Tracy X. Cui Assistant Professor, Department of Bioengineering University of Pittsburgh Email: xic11@pitt.edu

Ph.D (Macromolecular Science and Engineering), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Research Interests My research interests in general include: 1. Surface Modification and Characterization of Biosensors, BioMEMS and implantable medical devices. 2. Conducting Polymer Actuators and drug release for Biomedical Application 3. Polymer Based Biomaterial and Tissue Engineering Specifically in the research scope of CNBC, I am interested in interfacing nervous system via electroactive and bioactive conducting polymer complex. The projects that I am planning to do are: 1. Surface modification of neural microelectrode for chronic recording from CNS 2. Micropatterning of biological, surface chemical and electrical cues on electrode arrays for cultured neural networks 3. Controlled drug delivery into nervous system; 4. Nerve tissue engineering for peripheral nerve regeneration. Recent Publications Liao W, Cui X: Reagentless aptamer based impedance biosensor for monitoring a neuro-inflammatory cytokine PDGF. Biosens Bioelectron, 23: 218-224, 2007. Widge AS, Jeffries-El M, Cui X, Lagenaur CF, Matsuoka Y: Self-assembled monolayers of polythiophene conductive polymers improve biocompatibility and electrical impedance of neural electrodes. Biosens Bioelectron, 22: 1723-1732, 2007. Schwartz AB, Cui X, Weber DJ, Moran DW: Brain-controlled interfaces: Movement restoration with neural prosthetics. Neuron, 52(1): 205-20, 2006. Stauffer WR, Cui X: Polypyrrole doped with 2 peptide sequences from laminin. Biomaterials, 27: 2405-2413, 2006. Wadha R, Lagenaur CF, Cui X: Electrochemically controlled release of dexamethasone from conducting polymer polypyrrole coated electrode. Journal of Controlled Release, 110: 531-541. Cui X, Martin D: Electrochemical deposition and characterization of poly (3, 4-ethylendioxythiophene) on neural microelectrode arrays, sensors and actuators. B. Chemical, 98: 92-102, 2003. Cui X, Martin D: Fuzzy gold electrodes for lower impedance and improving adhesion with electrodeposited conducting polymer films, sensors and actuators. A. Physical, 103: 384-394, 2003.