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Welcome to Ester Segal Lab! 

The research in our group lies at the broad interface between nanomaterials science and biotechnology. This rapidly advancing research area is commonly termed nano-biotechnology. Our research includes the basic study of structure-property relationships of nanomaterials and the application of this knowledge in the development of innovative materials and functional materials systems.

We are interested in nanostructured materials such as porous Silicon and their interface with soft matter e.g. hydrogels, biomolecules, and living cells. Understanding these interfaces allows us to rationally design biosensors for the detection of biological and chemical toxins, new drug delivery platforms, and functional responsive materials.

News and Media

Our faculty recently held Research Day, where Hanan, Alva, Lisa, Xin, and Kayan presented their innovative research. The event provided a great opportunity for knowledge sharing and interdisciplinary exchange. A special congratulations to Kayan, who won the Best Poster award and will represent our faculty at the Technion’s Annual Research Day in June. Great job, everyone!


We had the pleasure of attending Alva’s final seminar on Bio-Inspired Superhydrophobic Coatings: Antimicrobial Strategies to Minimize Bacterial Colonization in Food Systems.
Congratulations Alva on an excellent and insightful presentation!
 
      
 

Our amazing Alva proudly represented our lab at the 88th Annual Meeting of the Israel Chemical Society. She presented her impressive work on antimicrobial strategies to minimize bacterial colonization on food systems using bio-inspired superhydrophobic coatings.
 

Our outstanding Ph.D. students- Kayan, Lisa, Xin and Haoyang, presented their research on the Annual Meeting of the Israel Society for Chemical and Biological Sensing (ISCBS).

Congratulations for Kayan for winning the best poster award!


Celebrating Professor Esty’s birthday along with her appointment as the new Dean of the Biotechnology and Food Engineering Department! We have no doubt she will achieve great things and continue to lead the department to new heights. We wish her all the best and much success in this new chapter. Congratulations!
 

Xin had the special honor of being invited to celebrate the 2025 Chinese New Year with the Chinese Ambassador in Israel.

We wish everyone a joyful and prosperous Year of the Snake!


We are super excited to share that our lab has been chosen to receive this year’s safety prize!


Just Published‏

Awawdeh K., Buttkewitz M., Bahnemann J., Segal E., Enhancing the performance of porous silicon biosensors: the interplay of nanostructure design and microfluidic integration. Microsystems & Nanoengineering 10(100) (2024). open access


Prinz Setter O., Gilboa A., Shalash G., Refael G., Tarazi Riess H., Shani Levi C., Lesmes U., Segal E., Introducing HaNTr – Halloysite Nanotubes Targeting System for The Selective Delivery of Antibiotics. Advanced Functional Materials 34(25) 2315923 (2024). open access


Sharma S., Prinz Setter O., Abu Hamad H., Segal E., Multifunctional Halloysite Nanotubes-Polydopamine Agro-Carriers for Controlling Bacterial Soft Rot Disease. Environmental Science: Nano 11, 1114-1128 (2024). open access


Heuer C., Jiang X., Ron G., Ternyak O., Bahnemann J., Scheper T., Segal E., Photonic Si Microwell Architectures for Rapid Antifungal Susceptibility Determination of Candida auris. Chemical Communications 60, 1305-1308 (2024). open access


Haimov-Talmoud E., Rosenberg M., Arshavsky-Graham S., Varon V., Shefi O., Segal E., Biolistic Delivery of Photosensitizer-Loaded Porous Si Carriers for Localized Photodynamic Therapy, Advanced Materials Technologies 8(23) 2300877 (2023). open access

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Prinz Setter O., Jiang X., Segal E., Rising to the surface: capturing and detecting bacteria by rationally-designed surfaces, Current Opinion in Biotechnology 83, 102969 (2023). open access


Jiang X., Borkum T., Shprits S., Boen J., Arshavsky-Graham S., Rofman B., Strauss M., Colodner R., Sulam J., Halachmi S., Leonard H., Segal E., Accurate Prediction of Antimicrobial Susceptibility for Point-of-Care Testing of Urine in Less than 90 Minutes via iPRISM Cassettes, Advanced Science 10(31) 2303285 (2023). open access

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