissues into tissue-engineered therapies for organ replacement and regenerative medicine.