About Us

Skip Navigation LinksAbout Us > Faculty & Staff > Faculty > Nathaniel Cady
Nathaniel Cady
Dr. NathanielCady
Associate Professor of Nanobioscience

Watch Professor Cady's "Inside CNSE" video interview on the process of spotting fluids for biosensors and other nanobioscience applications

Read about Professor Cady's research in the article "A Trailblazer in Nanotechnology"

Listen to Professor Cady's interview on SCIENCE AND SOCIETY

Read Professor Cady's Nanotechnology Now Web site article: Nanobiology

Description of research:

One of Dr. Cady's key areas of research is developing methods to study biological processes at the nano- and micro-scale. This involves development of microfluidic biosensors and novel detection technologies. He is currently extending his previous work with nucleic-acid based biosensors by researching the development of sensors that are capable of detecting multiple organisms and/or DNA sequences within single samples. This type of multiplex analysis is relevant for clinical diagnostic purposes, genetic analysis, and detection of biowarfare agents. To develop these multiplex systems, Dr. Cady is exploring new optical and electrical detection strategies, including the use of field-effect transistor (FET) and high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) devices.

Beyond his research in biosensor technology, Dr. Cady is focusing on broader nanobiotechnology research. He is particularly interested in how cells interact with their environment at the nano-scale, especially how they adhere to, move along, and penetrate different surfaces. One of the more difficult conditions to control when studying cell-surface interactions is the large variability of the surfaces and environments that are used. By better understanding how cells interact with these defined, nano-scale environments, Dr. Cady's research will provide insight for bioengineering applications such as materials biocompatibility, prosthetics and medical device design. This research effort will also address fundamental properties of how microorganisms, especially pathogenic bacteria, interact with surfaces to cause disease. To date there have been relatively few research groups using nanotechnology to answer these questions, making this an exciting and challenging field for new exploration.

Education:
  • Post Doctoral Associate, Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 2006
  • Ph.D., Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 2005
  • B.A., Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 1999

Areas of research:

  • Nanobiotechnology
  • Biosensors
  • Molecular biology
  • Microfluidics
  • Detection systems
Research website: http://www.albany.edu/facultyresearch/nanobio/

Peer-Reviewed Journal Publications:

  • N.R. McDonald, S.M. Bishop, B.D. Briggs, J.E. Van Nostrand, N.C. Cady. Influence of the plasma oxidation power on the switching properties of Al/CuxO/Cu memristive devices. (2012) Solid-State Electronics. Online publication: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sse.2012.06.007
  • S.M. Bishop, B.D. Briggs, P.Z. Rice, J.O. Capulong, H. Bakhru, N.C. Cady. Ion implantation synthesis and conduction of tantalum oxide resistive memory layers. (2012) Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B. 31(1): 012203.
  • N.M. Fahrenkopf, P.Z. Rice, M. Bergkvist, N.A. Deskins, N.C. Cady. Immobilization mechanisms of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) to hafnium dioxide (HfO2) surfaces for biosensing applications. (2012) ACS Applied Materials Interfaces. 4(10): 5360–5368.
  • P.Z. Rice, B.D. Briggs, S.M. Bishop, N.C. Cady. Development of a silicon oxide based resistive memory device using a spin-on hydrogen silsesquioxane precursor. (2012) Journal of Materials Research. Online Publication - DOI: 10.1557/jmr.2012.390
  • J.F. Ling, M.V. Graham, N.C. Cady. Topographically patterned poly(dimethylsiloxane) surfaces affect Pseudomonas aeruginosa adhesion and biofilm formation. (2012) Nano LIFE. 2(4): 1242004.
  • S.J. Sequeira, D.A. Soscia, B. Oztan, A.P. Mosier, R. Jean-Gilles, A. Gadre, N.C. Cady, B. Yener, J. Castracane, M. Larsen. The regulation of focal adhesion complex formation and salivary gland epithelial cell organization by nanofibrous PLGA scaffolds. (2012) Biomaterials. 33: 3175-3186. 
  • A.P. Mosier, A.E. Kaloyeros, N.C. Cady. Determination of Bacterial Biofilm Elastic Properties using Microfluidic-Assisted AFM Analysis. (2012) Journal of Microbiological Methods. 91: 198-204.
  • S.M. Bishop, H. Bakhru, J.O. Capulong, N.C. Cady. Influence of the SET current on the resistive switching properties of tantalum oxide created by oxygen implantation. (2012) Applied Physics Letters. 100, 142111.
  • N.C. Cady, J. Behnke, R. Kubec, K. McKean, and R.A. Musah. Inhibition of Biofilm Formation, Quorum Sensing and Infection in Pseudomonas aeruginosa by Natural Products-Inspired Organosulfur Compounds. (2012) PLoS One. 7(6): e38492.
  • S.J. Sequeira, D. Soscia, B. Oztan, A. Mosier, R. Jean-Gilles, A. Gadre, N. Cady, B. Yener, J. Castracane, M. Larsen. Nanofiber scaffolds regulate focal adhesion complex formation and salivary gland epithelial cell organization. (2012) Biomaterials. 33: 3175-3186.
  • A.P. Mosier, N.C. Cady. Analysis of bacterial surface interactions using microfluidic systems. (2011) Science Progress. 94(4): 431-450.
  • S.M. Bishop, H. Bakhru, S.W. Novak, B.D. Briggs, R.J. Matyi, and N.C. Cady. Ion Implantation Synthesized Copper Oxide-based Resistive Memory Devices. (2011) Applied Physics Letters. 99, 202102.
  • N.C. Cady, J.L. Behnke, A.D. Strickland. Copper-based nanostructured coatings on natural cellulose: Nanocomposites exhibiting rapid and efficient inhibition of a multi-drug resistant wound pathogen, A. baumannii, and mammalian cell biocompatibility in vitro. (2011) Advanced Functional Materials. 21(13): 2506-2514. 
  • N.C. Cady, S. J. Stelick, and C. A. Batt. PCR-based detection of Bacillus anthracis using an integrated microfluidic platform. (2011) International Journal of Biomedical Nanoscience & Nanotechnology. 211(2): 152-166.
  • N.M. Fahrenkopf, F. Shahedipour-Sandvik, N. Tokranova, M. Bergkvist, N.C. Cady. Direct attachment of DNA to semiconductor materials for biosensor applications. (2010) Journal of Biotechnology. 150(3): 312-314. 
  • J.E. Van Nostrand, R. Cortez, Z.P. Rice, N.C. Cady, and M. Bergkvist. Morphology, Microstructure and Transport Properties of ZnO Decorated SiO2 Nanoparticles. (2010) Nanotechnology. 21 415602.
  • D.A. Soscia, N.A. Raof, Y. Xie, N.C. Cady, A.P. Gadre. Antibiotic-loaded PLGA nanofibers for wound healing applications. (2010) Advanced Engineering Materials: Special Issue “Advanced Biomaterials”. 12(4): B83-B88.
  • C. Lui, S.J. Stelick, N.C. Cady and C.A. Batt. Low-Power Microfluidic Electro-hydraulic Pump (EHP). (2010) Lab on a Chip. 10: 74-79.
  • C. Lui, N.C. Cady and C.A. Batt. Review: Nucleic Acid-based Detection of Bacterial Pathogens Using Integrated Microfluidic Platform Systems. (2009) Sensors. 9(5), 3713-3744.
  • X. Xu, V. Jindal, F. Shahedipour-Sandvik, M. Bergkvist, N.C. Cady. Direct immobilization and hybridization of DNA on group-III nitride semiconductors. (2009) Applied Surface Science. 255: 5905-5909.
  • N. Niamsiri, M. Bergkvist, S. Delamarre, N. Cady, S. Stelick, G. Coates, C. Ober, C.A. Batt. Insight in the role of bovine serum albumin for promoting the in situ surface growth of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) on patterned surfaces via enzymatic surface-initiated polymerization. (2007) Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces. 60(1): 68-79.
  • Y. Liu, N. Cady, C.A. Batt. A plastic microchip for nucleic acid purification. (2007) Biomedical Microdevices. 9(5): 769-76.
  • N. Cady, A.D. Strickland, C.A. Batt. Optimized linkage and quenching strategies for quantum dot molecular beacons. (2007) Molecular & Cellular Probes. 21(2): 116-124.
  • J.A. Doddsworth, N. Cady, J.A. Leigh. 2-oxoglutarate and the PII homologues NifI1 and NifI2 regulate nitrogenase activity in cell extracts of Methanococcus maripaludis. (2005) Molecular Microbiology. 56(6): 1527-1538.
  • N. Cady, S. Stelick, M.V. Kunnavakkam C.A. Batt. Real-time PCR detection of Listeria monocytogenes using an integrated microfluidics platform. (2005) Sensors & Actuators B. 107(1): 332-341.
  • Z. Zhu, J.T. Mabeck, C. Zhu, N.C. Cady, C.A. Batt, G.G. Malliaras. (2004) A simple poly(3,4- ethylene dioxythiophene)/poly(styrene sulfonic acid) transistor for glucose sensing at neutral pH. Chemical Communications. 13: 1556-1557.
  • Breezee, J., N. Cady, and J. T. Staley. (2004) Subfreezing growth of the sea ice bacterium, "Psychromonas ingrahamii." Microbial Ecology. 47: 300-304. 
  • N. Cady, S. Stelick, C.A. Batt. (2003) Nucleic acid purification using microfabricated silicon structures. Biosensors & Bioelectronics. 19: 59-66. 
  • P.M. St. John, R. Davis, N. Cady, J. Czajka, C.A. Batt, H.G. Craighead. (1998) Diffraction-based Cell Detection Using a Microcontact Printed Antibody Grating. Analytical Chemistry. 70(6): 1108-1111.

Book Chapters:

  • N.C. Cady and A.D. Strickland. Responsible Nanotechnology: Controlling Exposure and Environmental Release via Rational Design. In: Nanobiotechnology Handbook. Yubing Xie, Ed. 2012. CRC Press. 
  • N. Fahrenkopf, P.Z. Rice, N.C. Cady. Nucleic acid based biosensing. In: Nanobiomaterial Handbook. Balaji Sitharaman, Ed., 2011. CRC Press. 
  • M. Bergkvist, N.C. Cady. Chemical functionalization and bioconjugation strategies for AFM cantilevers. In: Bioconjugation Protocols, 2nd Edition. Sonny Mark, Ed., 2011. Springer. 
  • N. Cady. Microchip-based PCR Amplification Systems. In: Lab on a Chip Technologies and Applications. Avraham Rasooly and Keith Herold, Eds., 2009. Horizon Scientific Press. 
  • N. Cady. Quantum Dot Molecular Beacons for DNA Detection. In: Methods in Molecular Biology. James W. Lee, Ed., 2009. Humana Press. 
  • N. Cady, A. Gadre, A.E. Kaloyeros. Nanobiological Sensor Technologies. In: Dekker Encyclopedia of Nanoscience & Nanotechnology. 2008. CRC Press.
  • N. Cady. DNA-Based Biosensors. Encyclopedia of Sensors. 2006. American Scientific Publishers.

Patents:

  • “Ion Bombardment Synthesis of Transition Metal Oxide-Based Memory Devices.” Submitted for US Provisional Patent August 23, 2011: US Serial No. 61/526537.
  • “Polymeric Micro-Cantilevers for Ultra-Low Volume Fluid And Living Cell Deposition.” US Patent Application Filed November 7, 2009: US 2010/0119711 A1 
  • “Real-time detection of microorganisms using an integrated microfluidics platform.” U.S. Patent Application Filed July 22, 2005: US 2008/0125330 A1
  • “Diffraction-based cell detection using a micro-contact-printed antibody grating.” U.S. Patent Application Filed January 27, 2000: US 2002/0037593 A1

Honors and Awards:

  • SUNY Research Foundation Rising Star Award
  • W.M. Keck Fellowship in Nanotechnology
  • Phi Beta Kappa
Editorial / Peer-Review Activities:

Reviewer for multiple journals, including Analytical Chemistry, Biosensors & Bioelectronics, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Analytica Chimica Acta, and Sensors and Actuators.

Grant Reviewer for the "NIH Development and Application of Nanotechnology-Based Tools to Understand Mechanisms of Bioremediation" program.

Professional Activities:

Member of the Materials Research Society, American Society for Microbiology

Editor for the Journal of Nano Education

Guest Editor for the International Journal of Biomedical Nanoscience and Nanotechnology               

Advisory Board Member for Albany High School Academy of Engineering                               

Scientific Advisor for the NY City Mayor’s Office Criminal Justice Coordinator           

Scientific reviewer for multiple journals, including Analytical Chemistry, Biosensors & Bioelectronics, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Biomedical Microdevices, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Biomicrofluidics and Analytica Chimica Acta.

Scientific reviewer for NSF SBIR, STTR and “Nano” programs                                                 

Scientific reviewer for NIEHS (NIH) UO1 and SBIR programs              

Scientific reviewer for Singapore National Medical Research Council                                       

Scientific reviewer for the State of Louisiana Board of Regents Grants Program                                      

Scientific reviewer for NSF “Environmental Impacts of Nanotechnolgy” program                  

Scientific reviewer for DOE Early Career Research Program                                                          

Scientific reviewer for Canadian (CBRNE) Research and Technology Initiative (CRTI) 

Scientific reviewer for American Association for the Advancement of Science