Research
Adam T. Woolley
Office: C305 BNSN
Office Phone: 801-422-1701
Email: awoolley@chem.byu.edu
Education:
BS, Brigham Young University (1992)
Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley (1997)
Runyon-Winchell Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University (1998-2000)
Research:
Woolley lab researchers work at the interface between chemistry, engineering, and biology. Thus, Woolley students receive broad technical training and are well-poised to contribute to key research fields, including Micro-and Nanometer-Scale Chemical Manipulation and Analysis. A common theme in Woolley Lab research is the interrelationship between biological molecules and miniaturization. Woolley chemists utilize miniaturization tools to detect and quantify clinically relevant biomolecules and apply DNA in forming nanoscale materials.
Office Phone: 801-422-1701
Email: awoolley@chem.byu.edu
Education:
BS, Brigham Young University (1992)
Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley (1997)
Runyon-Winchell Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University (1998-2000)
Research:
Woolley lab researchers work at the interface between chemistry, engineering, and biology. Thus, Woolley students receive broad technical training and are well-poised to contribute to key research fields, including Micro-and Nanometer-Scale Chemical Manipulation and Analysis. A common theme in Woolley Lab research is the interrelationship between biological molecules and miniaturization. Woolley chemists utilize miniaturization tools to detect and quantify clinically relevant biomolecules and apply DNA in forming nanoscale materials.
3D printed microfluidics for bioanalysis
Research is focused on developing miniaturized analysis systems using 3D printing. Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a 3D printed microfluidic design for analysis of preterm birth (PTB) biomarkers from maternal serum. The device combines multiplexed immunoaffinity extraction with solid-phase extraction and fluorescent labeling, followed by rapid electrophoretic separation with fluorescence detection. After a few microliters of unlabeled blood serum are loaded, the device is designed to carry out integrated sample preparation and analysis functions to determine the concentrations of PTB biomarkers, providing risk assessment and enabling improved medical care.
Figure 1. Integrated 3D printed microfluidic system for bioanalysis. Sample is loaded in a microfluidic device that carries out automated affinity extraction, coupled with a solid-phase extraction and fluorescence labeling step, followed by electrophoretic separation with fluorescence detection.
Figure 1. Integrated 3D printed microfluidic system for bioanalysis. Sample is loaded in a microfluidic device that carries out automated affinity extraction, coupled with a solid-phase extraction and fluorescence labeling step, followed by electrophoretic separation with fluorescence detection.
Antimicrobial susceptibility studies using droplet microfluidics
Antimicrobial resistance remains a global threat with ~5 million deaths in 2019 and 10 million annual deaths projected by 2050. Current tools for the analysis of bacteria are slow, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment. Woolley’s lab is developing methods for rapidly testing antimicrobial resistance using droplet microfluidics, as shown schematically in Figure 2. Research focuses on designing and fabricating microfluidic devices, encapsulating single bacteria with reporter molecules and antibiotics in discrete water-in-oil droplets, and monitoring bacterial growth via fluorescence. Measurements of droplet fluorescence during incubation can elucidate bacterial response to different antibiotic doses, helping to inform potential treatments.
Figure 2. Droplet microfluidic analysis of bacteria. The microfluidic system allows for individual bacteria to be probed fluorescently after different growth or inhibition conditions.
Figure 2. Droplet microfluidic analysis of bacteria. The microfluidic system allows for individual bacteria to be probed fluorescently after different growth or inhibition conditions.
Biotemplated nanofabrication of electronics
The Woolley Lab Group is leading an interdisciplinary team whose objective is to explore bottom-up methods for the fabrication of nanoscale electronic systems. This team folds DNA into controlled nanoscale designs that can be converted into functional electronic elements after purification and metallization (Fig. 3). The Woolley Lab is presently applying these methods in making metal-semiconductor junctions with linewidths as small as 5 nm.
Figure 3. DNA origami are formed with seeding nanoparticles, purified to remove defects, and functionalized with inorganic electronic materials.
Figure 3. DNA origami are formed with seeding nanoparticles, purified to remove defects, and functionalized with inorganic electronic materials.
Publications
Esene, J.E.; Nasman, P.R.; Akuoko, Y.; Tahir, A.; Woolley, A.T. Past, Current, and Future Roles of 3D Printing in the Development of Capillary Electrophoresis Systems. Trends Anal. Chem. 162, 117032 (2023)
Ranasinghe, D.R.; Doerk, G.; Aryal, B.R.; Pang, C.; Davis, R.C.; Harb, J.N.; Woolley, A.T. Block Copolymer Self-Assembly to Pattern Gold Nanodotsfor Site-Specific Placement of DNA Origami and Attachment of Nanomaterials. Nanoscale 15, 2188-2196 (2023).
Akuoko, Y.; Nagliati, H.F.; Millward, C.J.; Woolley, A.T. Improving Droplet Microfluidic Systems for Studying Single Bacteria Growth. Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 415, 695-701 (2023).
Sanchez, D.; Hawkins, G.; Hinnen, H.S.; Day, A.; Woolley, A.T.; Nordin, G.P.; Munro, T. 3D Printing-Enabled Uniform Temperature Distributions in Microfluidic Devices. Lab Chip 22, 4393–4408 (2022).
Esene, J.E.; Boaks, M.; Bickham, A.V.; Nordin, G.P.; Woolley, A.T. 3D Printed Microfluidic Device for Automated, Pressure-driven, Valve-injected Microchip Electrophoresis of Preterm Birth Biomarkers. Microchim. Acta 189, 204 (2022).
Almughamsi, H.M.; Howell, M.K.; Parry, S.R.; Esene, J.E.; Nielsen, J.B.; Nordin, G.P.; Woolley, A.T. Immunoaffinity Monoliths for Multiplexed Extraction of Preterm Birth Biomarkers from Human Blood Serum in 3D Printed Microfluidic Devices. Analyst 147, 734-743 (2022).
Ranasinghe, D.R.; Doerk, G.; Aryal, B.R.; Pang, C.; Davis, R.C.; Harb, J.N.; Woolley, A.T. Block Copolymer Self-Assembly to Pattern Gold Nanodotsfor Site-Specific Placement of DNA Origami and Attachment of Nanomaterials. Nanoscale 15, 2188-2196 (2023).
Akuoko, Y.; Nagliati, H.F.; Millward, C.J.; Woolley, A.T. Improving Droplet Microfluidic Systems for Studying Single Bacteria Growth. Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 415, 695-701 (2023).
Sanchez, D.; Hawkins, G.; Hinnen, H.S.; Day, A.; Woolley, A.T.; Nordin, G.P.; Munro, T. 3D Printing-Enabled Uniform Temperature Distributions in Microfluidic Devices. Lab Chip 22, 4393–4408 (2022).
Esene, J.E.; Boaks, M.; Bickham, A.V.; Nordin, G.P.; Woolley, A.T. 3D Printed Microfluidic Device for Automated, Pressure-driven, Valve-injected Microchip Electrophoresis of Preterm Birth Biomarkers. Microchim. Acta 189, 204 (2022).
Almughamsi, H.M.; Howell, M.K.; Parry, S.R.; Esene, J.E.; Nielsen, J.B.; Nordin, G.P.; Woolley, A.T. Immunoaffinity Monoliths for Multiplexed Extraction of Preterm Birth Biomarkers from Human Blood Serum in 3D Printed Microfluidic Devices. Analyst 147, 734-743 (2022).
Awards
- Utah Award-Outstanding Chemist, American Chemical Society, 2021
- ACS Fellow, American Chemical Society, 2020.
- Sponsored Research Award, Brigham Young University, 2019.
- AES Electrophoresis Society Mid-Career Award, 2015.
- University Professorship, Brigham Young University, 2015.
- Karl G. Maeser Research and Creative Arts Award, Brigham Young University, 2014.
- Reed M. Izatt & James J. Christensen Faculty Excellence in Research Award, Brigham Young University, 2012.
- Brigham Young University, Young Scholar Award, 2008.
- Brigham Young University, College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences Young Scholar Award, 2008.
- American Chemical Society, Division of Analytical Chemistry Award for Young Investigators in Separation Science, 2007.
- Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) – National Institutes of Health, 2006.