people: K. Hansen

Dr. Karolyn Hansen

Dr. Karolyn Mueller Hansen is a Research Scientist in the Nanoscale Science and Devices Group. She received her B.S. (1980) in Biology from The Pennsylvania State University, M.S. (1984) in Environmental Toxicology from Drexel University, and Ph.D. (1990) in Marine Biology/Biochemistry from the University of Delaware.

The overarching theme of Dr. Hansen’s research has been the analytical detection of chemical and biological parameters both in situ and in vitro. Her diverse research interests include:

• the effects of toxic metals on the growth and physiology of bivalve molluscs
• molluscan stress proteins and adhesive proteins
• surface chemistry and surface functionalization strategies
• micro- and nanomechanical sensors for the detection of chemical and biological agents in the environment.

She is the author of over 15 refereed publications and has focused specifically on microcantilever sensor technology for the past 9 years.

Relevant Publications

Hansen D.C., Hansen K.M., Ferrell T.L., and Thundat T.,"Discerning Biomolecular Interactions Using Kelvin Probe Technology", Langmuir 19:7514 - 7520 (2003).

Stevenson, K.A., A. Mehta, P. Sachenko, K.M. Hansen, and T.G. Thundat, "Nanomechanical Effect of Enzymatic Manipulation of DNA on Microcantilever Surfaces", Langmuir 18(23):8732-8736 (2002).

Stevenson, K.A., A. Mehta, K.M. Hansen, and T.G. Thundat, "Stability of thiolated DNA on gold-coated microcantilevers", Proceedings of the Electrochemical Society Spring Meeting, Volume PV 2002-6, pp. 218-225 (2002).

Wu, G., R.H. Datar, K.M. Hansen, T.G. Thundat, R.J. Cote, and A. Majumdar, "Bioassay of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) using microcantilevers", Nat. Biotech. 19:856-860 (2001).

Hansen, K.M., H.-F. Ji, G. Wu, R. Datar, R. Cote, A. Majumdar, and T. Thundat, "Cantilever-based Optical deflection Assay for the Detection of Single Nucleotide Mismatches", Anal. Chem. 73(7):1567-1571 (2001).

Wu, G., H.-F. Ji, K.M. Hansen, T.G. Thundat, R. Datar, R. Cote, M.F. Hagan, A.K. Chakraborty, and A. Majumdar, "Origin of nanomechanical cantilever motion generated from biomolecular interactions", Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 98(4):1560-1564 (2001).

Ji, H.-F., K.M Hansen, Z. Hu, and T. Thundat, "Detection of pH variation using modified microcantilever sensors", Sens. Actuat. B. 72:233-238 (2001).

Hansen, K.M., G. Wu, H.-F. Ji, T. Thundat, R. Datar, R. Cote, and A. Majumdar, "Nanomechanical Detection of Biomolecular Interactions", Proceedings of the Electrochemical Society Fall Meeting, Volume 2000-19, pp. 200-207 (2001).

Baselt, D.R., G.U Lee, K.M. Hansen, L.A. Chrisey, and R.J. Colton, "A high-sensitivity micromachined biosensor", Proc. IEEE 85(4):672-680 (1997).

Roesijadi, G., K.M. Hansen and M.E. Unger, "Concentration-response relationships for Cd, Cu, and Zn andmetallothionein mRNA induction in larvae of Crassostrea virginica", Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 118C:267-270 (1997).

Roesijadi, G., K.M. Hansen and M.E. Unger, "Metallothionein mRNA accumulation in early developmental stages of Crassostrea virginica following pre-exposure and challenge with cadmium", Aquat. Toxicol. 39:185-194 (1996).

Roesijadi, G., K.M. Hansen and M.E. Unger, "Cadmium-induced metallothionein expression during embryonic and early larval development of the mollusc, Crassostrea virginica", Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 140:356-363 (1996).

Roesijadi, G., K.M. Hansen and M.E. Fuentes, "Cadmium-induced expression of metallothionein and suppression of RNA to DNA ratios during molluscan development", Toxicol. and Appl.Pharmacol. 133:130-138 (1995).

Rzepecki, L.M., K.M. Hansen and J.H. Waite, "Bioadhesives: DOPA and Phenolic proteins as components of organic composite materials", Principles of Cell Adhesion, P.D. Richardson and M. Steiner (eds.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. (1995).

Rzepecki, L.M., K.M. Hansen and J.H. Waite, "Characterization of a cystine-rich polyphenolic protein family from the blue mussel, Mytilus edulis L.", Biol. Bull. 183:123-137 (1992).