Check out this week’s VINSE Spotlight Publication from the Lippmann Lab featuring Dr. Daniel Chavarria and former School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt (SSMV) student Immanuel Ojetola, who served as the paper’s second author while conducting this work at Vanderbilt. Their paper, “Tolerances in microfluidic master molds: a comparison of 3D printing and micromilling,” was published in RSC Advances.

Microfluidic fabrication techniques have greatly improved in the past three decades, with more affordable and accessible fabrication modalities emerging such as 3D printing and micromilling which are often used for generating microfluidic master molds for soft cast patterning. Although 3D printing and micromilling have been widely adopted, there has been no characterization on the fabrication tolerances of these two fabrication methods for the generation of microfluidic master molds and the effects of these two fabrication modalities on microfluidic performance. In this study, we sought to fill in a gap in microfabrication literature by characterizing fabrication tolerances of 3D printed and micromilled microfluidic master molds using VINSE’s stylus profilometer. We proceeded to then test the effects of fabrication tolerances of each fabrication modality using two microfluidic devices, a low-flow splitting microfluidic device, and a flow-focusing microfluidic device for generating gelatin microspheres.

Our results demonstrated that 3D printed microfluidic master molds had a significantly rougher surface finish when compared to the micromilled aluminum master molds. Our low-flow splitting microfluidic assay showed no significant differences in performance between microfluidic chips cast from the 3D printed or micromilled master molds. Our flow-focusing microfluidic device did show a significant difference in the generation of gelatin microspheres between 3D printed and micromilled master molds. Overall, we hope this study serves as a practical guide for researchers when deciding which fabrication modality will be appropriate for their microfluidic applications.

Authors: Daniel Chavarria, Immanuel Ojetola, Maria L. Russotti, Alexis K. Yates and Ethan S. Lippmann

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The outermost layer of human skin, the stratum corneum, serves as the body’s primary barrier, formed by a complex lipid matrix of ceramides, cholesterol, and free fatty acids. However, the molecular mechanisms linking lipid composition to barrier structure and function remain difficult to fully resolve experimentally.

In this work, multiscale molecular dynamics simulations were used to investigate how ceramide structure influences lipid organization and hydrogen bonding in the stratum corneum. The results show that ceramide headgroup chemistry indeed affects hydrogen bonding patterns. However, in more complex, biologically relevant mixtures, overall barrier properties are driven more strongly by lipid chain-length distribution than by hydrogen bonding alone. These findings connect molecular composition to macroscopic barrier behavior and help explain experimental observations.

Chloe Frame, Ph.D., graduated from ������ý���� in May 2025 with a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, where she conducted her research in the lab of Professor��Clare McCabe. She is currently based in San Diego, where she works at Schrödinger, supporting scientists in drug discovery and material science by applying molecular modeling technologies.

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Authors: Chloe Frame, Christopher Iacovella,��David J.��Moore,��Annette L.��Bunge, and Clare��McCabe

Abstract: The barrier function of the outermost layer of human skin, the stratum corneum (SC), arises from its multilamellar lipid matrix composed primarily of ceramides (CERs), cholesterol (CHOL), and free fatty acids (FFAs). Coarse-grained (CG) and atomistic molecular dynamics simulations have been used to study self-assembled multilayers comprising CERs NS, NP, AS, and AP, in pure CER systems and mixtures of CERs with CHOL and FFAs. Equilibrated CG configurations were reverse-mapped to recover atomistic details and analyzed to extract structures and hydrogen bonding. Simulations of pure CERs agreed with experimental trends: phytosphingosine CERs (NP and AP) exhibited more C––O hydrogen bonds, consistent with lower amide I FTIR frequencies, than their sphingosine counterparts (NS and AS). Likewise, non-hydroxy CERs (NS and NP) exhibited more C–O hydrogen bonding than their α-hydroxy analogs (AS and AP). CER mixtures with CHOL and FFA showed reduced C––O hydrogen bonding compared to pure CERs, though this effect depended on water content. Hydroxyl location was critical: OH on the phytosphingosine base increased C––O hydrogen bonding, whereas the α-hydroxy on the acyl chain reduced it. In CER NP:AP mixtures with CHOL and FFA, simulations reproduced the experimental repeat distances for NP-rich and AP-rich systems despite differences in hydrogen bonding. Simulations of multicomponent mixtures resembling the SC model of Bouwstra demonstrated the dominant effect of chain-length distribution, rather than CER hydrogen bonding, on permeability. This work shows how multiscale modeling integrated with experiments can uncover molecular mechanisms linking composition and SC barrier structure to interpret experimental results.

Ryan Anthony Kowalski, from Taunton, Massachusetts, is this year’s Founder’s Medalist for the . He is graduating with a��doctor of philosophy in interdisciplinary materials science. Kowalski is the first student from the interdisciplinary materials science (IMS) program to receive this honor.

Kowalski’s research has advanced our understanding of light–matter interactions in the far-infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, while opening new pathways for quantum and nanophotonic technologies. His work illustrates how interdisciplinary training can empower students to bridge fields and create entirely new directions in research.

As a member of the Caldwell Lab, Kowalski led two ambitious and technically challenging research areas. First, he investigated the vibrational properties of defects in single-photon emitters—crucial for quantum technologies—through his development and application of nano-optic probe techniques. Second, he extended these approaches to the far-infrared spectral region, enabling direct measurement of optical confinement at unprecedented length scales.

Kowalski also received a NASA Space Technology Graduate Research Opportunities award.

In addition to his research, Kowalski was president of the Engineering Ambassadors Network for five years. He taught six engineering disciplines to more than a hundred seventh graders. He also mentored prospective students and did outreach to underserved communities.

After completing his doctorate in fall 2025, Kowalski accepted a postdoctoral position at the University of Maryland Laboratory for Physical Sciences. He continues to develop quantum light sources for applications in computer and secure communications—extending the impact of his Vanderbilt training.

Read more about all Founder’s Medal winners:��.

This work demonstrates a new approach to non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) gas sensing using wavelength-selective thermal emitters designed to overcome the traditional sensitivity–selectivity tradeoff. Conventional NDIR sensors rely on broadband sources and narrowband optical filters, where increasing sensitivity often requires widening the spectral passband at the expense of selectivity. In this work, we instead engineer multi-resonant thermal emitters using aperiodic distributed Bragg reflectors (a-DBRs) designed using an inverse design framework based on the transfer matrix method and stochastic gradient optimization��to produce spectrally selective emission at multiple molecular vibrational bands. These emitters enable filterless sensing by directly tailoring the emission spectrum to target gas absorption features. Experimental validation demonstrates enhanced detection sensitivity by simultaneously probing multiple absorption modes of propane, while selectivity is demonstrated through highly selective single-frequency emitters targeting carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide that exhibit high quality factors and no spectral crosstalk.��These results show that optimized multi-resonant emitters can break the conventional NDIR sensitivity–selectivity tradeoff, providing a pathway toward compact, filterless, and highly selective infrared gas sensing platforms.

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Authors: Emma R. Bartelsen, J. Ryan Nolen, Christopher R. Gubbin, Mingze He, Ryan W. Spangler, Joshua Nordlander, Cassandra L. Bogh, Katja Diaz-Granados, Simone De Liberato, Jon-Paul Maria, James R. McBride, Joshua D. Caldwell

Abstract: In applications such as atmospheric monitoring of greenhouse gases and pollutants, the detection and identification of trace concentrations of harmful gases is commonly achieved using nondispersive infrared (NDIR) sensors. These devices typically employ a broadband infrared emitter, thermopile detector, and spectrally selective bandpass filter tuned to the vibrational resonance of the target analyte. However, fabrication of these filters is costly and limited to a single frequency. This limitation introduces a fundamental trade-off, as broadening the optical passband width enhances sensitivity but compromises selectivity, whereas narrowing improves selectivity at the expense of sensitivity. In this work, we validate a filterless NDIR gas sensing approach utilizing a multipeak thermal emitter developed through an inverse design. This emitter enhances detection sensitivity by simultaneously targeting multiple absorption bands, demonstrated through the creation of a sensor designed for the C–H vibrational modes of propane (C₃H₈). Additionally, a second set of single-peak emitters was developed to showcase the capability of designing highly selective sensors operating within close spectral proximity. These emitters, targeting the stretching modes of carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), exhibit quality factors (Q-factors) above 50 and minimal crosstalk, enabling accurate detection of the target gas without interference from gases with spectrally adjacent absorption bands. This is enabled by aperiodic distributed Bragg reflectors (a-DBRs), which achieve higher Q-factors with fewer layers than periodic Bragg reflectors. Experimental results demonstrate that this approach breaks the trade-off between sensitivity and selectivity.

Huijin (Ginny) An, a graduate student in interdisciplinary materials science at ������ý����, has been awarded the Parkhutik Prize for the most outstanding poster at the recent Porous Semiconductors Science and Technology (PSST) conference in Naples, Italy.

The Parkhutik Prize recognizes outstanding contributions in the field of porous silicon and related semiconductor technologies. It honors the legacy of pioneering physicist Vitali Parkhutik, who dedicated more than three decades to research on porous silicon, anodization processes, and the development of advanced characterization techniques

She was recognized for her work “Control of Fluid Flow in Paper-Based Porous Silicon Biosensor for Enhanced Sensor Performance.”��Her research shows how controlling fluid flow in paper-based porous silicon sensors can significantly enhance detection efficiency. By optimizing microchannel design. Her approach achieved more than a twofold increase in signal for protein detection within a 20-minute testing window.

This recognition highlights An’s contribution to advancing rapid, sensitive diagnostic technologies.

An is a member of the ��led by , Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Engineering and director of the ��(VINSE).

How can tiny structures in your favorite berry turn sunlight into electricity? On Monday, May 4th, VINSE welcomed students from White County High School to the Blackberry Solar Cell Lab for an interactive dive into solar energy and nanoscience. Students crafted working solar cells using blackberry juice and measured the power their homemade devices could produce.

The visit also gave students a chance to explore the materials at a microscopic level using one of VINSE’s scanning electron microscopes. With magnification up to 500,000 times, students were able to see nanoscale features tens of thousands of times smaller than a human hair, gaining insight into how these tiny details affect a solar cell’s ability to capture sunlight.

A big thank-you to VINSE NanoGuides Kauryn Datcher, Emily Rouse, Gillian Vansciver, and Madison Walker for making this hands-on learning experience so engaging.

Schools interested in this program can reach out to vinse@vanderbilt.edu�� to learn more.

Congratulations to Ikjun Hong and the team members in Justus Ndukaife lab! Ikjun’s paper, “Rapid trapping and label-free optical characterization of single nanoscale extracellular vesicles and nanoparticles in solution,” has been featured as a VINSE Spotlight publication and published in Light: Science & Applications. This work was carried out with collaboration with ������ý���� Medical Center (VUMC).

Despite the advances in single particle trapping and characterization, we note that a scalable platform that offers simultaneous high-efficiency trapping, label-free imaging, and molecular composition analysis of individual nanoparticles remains elusive. Such a tool would significantly advance single-particle analysis by enabling rapid, detailed characterization of both size and chemical composition at the nanoscale, with profound implications across a range of fields, from nanomedicine to environmental science. Although laser trapping Raman spectroscopy can trap micro-scale particles and collect Raman scattering signals, the process often requires at least several minutes to load, optically trap, and perform Raman analysis, which dramatically limits analysis throughput. To address this critical gap, we introduce an original interferometric electrohydrodynamic tweezers (IET). IET uses electrohydrodynamic flows to rapidly trap thousands of nanoscale objects, such as EVs and nanoparticles, in parallel—within seconds. Our platform integrates label-free interferometric imaging and molecular composition analysis using Raman spectroscopy, enabling precise, real-time characterization at the single particle level without the need for fluorescent labels or surface immobilization. Importantly, IET allows for the comprehensive analysis of nanoscale particles (including size, shape, and chemical composition) in their native state, avoiding artifacts introduced by traditional staining or fixation techniques.

Read article here in the .

Authors: Ikjun Hong, Chuchuan Hong, Theodore Anyika, Guodong Zhu, Maxwell Ugwu, James N Higginbotham, Jeffrey L Franklin, Robert Coffey, Justus C Ndukaife

Abstract: Achieving high-efficiency, comprehensive analysis of single nanoparticles to determine their size, shape, and composition is essential for understanding particle heterogeneity with applications ranging from drug delivery to environmental monitoring. Existing techniques are hindered by low throughput, lengthy trapping times, irreversible particle adsorption, or limited characterization capabilities. Here, we introduce Interferometric Electrohydrodynamic Tweezers (IET), an integrated platform that combines rapid molecular trapping, interferometric scattering imaging, and Raman scattering to rapidly trap and characterize single nanoparticles within seconds in one integrated platform. The IET platform enables to perform both trapping and Raman analysis within seconds in contrast with laser trapping Raman spectroscopy that often require several minutes per measurement. Furthermore, the IET platform can also operate under low particle concentration media, where particle loading is slow for conventional laser trapping Raman spectroscopy approach. We demonstrate the platform’s capabilities by trapping and characterizing the size and chemical composition of colloidal polymer beads and nanoscale extracellular vesicles (EVs), while trapped in solution. Our IET represents a powerful optofluidics platform for comprehensive characterization of nanoscale objects, opening new avenues in nanomedicine, environmental monitoring, and beyond.

Congratulations to Mark Mc Veigh and the Bellan group! Mark’s paper, “Understanding the Compatibility of Fluoride-Based Radiopharmaceutical Reaction Solutions and PDMS” has been featured as a VINSE Spotlight publication and published in ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces.

Nuclear medicine has become an integral tool for physicians to diagnose and treat cancer and various other diseases. This growth has been enabled by the ongoing development of thousands of targeted radiopharmaceuticals (RPs) designed to track specific biological processes. Currently, production methods rely on economies of scale to reduce costs, meaning lesser used but more targeted RPs are prohibitively expensive for the patient. Microfluidics has been identified as a key technology that can reduce this cost barrier by enabling decentralized dose-on-demand RP production. Using a microfluidic synthesis platform, PET scan facilities and radiopharmacies can produce single doses of RPs and directly distribute them to patients. This eliminates the waste associated with large batches and reduces cost for patients. As these systems transition from research to commercialization, understanding material compatibility has become a critical concern. In particular, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), a material widely used to fabricate microfluidic devices, has been the subject of significant debate due to conflicting reports on its interaction with ¹⁸F, with some studies reporting severe activity losses and others reporting minimal effects.

In this work, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), profilometry, and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used to directly probe the interaction between fluoride-based reaction solutions and PDMS. SEM-EDS revealed that fluoride does not significantly diffuse into PDMS and can largely be removed by washing with appropriate solvents. However, images showed significant damage to the surface if the reaction solution was completely evaporated on the surface (a necessary step in many radiofluorination processes). The damage was confirmed and quantified with profilometry which provided further insight that substantial surface etching occurred only after complete solvent evaporation (when crystallized salts contact the PDMS surface). GC-MS identified several volatile compounds that are created during this interaction including the F-containing species trimethylfluorosilane. Together, these results reconcile previously conflicting reports by showing that PDMS remains largely stable during exposure to liquid-phase reaction solutions but degrades to form F-containing volatile species once the solution is fully evaporated, resulting in significant activity loss.

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Authors: Mark Mc Veigh, Charles Frech, Mai Lin, Robert Ta, H. Charles Manning, and Leon M. Bellan

Abstract: Microfluidic devices offer unique and exciting benefits when applied to radiopharmaceutical manufacturing, and these platforms are now starting to be integrated into commercial products. The field has strayed away from the use of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), the most common microfluidic device material, due to its suspected incompatibility with 18F, the most commonly used radionuclide. However, existing literature provides conflicting conclusions as to the existence and extent of this incompatibility. In this study, we use several analytical instruments to uncover the underlying interaction between fluoride and PDMS. SEM imaging and profilometry confirm the reactive relationship between the two materials and suggest that this interaction only occurs when the reaction solution is fully evaporated and crystallized salts are in contact with PDMS. Furthermore, GC-MS identifies fluoride-containing volatile species that can account for loss of fluoride in previous studies and additionally reveals an incompatibility between PDMS and K2CO3 (a commonly used component of radiofluorination reaction solutions). These results confirm the need for microfluidic radiofluorination devices to avoid the use of PDMS in most contexts but may allow for inexpensive design and testing of liquid state operations (such as concentration, purification, and mixing) using the material.

Instructor: Hanna Terletska
Director, QRISE Center at MTSU

Curious about how quantum computers work and how you can start programming one? This full-day workshop takes you on a journey from the fundamental principles of quantum science to writing and running real quantum algorithms on IBM’s quantum hardware.

Attendees are welcome to join the morning session, the afternoon session, or stay for the full day experience.

Morning session – Foundations & Refresher

This day begins with an overview of the core concepts underpinning����quantum computing.

• Explore the quantum materials and physical systems used to build real quantum processors
• Learn how quantum information is stored and manipulated using qubits
• Get hands-on with basic quantum gates and circults

Afternoon session – Deeper Dive into Quantum Computing with Qiskit

In the second part of the workshop, we will shift into a deeper, more technical exploration of quantum algorithms.

• Deeper dive into quantum algorithms
• Write, simulate and execute multi-step quantum algorithms using Qiskit
• Run your programs on actual IBM quantum computers
• Guided coding exercises will walk participants through each algorithm step-by-step, with time for experimentation and discussion

No prior quantum computing experience is required, ��just your curiosity and a willingness to dive in. Designed for students across STEM disciplines.

VINSE recently hosted its 12th annual Student-Selected Keynote, featuring Prof. Guihua Yu (University of Texas at Austin), a leading researcher in materials science and energy technologies. Selected by VINSE graduate students, this keynote reflects the interests and direction of emerging researchers and continues to be a distinctive part of the institute’s programming.

Prof. Yu’s talk focused on the design of engineered soft materials, particularly hydrogels, and their applications in energy storage, water purification, and broader sustainability challenges. His visit also included a full day of engagement with the VINSE community, including small-group discussions with students and faculty.

VINSE thanks Prof. Yu for his time, insight, and willingness to engage across the community.

This event was organized by the 2026 VINSE Keynote Address Committee, chaired by Rahul Shah, with Owen Meilander, Grace Adams, Daniel P. Woods, Jeb Buchner, and Zacchaeus Wallace.