Micro- and Nanosystems Research Group
Professor Pasi Kallio
"The mission of our group is to develop autonomous systems for manipulating, treating and characterizing micro- and nanoscale biological and industrial process samples and targets. We combine knowledge of automation and control engineering with microsystems and nanotechnology. We develop novel functional systems in selected application areas."
Current open positions:
The expertise areas of our group include:
- microrobotics
- microfluidics
- active materials
- automation and control
We focus our research on the following application areas:
- cell technology
- point of care patient diagnostics
- industrial processes
Examples of samples and targets we developing systems include:
- living cells, such as stem cell derived neural, eye and cardiac cells
- wood and pulp fibres
- blood samples
- waste water treatment samples
You can find more information on our current active and previous projects in the different application areas in the following. Check our publications in the department’s publication page.
Cell technology
Active projects
Human Spare Parts, Actuators - The project is a part of a strategic project Human Spare Parts of BioMediTech. Our objective is to develop microfluidic and microsystem technology for cultivating and stimulating cardiac, neural, ocular and bone cells derived from pluripotent stem cells.
FIBAM - The project develops new methods to better understand the properties of wood derived fibers and muscle fibers in a human heart. The approach in the project is to use microrobotics, i.e automatic instruments which can precisely manipulate and measure properties of individual microscopic objects.
Stemfunc - Biomimetic Active Environment for Maturing and Differentiating Stem Cells, 2008-2011
The projective is a collaborative effort between TUT / ASE, TUT / BME and Regea. At TUT / ASE, the Micro- and Nanosystems Research group develops microactuation technologies for mechanical stimulation of cardiac cells and microfluidic technologies for automatic cell cultivation.
Previous projects
OPTIMI - Optically Actuated Microfluidics (2007-2009)
DAAD-NANO - Nanorobot-based electrical and mechanical characterization of biological cells (2007-2009)
PICO - Development of Control Methods for Piezoelectric Actuators (2003-2008)
ACC - Automated Cell Culturing on a Well Plate (2003-2007)
LIVD - Development of Methods for Testing of Therapeutic Molecules In-vitro (2004-2006)
GENOMANDA - Automatic Manipulation, Detection and Analysis of Functions of Genes (2004-2005)
AIM - Integration of Automatic Intracellular Microinjection and Bioelectrical Recordings (2003-2004)
SOLOMANDA - Automatic Manipulation, Detection and Analysis of Individual Biological Cells (2000-2002)
Point of Care Diagnostics
Active projects
ReDia - Ready-to-use Microfluidic Cartridges for Affordable Point-of-care Diagnostics. The objective of this collaborative Finnish-Indian project is to develop rapid tests for the detection of heart infraction and tuberculosis. ASE develops automatic microfluidic technologies for on-chip liquid handling.
nucleoTracker - Tracking Nucleic Acid Containing Compounds in Water Environment, 2010-2012
The objective of the project is to develop methods for measuring nucleic acid containing analytes in water resources. The analytes can be either biological organisms or synthetic compounds added advisedly to water. ASE develops disposable microfluidic chips for liquid handling.
NanoFlow - Enhancement of in vitro Diagnostics using Nanoparticle Labels, Nanophotonics and Microfluidics, 2008-2011. The objective of the project is to develop a new approach for patient diagnostics which combines dyed surface-bound nanoparticle labels, nanophotonics and microfluidics. The project also develops general micro- and nanofluidic technologies for sample pre-processing.
Previous projects
PanFlow - Microfluidics Platform for a Multi-purpose Point-of-use need System (2005-2008)
BIOAKUSTI - Microacoustic Biosensor (2006-2009)
NEOPOC - Total Analysis System for POC Diagnostics (2004-2005)
MIFLUS - Microfluidics Survey (2003-2004)
BLOSD - Development of an Automatic Blood Sampling Device (2002-2003)
FLUISY - Development of Microfluidic Systems (1997-1999)
Industrial processes
Active projects
FIBAM - The project develops new methods to better understand the properties of wood derived fibers and muscle fibers in a human heart. The approach in the project is to use microrobotics, i.e automatic instruments which can precisely manipulate and measure properties of individual microscopic objects.
ECNANOMAN - The project is a part of International Research Staff Exchange Programme (IRSES) in FP7. The goal is to establish a long-term research cooperation platform between Europe and China. The objective is achieved by means of staff exchange between the partners of EU and China in the areas of nano handling, assembly and manufacturing technologies. The project includes four participants from Europe (Germany, Finland, Denmark, France) and five from China.
SmartFibre - Surface Engineering of Pulp Fibres: New Functionalisation Concepts for Smart Fibre Products, 2009-2011. The objectives of the ERA-NET project are to develop new concepts for i) the functionalization of paper fibres and ii) the characterization of the functionalization effects. ASE develops a microrobotic platform for characterizing strength properties of individual fibres and fibre bonds.
Previous projects
FPMC - Flow Process Management and Control (2006-2010)
MELA - MEMS Laminates Technologies (2003-2004)
ROBOSEM - Development of a Smart Nanorobot for Sensor-Based Handling in a Scanning Electron Microscope (2002-2004)
FEMAS - Future Electronic Microassembly Systems (2001-2002)
PAMIR - Treatment of Paper Fibers using Microsystem Technology (2000-2002)
TOMI - µASSY - Towards mini and microassembly (2000-2002)
VR-MICRO - Virtual Environment for Operation in the Micro World (1997-1999)
AMINU - Advanced Microsystems - Collaboration with Nagoya University (1999)