Tiny light-controlled chip for precise sensing and stimulation of soft tissues
Optoeletronic Micro-Gadget (OMG): a Photoelectrochemistry-Enabled Multi-Utility Lab-on-a-Chip System for Precise and Localized Sensing and Actuation
['FUNDING_R21'] · OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY · NIH-11324286
This project builds a small, light-activated device that can detect biological signals and locally stimulate tissue, aiming to help researchers develop future tools for patients.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R21'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11324286 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
The team is creating a flexible lab-on-a-chip that uses light-driven electrochemical reactions to turn sensing and stimulation sites on or off where needed. Instead of fixed metal electrode arrays, the device will let researchers reconfigure sensing and actuation spots on soft tissues with high spatial precision. The work combines photoelectrochemistry, microfabrication, and tests on cells and tissue-like samples in the lab to prove the concept. If successful, the platform could be adapted for detecting biomarkers or delivering localized electrical or chemical stimulation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who might be involved early on include volunteers willing to provide tissue samples or who later enroll in device trials for skin, wound, or other soft-tissue conditions.
Not a fit: Patients with purely systemic conditions that do not require localized sensing or stimulation are unlikely to see a direct benefit from this early-stage engineering work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could enable tiny devices that detect disease signals right on tissue surfaces and deliver very precise, localized stimulation or treatments with less invasive procedures.
How similar studies have performed: There are existing lab-on-a-chip sensors and light-activated stimulation tools, but using photoelectrochemistry to create reconfigurable, on-demand sensing and actuation sites is relatively new and not yet proven in people.
Where this research is happening
Columbus, UNITED STATES
- OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY — Columbus, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: LI, JINGHUA — OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: LI, JINGHUA
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.