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Micro-Nano Innovation Lab | mini lab

The Micro-Nano Innovation Lab ("mini lab") investigates convergence science approaches to develop new intelligent sensing and robotic strategies in micro/nano scales.

Head of Group

Dr Jang Ah Kim

B414A Bessemer Building
South Kensington Campus

What we do

The Micro-Nano Innovation Lab ("mini lab") investigates convergence science approaches to develop new intelligent sensing and robotic strategies in micro/nano scales. We study nanotechnology, light-matter interactions, micro-particle dynamics, microscale fluid dynamics, and bioengineering to reach our goal. The research involves the design and manufacture of micro/nano systems for diagnostics (e.g. infections, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases) and microscopic therapies/surgeries (e.g. localised drug delivery, novel minimally invasive procedures).

Why is it important?

Timely identification of illnesses, less intrusive interventions, and precise/personalised treatments in challenging areas within our bodies, like narrow blood vessels, are essential technologies for improved healthcare management. The foundation for empowering these technologies lies in the development of devices capable of sensitively detecting disruptions in microenvironments that impact normal physiology and of precisely addressing these issues via targeted drug delivery, surgery, etc. at the cellular and molecular levels (micro/nano scales). Understanding the pathophysiology and engineering of the designs and functionalities of such devices accordingly is, thus, vital to enhancing current medical technology. Also, this has the potential to drive the development of advanced medical micro-robots with integrated sensing and therapeutic capabilities, offering new opportunities for future advancements in healthcare.

How can it benefit patients?

Early detection of diseases followed by minimally invasive, targeted and personalised therapy can have evident advantages for patients in terms of prognosis, health management, and economic implications. First, it can reduce excessive physical and biochemical alterations to the microenvironments, e.g. scarring after resection, antimicrobial resistance after antibiotics administration, etc., offering a better prognosis with fewer side effects. Micro/nanodevices can also be engineered to be implantable, enabling long-term health monitoring and treatment. Finally, the localised and precise manner of the technology allows efficient planning of the optimal procedures and accurate dosage, resulting in reduced cost.

Meet the team

Mr Seungyeop Kang
Research Postgraduate

Dr Jang Ah Kim
Assistant Professor

Mr Louis Quaire--Merlin
Research Postgraduate

Masters and Undergraduate Students

Mr Zhue Jie Tan, MEng in Mechanical Engineering (2026)

Open Vacancies

We are currently recruiting two PhD students (Home/UK only) on the projects listed below, with one Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) position to be advertised shortly within the same research scope — so keep an eye on the announcement!

If you are interested in multidisciplinary engineering at the microscale for the precision manufacturing of medical devices, please email the following to Dr Jang Ah Kim (j.a.kim@imperial.ac.uk):

cover letter
academic CV
transcripts

PhD project areas

Please note: these studentships are open to candidates eligible for Home (UK) fee status. Please confirm your eligibility in your cover letter.

Alumni

Mr Justin Wong, MRes in Biomedical Research (2025)
Miss Judy Huang, MEng in Mechanical Engineering (2025)
Miss Stefani Georgallidou, MRes in Biomedical Research (2024)

Citation

BibTex format

@article{Kim:2025:10.1002/adma.202418909,
author = {Kim, J and Zhang, X and Wang, R and Najer, A and Lau, QY and Cammack, A and Kim, JA and Kang, YK and Xie, R and Kim, H and Xie, K and Lim, H and Park, T-E and Joo, J and Stevens, M},
doi = {10.1002/adma.202418909},
journal = {Advanced Materials},
title = {Vascularized and perfusable human heart-on-a-chip model recapitulates aspects of 1 myocardial ischemia and enables analysis of nanomedicine delivery},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adma.202418909},
volume = {37},
year = {2025}
}

Download

RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)

TY  - JOUR
AB  - Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms of CVDs are not yet fully understood, and animal models do not accurately replicate human heart function. Heart-on-a-chip technologies with increasing complexity are being developed to mimic aspects of native human cardiac physiology for mechanistic studies and as screening platforms for drugs and nanomedicines. Here, a 3D human myocardial ischemia-on-a-chip platform incorporating perfusable vasculature in direct contact with myocardial regions is designed. Infusing a vasoconstrictor cocktail, including angiotensin II and phenylephrine, into this heart-on-a-chip model leads to increased arrhythmias in cardiomyocyte pacing, fibroblast activation, and damage to blood vessels, all of which are hallmarks of ischemic heart injury. To verify the potential of this platform for drug and nanocarrier screening, a proof-of-concept study is conducted with cardiac homing peptide-conjugated liposomes containing Alamandine. This nanomedicine formulation enhances targeting to the ischemia model, alleviates myocardial ischemia-related characteristics, and improves cardiomyocyte beating. This confirms that the vascularized chip model of human myocardial ischemia provides both functional and mechanistic insights into myocardial tissue pathophysiology and can contribute to the development of cardiac remodeling medicines.
AU  - Kim,J
AU  - Zhang,X
AU  - Wang,R
AU  - Najer,A
AU  - Lau,QY
AU  - Cammack,A
AU  - Kim,JA
AU  - Kang,YK
AU  - Xie,R
AU  - Kim,H
AU  - Xie,K
AU  - Lim,H
AU  - Park,T-E
AU  - Joo,J
AU  - Stevens,M
DO  - 10.1002/adma.202418909
PY  - 2025///
SN  - 0935-9648
TI  - Vascularized and perfusable human heart-on-a-chip model recapitulates aspects of 1 myocardial ischemia and enables analysis of nanomedicine delivery
T2  - Advanced Materials
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adma.202418909
VL  - 37
ER  -