Welcome to NAMED Lab
We engineer the future of wearable healthcare — one fiber at a time. At the NAMED Lab, we transform polymers and functional nanomaterials into intelligent fibrous platforms that can sense, diagnose, and heal, seamlessly interfacing with the human body. Explore below to learn how our research connects nanoscale manufacturing to human health.
Overview
The Nano Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Devices (NAMED) Lab develops micro/nanoscale functional materials and manufacturing technologies for next-generation wearable healthcare systems. Our research bridges the gap between advanced nanomaterial synthesis and practical, human-centered devices — from a single electrospun nanofiber to a fully integrated diagnostic and therapeutic platform worn on the body.
At the core of our approach is electrospinning, a versatile process that transforms polymers, biomaterials, and functional composites into micro- and nanofibrous architectures with exceptional surface area, breathability, and mechanical compliance. We combine these fibrous platforms with advanced micro/nano manufacturing techniques — including nanotransfer printing (nTP), laser processing, and heterogeneous material integration — to create devices that seamlessly interface with human skin and tissue.
Our ultimate goal is to contribute to human health and longevity through wearable systems that can continuously sense, diagnose, and treat — all within soft, skin-conformal, fiber-based platforms.
Research Thrust 1. Functional Micro/Nanofibers
Electrospinning · Composite Fibers · Smart Materials
Electrospun fibers are the fundamental building blocks of our research. By engineering the composition, morphology, and hierarchical structure of fibers at the micro- and nanoscale, we impart tailored functionalities that conventional bulk materials cannot achieve.
Key Topics
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Composite nanofiber engineering — Incorporating functional nanomaterials (conductive fillers, ceramic nanoparticles, photoactive agents, and bioactive compounds) into polymer matrices to create fibers with electrical, optical, antimicrobial, or therapeutic functions.
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Structural control of fibrous architectures — Tuning fiber diameter, alignment, porosity, and multilayer stacking to control mechanical properties, mass transport, and cell–material interactions.
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Smart and stimuli-responsive fibers — Designing fiber systems that respond to temperature, light, moisture, or electrical stimuli for on-demand actuation and controlled release.
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Biocompatible and biodegradable fiber platforms — Developing fibers from biocompatible polymers (e.g., PVA, PCL, PLGA) for drug delivery, wound care, and tissue-interfacing applications.
These functional fibers serve as the material foundation for all of our device-level research, from stretchable electronics to transdermal therapeutic systems.
Research Thrust 2. Micro/Nano Manufacturing & Integration
Nanotransfer Printing · Laser Processing · Micro/Nano Structuring
Turning functional materials into working devices requires precise, scalable, and reliable manufacturing. We develop advanced fabrication and heterogeneous integration strategies that allow dissimilar materials — soft fibers, rigid nanostructures, metals, and liquid conductors — to be combined into a single functional system.
Key Topics
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Nanotransfer printing (nTP) — Large-area, high-resolution transfer of functional metal and oxide nanostructures onto unconventional substrates, including flexible films and fibrous textiles. This enables plasmonic, electronic, and catalytic functionality to be added directly onto soft, three-dimensional surfaces.
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Plasmonic nanostructures for SERS — Fabricating precisely engineered metallic nanoarchitectures for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), enabling ultrasensitive, label-free molecular detection for biosensing and chemical analysis. Experimental work is supported by rigorous electromagnetic simulation for rational hotspot design.
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Laser processing and micro/nano structuring — Utilizing laser-based patterning, cutting, and surface modification to define device geometries and enhance material functionality without compromising the delicate fibrous substrates.
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Liquid metal circuits and stretchable interconnects — Integrating gallium-based liquid metals and other deformable conductors with fibrous substrates to realize circuits that remain functional under stretching, bending, and repeated deformation — a prerequisite for true wearability.
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Heterogeneous device integration — Developing strategies to combine sensing elements, interconnects, energy components, and therapeutic modules into unified, skin-conformal systems.
Research Thrust 3. Wearable Diagnostics & Therapeutics
Biosensing · Microneedles · Smart Dressings · Healthcare Wearables
Our device research targets the full spectrum of wearable healthcare — from continuous physiological monitoring to on-body diagnosis and localized therapy. Fiber-based platforms are uniquely suited to this vision: they are breathable, lightweight, mechanically compliant, and can be engineered to carry sensors and therapeutics simultaneously.
Key Topics
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Nanotransfer printing (nTP) — Large-area, high-resolution transfer of functional metal and oxide nanostructures onto unconventional substrates, including flexible films and fibrous textiles. This enables plasmonic, electronic, and catalytic functionality to be added directly onto soft, three-dimensional surfaces.
-
Plasmonic nanostructures for SERS — Fabricating precisely engineered metallic nanoarchitectures for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), enabling ultrasensitive, label-free molecular detection for biosensing and chemical analysis. Experimental work is supported by rigorous electromagnetic simulation for rational hotspot design.
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Laser processing and micro/nano structuring — Utilizing laser-based patterning, cutting, and surface modification to define device geometries and enhance material functionality without compromising the delicate fibrous substrates.
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Liquid metal circuits and stretchable interconnects — Integrating gallium-based liquid metals and other deformable conductors with fibrous substrates to realize circuits that remain functional under stretching, bending, and repeated deformation — a prerequisite for true wearability.
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Heterogeneous device integration — Developing strategies to combine sensing elements, interconnects, energy components, and therapeutic modules into unified, skin-conformal systems.
Research Philosophy
Our name reflects our identity: Nano Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Devices.
We believe that meaningful innovation in wearable healthcare emerges when materials, manufacturing, and devices are designed together — not in isolation.
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We pursue fundamental understanding of fiber manufacturing process, nanostructure fabrication, and material–biology interfaces.
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We develop advanced manufacturing processes that are scalable and translatable beyond the laboratory.
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We develop proof of concept level devices that solve real problems in health monitoring, diagnosis, and therapy.
Through active collaboration with leading universities, government research institutes, and industry partners, the NAMED Lab strives to translate nanoscale engineering into technologies that enhance human health and quality of life.