The Plaxco Group is a highly interdisciplinary research group in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at the University of California, Santa Barbara, headed by Prof. Kevin W. Plaxco. We build bioanalytical sensors and investigate protein biophysics, among other basic and applied research avenues.
A major innovation from the Plaxco group is the Electrochemical Aptamer-Based sensor platform. It is the first ever real-time, high-frequency molecular sensing technology that is both: (1) selective enough to work in situ in the living body and (2) independent of the chemical reactivity of its targets, thus rendering it is generalizable. Using this approach, we have demonstrated the seconds or even sub-second resolve measurement of multiple drugs, metabolites and biomarkers in the plasma (veins), cerebrospinal fluid (brains) and interstitial fluid (subcutaneous space) of live rats.
Continuous, real-time molecular measurements in the living body
The high-frequency, real-time information provided by EAB sensors provides unprecedented opportunities to measure, understand, and even control molecules in the living body. For example, using the real-time concentration information provided by EAB sensors we have demonstrated closed-loop, feedback-control over multiple therapeutics, ensuring that drugs characterized by dangerously narrow therapeutic windows or highly complex, time-varying optimal plasma time courses can be delivered safely and effectively.
Biomolecules on surfaces
Biomolecules interact with surfaces in many and varied ways. For example, while biomolecules frequently associate with -and remain folded and functional on- surfaces in the cell, they tend to unfold on, adhere to, and lose function at artificial surfaces, significantly reducing the extent to which we can blend biomolecules with such surfaces to create new technologies. Thus motivated, we have developed novel methods for measuring the extent to which interactions with well-defined macroscopic surfaces alter the stabilities of specific biomolecules. Using this information we are developing quantitative, predictive theories of protein-surface interactions that we believe will significantly advance our understanding of biology and our ability to employ biomolecules in artificial biotechnologies.
People
Meet the members of the Plaxco Group. Click on icons for specific contact information, and research projects. Main lab contact can be found here.
Principal Investigator
Kevin Plaxco
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Kevin Plaxco
Professor
Director of the Center for Bioengineering
kwp(at)chem.ucsb.edu
(805) 893 5558
My lab studies protein folding and biomolecular engineering. Our goal in these endeavors is both an improved understanding of the folding process and an ability to apply this rapid, highly specific, highly cooperative self-assembly process to the development of nano-scale electronic sensors and adaptable materials.
Postdocs and Project Scientists
Kon Son
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Kon Son
Ph.D. '23 in Life Science Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan
son(at)ucsb.edu
I am working to expand electrochemical aptamer sensing from conventional gold wires to different gold substrates and platforms to allow sensing of multiple target analytes in sweat and the brain.
Olena Lukoyanova
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Olena Lukoyanova
Ph.D. in Chemistry Clemson University
olukoyano(at)ucsb.edu
I am interested in development of technologies for detection and quantification of small-molecule biomarkers in humans.
Ruben Kolkman
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Ruben Kolkman
Ph.D. '22 in Chemistry University of Twente, Netherlands
kolkman(at)ucsb.edu
My research focuses on the development of electrochemical aptamer-based sensors to detect varying metabolites. My overall research aim is to develop electrochemical aptamer-based sensors which can be applied in both in vitro and in vivo applications.
Chelsea Brown
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Chelsea Brown
Ph.D. '22 in Behavioural Neuroscience University of California Santa Barbara
cnbrown(at)ucsb.edu
I'm interested in using EAB sensors to understand neuropharmacology and individual variability in pharmacokinetics. My research aims to improve biosensors for application in clinical use and animal models.
Marlaina Stocco
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Marlaina Stocco
Ph.D. '21 in Neuropharmacology University of Toronto, Canada
marlainastocco(at)ucsb.edu
Adapting and implementing biosensors for in vivo, in brain measurement of drugs and neurotransmitters in behavioral models of addiction.
Graduate Students
Dallin Ostler
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Dallin Ostler
Ph.D. Student
Biomolecular Science and Engineering
ostler(at)ucsb.edu
Research Interests: TBD
Rose Mery Bakestani
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Rose Mery Bakestani
Ph.D. Student
Chemistry
rbakestani(at)ucsb.edu
My research focuses on developing EAB sensors to detect C-reactive protein and creatinine. These biomarkers are critical indicators for inflammatory responses and kidney function. My work aims to improve real-time monitoring in clinical diagnostics.
My research focuses on improving the response of EAB sensors to small changes in target concentration by designing complex binding mechanisms. Electrochemical-biomolecular mechanics form the basis of aptamer based sensing and by implementing multi-site, pseudo knotted, or split DNA constructs, I can use kinetics to better tune the sensors for better application in-vivo.
Kayla Wang
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Kayla Wang
Ph.D. Student
Psychological and Brain Sciences
ywang666(at)ucsb.edu
I am primarily interested in exploring the utility of EAB (Electrochemical Aptamer-Based) sensors for neuropharmacology in rodents, in the hopes of getting a better understanding of addiction models and underlying circuitry.
Zeki Duman
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Zeki Duman
Ph.D. Student
Electrical and Computer Engineering
zekiduman(at)ucsb.edu
My research focuses on feedback control for pharmacokinetics models. I am trying to model the drug distribution in the body using the data generated by others in the lab and to apply feedback control algorithms in order to attain certain drug levels in the body for a prolonged period of time.
Nicole Emmons
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Nicole Emmons
Ph.D. Candidate
Psychology and Brain Sciences
nicoleemmons(at)ucsb.edu
My interests involve adapting EAB sensors for subcutaneous application, in hopes of creating a viable, minimally invasive platform for the detection of both therapeutics and recreational drugs in vivo and to pave the route towards clinical deployment.
Kevin Honeywell
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Kevin Honeywell
Ph.D. Candidate
Psychology and Brain Sciences
honeywell(at)ucsb.edu
I am testing the in vivo viability and efficacy of electrochemical aptamer-based biosensors for small molecules including serotonin. The aim of the serotonin project is to measure serotonin in a rat model of serotonergic drug taking including drugs of abuse and pharmaceuticals. My ultimate goal is to explore changes in brain serotonin levels in a rat model of addiction.
Lisa Fetter
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Lisa Fetter
Ph.D. Candidate
Biomolecular Science and Engineering
lisafetter(at)ucsb.edu
My primary research focus is to characterize how electrochemical aptamer-based (EAB) sensor signal response is affected by fluctuations in physiological factors experienced within the in vivo environment.
List of Alumni
Dr. Alejandro Chamorro Garcia, Visiting Scholar Summer '24, Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow '19-'21, Visiting Graduate Student '14
Dr. Yuyang Wu, Ph.D. '24
Cloris Shi, RMP Visiting Student Summer '24
Dr. Matthew McDonough, Ph.D. '23, Postdoctoral Fellow '24
Saptami Shetty, Visiting Graduate Student '23-'24
Dr. Julia Chung, Ph.D. '23
Dr. Murat Kaan Erdal, Ph.D. '23
Dr. Andrea Idili, Visiting Scholar Summer '23, Postdoctoral Fellow '16-'19, Visiting Graduate Student '12
Dr. Giovanni Valenti, Visiting Scholar Summer '23
Dr. Veerappan Mani, Visiting Scholar Summer '23
Dr. Ana Bettina Glahn, Visiting Scholar Summer '23
Dr. Elsi Verrinder, Postdoctoral Fellow '21-'23
Viva Bell, Undergraduate Researcher '23
Joshua Pham, Undergraduate Researcher '23
Dr. Sarah Goodchild, Visiting Scholar Spring '23
Dr. Kaylyn Leung, Otis Williams Postdoctoral Fellow '19-'23
Dr. Julian Gerson, Ph.D.'22, Postdoctoral Fellow '22-'23
Emaleigh Curl, Master '23
...José Ilton, Visiting Graduate Student '22
Dr. Charlotte Flatebo, Otis Williams Postdoctoral Fellow '21-'22
Adriana (Peachy) Billante, Undergraduate Researcher '22
Dr. Simona Ranallo, Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow '21-'22
Dr. Erica del Grosso , Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow '21
Dr. Alex Downs, Ph.D. '21
Dr. Gabriel Ortega, Postdoctoral Fellow '16-'21
Dr. Martin Kurnik, Assistant Project Scientist '19-'21, Postdoctoral Fellow '14-'19
Krishna Brunton, Undergraduate Researcher '20
Dr. Nathan Ogden, Ph.D. '19
Ava 'Shruti' Greenwood, Master '19
Dr. Philippe Dauphin Ducharme, NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow '15-'19
Eric Pang, Undergraduate Researcher '19
Dr. Claudio Parolo, Beatriu de Pinós Postdoctoral Fellow '16-'18
Dr. Netzahualcóyotl 'Netz' Arroyo, Otis Williams Postdoctoral Fellow '15-'18
Dr. Jacob Somerson, Ph.D. '18
Dr. Andrew Csordas, Postdoctoral Fellow '17-'18
Megan Larisch, Master '17
Deby Fapyane, Visiting International Student Autumn '17
Alessandra Troina, Visiting International Student Autumn '17
Amanda Caceres, Undergraduate Researcher '17
Chase Hawes, Undergraduate Researcher '17
Dr. Hui Li, Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow '14-'17
Ramces Gonzalez,ARC Summer Research Program '16
Stefano Cinti, Visiting Scholar '16
Dr. Di Kang,Ph.D. '16
Hannah Kallewaard-Lum,Master '16
Yanxian Li,Undergraduate Researcher '15
Claire Tran,Undergraduate Researcher '15
Dr. Emir Yasun, Postdoctoral Fellow '14-'15
Christopher Bellingham,Undergraduate Researcher '15
Mackenzie Lucero, EUREKA Summer Intern '15
Luke Walls-Smith, Undergraduate Researcher, B.S. in Biochemistry '14
Dr. Anna Simon, Ph.D. '15
Boitumelo 'Tumi' Fanampe, Visiting Fulbright Scholar 2014
Dr. Xiuhai Mao, Winter 2014 Visiting International Researcher
Eric Rinehart, Summer 2013 SURF Fellow
Gianluca Adornetto, Visiting International Student Summer '13
Colin Moore, Visiting International Student Spring '13
Dr. Camille Lawrence, Ph.D. '13
Helena Montón Domingo, Visiting International Student Spring '13
Dr. Herschel Watkins, Ph.D. '08-'13
Simona Ranallo , Visiting International Student Fall '12
Dr. Alexis Vallée-Bélisle, Postdoctoral Fellow '07-'12
Kaisha Benjamin, SABRE Intern, B.S. Chemical Engineering '13
Amanda Goley, Undergraduate Researcher, B.S. in Biochemistry '12
Zoe Swank, Undergraduate Researcher, B.S. in Biochemistry '12
Dina Niculaes, Visiting Student '11-'12
Dr. Adriana Patterson, Ph.D. '12
Dr. Fan Xia, Postdoctoral Fellow '09-'12
Dr. Vinh Nguyen, Postdoctoral Fellow '09-'12
Eva Gonzalez Fernandez, International Visiting Student '12
Dr. Alessandro Porchetta, Visiting International Student Fall '11
Dr. Andrew J. Bonham, Postdoctoral Fellow '10-'11
Dr. Ryan White, Postdoctoral Fellow '07-'11
Kelly Chuh , Undergraduate Researcher, B.S. in Biochemistry '11
Erin Miller, Undergraduate Researcher '11
Dr. Aaron Rowe, Ph.D. '11
Dr. Xiaolei Zuo, Postdoctoral Fellow '08-'10
Dr. Kevin Cash, Ph.D. '09
Dr. Arica Lubin, Ph.D. '09
Dr. Takanori Uzawa , Postdoctoral Fellow '06-'09
Dr. Yi Xiao; Postdoctoral Fellow '04-'08
Dr. Jing Xu, Ph.D. '03-'08
Brook Vander Stoep Hunt (Barajas), Undergraduate Researcher, B.S. in Microbiology '07
Dr. Kenneth J. Oh , Ph.D. '07
Dr. Francesco Ricci , Postdoctoral Fellow '05-'07
Dr. Rebecca Lai , Postdoctoral Fellow '03-'07
Dr. Brian Baker , Postdoctoral Fellow '03-'06
Dr. Miguel de los Rios, Ph.D. '99-'05
Dr. Jonathan E. Kohn , Ph.D. '05
Dr. Evan McCarney , Ph.D. '05
Dr. Blake Gillespie , Postdoctoral Fellow '99-'03
Publications
In lieu of a long list of publications listed on this website, an updated list of publications can be found on
Google Scholar
Contact
If you are interested in working in the Plaxco Lab, trying to sell lab equipment, or just wanting to know where we work, our contact info is below.
Address
PI Office: Room 3002
Lab Office: Room 3209
Center for Bioengineering
University of California Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara 93106
Email
PI: kwp(at)ucsb.edu
Phone
PI Office: (805) 893 5558 Lab Office: (805) 893 5845
laxco Lab
