Assistant Professor of Nanobioscience
Research areas: Nanobiotechnology, biosensors, molecular biology
Watch Professor Cady's "Inside CNSE" video interview on the process of spotting fluids for biosensors and other nanobioscience applications
Read about Professor Cady's research in the article "A Trailblazer in Nanotechnology"
Listen to Professor Cady's interview on SCIENCE AND SOCIETY
Read Professor Cady's Nanotechnology Now Web site article: Nanobiology
Description of research:
One of Dr. Cady's key areas of research is developing methods to study biological processes at the nano- and micro-scale. This involves development of microfluidic biosensors and novel detection technologies. He is currently extending his previous work with nucleic-acid based biosensors by researching the development of sensors that are capable of detecting multiple organisms and/or DNA sequences within single samples. This type of multiplex analysis is relevant for clinical diagnostic purposes, genetic analysis, and detection of biowarfare agents. To develop these multiplex systems, Dr. Cady is exploring new optical and electrical detection strategies, including the use of field-effect transistor (FET) and high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) devices.
Beyond his research in biosensor technology, Dr. Cady is focusing on broader nanobiotechnology research. He is particularly interested in how cells interact with their environment at the nano-scale, especially how they adhere to, move along, and penetrate different surfaces. One of the more difficult conditions to control when studying cell-surface interactions is the large variability of the surfaces and environments that are used. By better understanding how cells interact with these defined, nano-scale environments, Dr. Cady's research will provide insight for bioengineering applications such as materials biocompatibility, prosthetics and medical device design. This research effort will also address fundamental properties of how microorganisms, especially pathogenic bacteria, interact with surfaces to cause disease. To date there have been relatively few research groups using nanotechnology to answer these questions, making this an exciting and challenging field for new exploration.
Education:
- Post Doctoral Associate, Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 2006
- Ph.D., Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 2005
- B.A., Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 1999
Areas of research:
- Nanobiotechnology
- Biosensors
- Molecular biology
- Microfluidics
- Detection systems
Research website: www.albany.edu/facultyresearch/nanobio
Peer-reviewed Publications:
1. M.R. Padgen, A. Gracias, N. Tokranova, N. Cady, James Castracane. SU-8 Microfluidic Channels with Porous Side Walls for Biological Applications. SPIE Microsystems Conference 2009.
2. X. Xu, V. Jindal, F. Shahedipour-Sandvik, M. Bergkvist, N.C. Cady. Direct immobilization and hybridization of DNA on group-III nitride semiconductors. Applied Surface Science, in press.
3. W. K. Raja, N. C. Cady, J. Castracane, B. Gligorijevic, J. W. van Rheenen, J. S. Condeelis. The NANIVID: a new device for cancer cell migration studies. Proceedings of SPIE Optics and Photonics, February 29, 2008. vol. 6859.
4. N. Niamsiri, M. Bergkvist, S. Delamarre, N. Cady, S. Stelick, G. Coates, C. Ober, C.A. Batt. Insight in the role of bovine serum albumin for promoting the in situ surface growth of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) on patterned surfaces via enzymatic surface-initiated polymerization. (2007) Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces. 60(1): 68-79.
5. Y. Liu, N. Cady, C.A. Batt. A plastic microchip for nucleic acid purification. (2007) Biomedical Microdevices. 9(5): 769-76.
6. N. Cady, A.D. Strickland, C.A. Batt. Optimized linkage and quenching strategies for quantum dot molecular beacons. (2007) Molecular & Cellular Probes. 21(2): 116-124.
7. N. Cady, S.J. Stelick, C.A. Batt. Rapid Detection of Bacillus anthracis in a Microchip-based Real-time PCR Biosensor. Proceedings of MRS Fall 2006, Boston, MA. Vol. 952, 0952-F05-01.
8. J.A. Doddsworth, N. Cady, J.A. Leigh. 2-oxoglutarate and the PII homologues NifI1 and NifI2 regulate nitrogenase activity in cell extracts of Methanococcus maripaludis. (2005) Molecular Microbiology. 56(6): 1527-1538.
9. N. Cady, S. Stelick, M.V. Kunnavakkam C.A. Batt. Real-time PCR detection of Listeria monocytogenes using an integrated microfluidics platform. (2005) Sensors & Actuators B. 107(1): 332-341.
10. N. Cady, S. Stelick, M.V. Kunnavakkam, Y. Liu, C.A. Batt. A Microchip-based DNA Purification and Real-Time PCR Biosensor for Bacterial Detection. Proceedings of IEEE Sensors 2004, Vienna, Austria.
11. Z. Zhu, J.T. Mabeck, C. Zhu, N.C. Cady, C.A. Batt, G.G. Malliaras. (2004) A simple poly(3,4- ethylene dioxythiophene)/poly(styrene sulfonic acid) transistor for glucose sensing at neutral pH. Chemical Communications. 13: 1556-1557.
12. Breezee, J., N. Cady, and J. T. Staley. (2004) Subfreezing growth of the sea ice bacterium, "Psychromonas ingrahamii." Microbial Ecology. 47: 300-304.
13. N. Cady, S. Stelick, C.A. Batt. (2003) Nucleic acid purification using microfabricated silicon structures. Biosensors & Bioelectronics. 19: 59-66.
14. P.M. St. John, R. Davis, N. Cady, J. Czajka, C.A. Batt, H.G. Craighead. (1998) Diffraction-based Cell Detection Using a Microcontact Printed Antibody Grating. Analytical Chemistry. 70(6): 1108-11.
Patents:
"Diffraction-based cell detection using a micro-contact-printed antibody grating." U.S. Patent Application Filed January 27, 2000: No. 20020037593
"Real-time detection of microorganisms using an integrated microfluidics platform." U.S. Patent Application Filed July 22, 2005: No. PCT/US05/21790
Book Chapters:
1. N. Cady. Microchip-based PCR Amplification Systems. In: Lab on a Chip Technologies and Applications. Avraham Rasooly and Keith Herold, Eds., Horizon Scientific Press. In press.
2. N. Cady, A. Gadre, A.E. Kaloyeros. Nanobiological Sensor Technologies. In: Dekker Encyclopedia of Nanoscience & Nanotechnology. CRC Press. In press.
3. N. Cady. Quantum Dot Molecular Beacons for DNA Detection. In: Methods in Molecular Biology. James W. Lee, Ed., Humana Press. In press.
4. N. Cady. DNA-Based Biosensors. Encyclopedia of Sensors. 2006. American Scientific Publishers.
Conference Proceedings:
1. D. A. Soscia, M. R. Hynd, J. Castracane, N. Cady and A. P. Gadre. IKVAV Peptide-Facilitated Neuron Growth through Inverted Electrospun Nanofiber Matrix.SPIE Photonics and Optics 2008, San Deigo, CA.
2. Brian A. Cohen, Anand P. Gadre, N. C. Cady and Alain E. Kaloyeros. Development of a Conducting Polymeric Micro-Immunosensor for Viral Detection. Proceedings of MRS Spring 2008. San Francisco, CA.
3. D. B.Chrisey, C. Z. Dinu, and N. C. Cady. Immobilized Microtubules for Digitized Nano-Patterning. Proceedings of MRS Fall 2007, Boston, MA.
4. N. Cady. Micro- and Nanobiological Systems: New Technologies and Applications. IEEE LEOS Summer Topicals 2007, Portland, OR.
5. Cherif, A., Stelick, S., Cady, N.C., and Batt, C. A. (2007). Disposable Electrolytic Hydraulic m-Fluidic Pump (EHMP) for Point-of Care Pathogenic Detection. APS April 2007, Jacksonville, Florida (http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2007.APR.F1.47)
6. V. Fusco, N.C. Cady, S. Stelick, C.A. Batt. Real Time PCR detection of Staphylococcus aureus using a microfluidics biosensor module. Proceedings of FoodMicro 2006. Food safety and food biotechnology: diversity and global impact. August 2006, Bologna, Italy.
7. C. Batt, N. Cady, S. Stelick, C. Liu, M. Kennedy, V. Koltko. Integrated nucleic acid based biosensor. MRS Fall 2006, Boston, MA.
8. N. Cady, V. Fusco, C. Shiao-Jia Lui, C.A. Batt. Development of PCR device for pathogen detection. Abstracts of Papers, 232nd ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, United States, Sept. 10-14, 2006.
9. J. Mabeck, J. DeFranco, C. Chase, N. Cady, C.A. Batt. Chemical and biological sensing using organic electrochemical transistors. MRS Fall 2005, Boston, MA.
10. J. Mason, Z. Zhu, S. Aggarwal, J. Schnapp, E. Huang, G. Malliaras, N. Cady, C. Batt, B. Ray. Biosensors Based on Organic Thin Film Transistors. Proceedings of MRS Spring 2004, San Francisco, CA.
11. N. Cady, C.A. Batt. A Microfabricated PCR-based Biosensor. American Society for Microbiology 103rd General Meeting, May 2003, Washington, D.C.
12. N. Cady, C.A. Batt. A Microfabricated PCR-based Biosensor. ASM Conference on Bio, Micro- & Nanosystems, July 2003, New York, NY.
13. S.C. Delamarre, N. Cady, N. Niamsiri, C. Campagnolo, C.A. Batt. In situ Biofabrication of Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) Microstructures. ASM Conference on Bio-, Micro- & Nanosystems, July 2003, New York, NY.
Honors and Awards:
Phi Beta Kappa
W.M. Keck Fellowship in Nanotechnology
Editorial / Peer-Review Activities:
Reviewer for multiple journals, including Analytical Chemistry, Biosensors & Bioelectronics, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Analytica Chimica Acta, and Sensors and Actuators.
Grant Reviewer for the "NIH Development and Application of Nanotechnology-Based Tools to Understand Mechanisms of Bioremediation" program.
Professional Memberships:
American Society for Microbiology (ASM)
