Current Research Interests:

Technologies:

- Novel micro and nanoscale biosensors for real time measurements of neurotransmitters, metabolites, ions and small signaling molecules in neural cells. - Integration of -omics technologies with biosensor and biomaterial platforms for novel approaches to problems in neural cell biology - Biological silica as a cellular interface. - Cell-silicon hybrid implantable devices - Designing the neural biomaterial interface to direct cell fate and function

Disease Applications - Glioblastoma - Epilepsy - Diabetes

Selected Publications:

R. Marisol Herrera-Perez, Sherry L. Voytik-Harbin, Jann N. Sarkaria, Karen E. Pollok, Melissa L. Fishel, Jenna L. Rickus. 2018. “Presence of stromal cells in a bioengineered tumor microenvironment alters glioblastoma migration and response to STAT3 inhibition”. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0194183

Siddarth V. Sridharana, Jose F. Riveraa, James K. Nolanc, Muhammad A. Alama, Jenna L. Rickus, David B. Janes. 2018. vol 260. pp. 519-528. “On-Chip Microelectrode Array and In-Situ Transient Calibration for Measurement of Transient Concentration Gradients Near Surfaces of 2D Cell Cultures”. Sensors & Actuators: B. Chemical.

Kahyaoglu LN, Madangopal R, Park JH, Rickus JL. 2017. “Integration of a Genetically Encoded Calcium Molecular Sensor into Photopolymerizable Hydrogels for Micro-Optrode-Based Sensing” ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces. 9(37):31557-31567

J. Park, M. L. Salmi, W. W. A. Wan Salim, A. Rademacher, B. Wickizer, A. Schooley, J. Benton, A. Cantero, P. F. Argote, M. Ren, M. Zhang, D. M. Porterfield, A. J. Ricco, S. J. Roux and J. L. Rickus. 2017. “An autonomous lab on a chip for space flight calibration of gravity-induced transcellular calcium polarization in single-cell fern spores” Lab on a Chip, 17:1095-1103.

Kahn, Jennifer; Eren, Necla; Campanella, Osvaldo; Voytik-Harbin, Sherry; Rickus, Jenna. 2016. “Collagen-Fibril Matrix Properties Modulate the Kinetics of Silica Polycondensation to Template and Direct Biomineralization”. Journal of Materials Research 31 (03), 311-320.

Herrera-Perez, M., S. Voytik-Harbin and J. L. Rickus 2015. "Extracellular matrix properties regulate the migratory response of glioblastoma stem cells in 3D culture." 2015 Tissue Engineering Part A. 21 (19-20), 2572-2582