David Cliffel

Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Chemistry
Director of Graduate Studies

Dr. Cliffel will be accepting graduate students for Fall 202 6.

The Cliffel Research Group in the Department of Chemistry at Vanderbilt University is focused on electroanalytical measurements and sensor development in nanoscale and biological systems. We have been developing electrochemical biosensors for sensing in organ-on-a-chip platforms including our fetal membrane-on-a-chip and our neurovascular unit-on-a-chip. We have created multiclinical analyzers (MCAs) for small metabolites and neurotransmitters, while larger protein targets are measured with our new magnetic-bead electrochemical sandwich assays (MBESA). Another major project is the development of Photosystem I-based biohybrid solar cells using photosynthetic protein molecules isolated from spinach leaves. Our aim is to increase direct charge transfer between Photosystem I protein molecules and the electrode surface, through the use of small molecule mediators, nano-carbon materials, conductive polymers, and nanoparticles. These nanoparticles include gold and other metals, carbon quantum dots, and polymer spheres.

Specializations

VINSE
VICB
Nanoparticle-Protein Interfaces
Electroanalytical Chemistry
Chemical Biology
Bioanalytical Chemistry
Analytical Chemistry

Representative Publications

Biosensors

HA Richards, OE Owens, JE Martin, DE Cliffel. Magnetic Bead Electrochemical Sandwich Assay (MBESA) for the Inflammatory Cytokine Interleukin-1β in Fetal Membrane on-a-chip Studies and Placental Macrophages. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 138724, 2025

KD Wolfe, M Alahuhta, ME Himmel, YJ Bomble, GK Jennings, DE Cliffel. Long-Term Stability of Nicotinamide Cofactors in Common Aqueous Buffers: Implications for Cell-Free Biocatalysis. Molecules. 2024 Nov 19;29(22):5453. doi: 10.3390/molecules29225453

HA Richards, AJ Eastman, DR Miller, DE Cliffel. Reproductive organ on-a-chip technologies and assessments of the fetal-maternal interface. Frontiers in Lab on a Chip Technologies 3, 1449303, 2024

JA Gaddy, RE Moore, JS Lochner, LM Rogers, KN Noble, A Giri, David M Aronoff, David Cliffel, Alison J Eastman. Palmitate and group B Streptococcus synergistically and differentially induce IL-1β from human gestational membranes. Frontiers in Immunology 2024, 15, 1409378.

G Buckey, O Owens, HA Richards, DE Cliffel. Electrochemical Immunomagnetic Assay for Interleukin-6 Detection in Human Plasma. Sensors & Diagnostics 2024 DOI: 10.1039/d4sd00058g

DR Miller, JT Jacobs, A Rockfeller, H Singer, I.M. Bollinger, J. Conway, J.C. Slot and D.E. Cliffel. Cultivation, chemistry, and genome of Psilocybe Zapotecorum. Journal of Psychedelic Studies, 2024, 8, 1, 63–81. doi: 10.1556/2054.2023.00332

Buckey, G.; Owens, O.E.; Gabriel, A.W.; Downing, C.M.; Calhoun, M.C.; Cliffel, D.E. Adsorption and Electropolymerization of p-Aminophenol Reduces Reproducibility of Electrochemical Immunoassays. Molecules 2022, 27, 6046. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27186046

Photosystem I Interfaced to Nanomaterials

WR Lowery, AC Portaro, GK Jennings, DE Cliffel. Photosystem I Photopolymerizes Pyrrole into Spherical Nanocomposites. Biomacromolecules 26 (5), 3180-3185, 2025

WR Lowery, GK Jennings, DE Cliffel. Counteranion Effects on the Incorporation of Photosystem I with Poly (3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene)(PEDOT). ACS Omega, 10 (10), 10199-10204, 2025

Marc A. Nabhan, Allison V. Cordova-Huaman, David E. Cliffel, G. Kane Jennings. Interfacing poly(p-anisidine) with photosystem I for the fabrication of photoactive composite films. Nanoscale Adv., 2024, 6, 620-629. DOI: 10.1039/D3NA00977G

Marc A. Nabhan, Carlos A. Silvera Batista, David E. Cliffel, G. Kane Jennings. Spin Coating Photoactive Photosystem I–PEDOT: PSS Composite Films. ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 2023, 5 (5), 3278-3288 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsapm.2c02126

Stachurski, C.D., Williams, J.M., Tabaquin, P.M., Wood, E.D., Phambu, N., Jennings, G.K. and Cliffel, D.E. Utilizing Toray Paper as a Metal-Free, High Surface Area Electrode for Photosystem I–Driven Mediated Electron Transfer. Energy Technol. 2023, 2201077. https://doi.org/10.1002/ente.202201077

Long Viet Than, Kody D. Wolfe, David E. Cliffel, G. Kane Jennings. Drop‑casted Photosystem I/cytochrome c multilayer films for biohybrid solar energy conversion. Photosynthesis Research, 2023. doi.org/10.1007/s11120-022-00993-w

JM Passantino, BA Christiansen, MA Nabhan, ZJ Parkerson, TD Oddo, D.E. Cliffel, G.K. Jennings, Photoactive and conductive biohybrid films by polymerization of pyrrole through voids in photosystem I multilayer films Nanoscale Advances, 2023, 5 (19), 5301-5308

Dhruba K. Pattadar, Rafael A. Masitas, Christopher D. Stachurski, David E. Cliffel, and Francis P. Zamborini. Reversing the Thermodynamics of Galvanic Replacement Reactions by Decreasing the Size of Gold Nanoparticles. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 45, 19268–19277.

Christopher D. Stachurski, Sophia M. Click, Kody D. Wolfe, Dilek Dervishogullari, Sandra J. Rosenthal, G. Kane Jennings, and David E. Cliffel Optical and electrochemical tuning of hydrothermally synthesized nitrogen-doped carbon dot. Nanoscale Adv., 2020, 2, 3375-3383.

Joshua M. Passantino, Kody D. Wolfe, Keiann T. Simon, David E. Cliffel, and G. Kane Jennings. Photosystem I Enhances the Efficiency of a Natural, Gel-Based Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell. ACS Appl. Bio Mater. 2020, 3, 4465−4473.

Sara L. Melow, Dusty R. Miller, Evan A. Gizzie and David E. Cliffel. A low-interference, high-resolution multianalyte electrochemical biosensor Anal. Methods , 2020,12, 3873-3882.

Kody D. Wolfe, Dilek Dervishogullari, Christopher D. Stachurski, Joshua M. Passantino, Dr. G. Kane Jennings, Dr. David E. Cliffel. Photosystem I Multilayers within Porous Indium Tin Oxide Cathodes Enhance Mediated Electron Transfer. ChemElectroChem, 2020, 7(3), 596-603. doi.org/10.1002/celc.201901628

Kody D. Wolfe, Dilek Dervishogullari, Joshua M. Passantino, Christopher D. Stachurski, G. Kane Jennings and David E. Cliffel. Improving the stability of photosystem I–based bioelectrodes for solar energy conversion. Current Opinions in Electrochemistry. 2020, 19, 27-34. doi.org/10.1016/j.coelec.2019.09.009

P. Mason McClatchey, Ethan S. McClain, Ian M. Williams, Carlo M. Malabanan, Freyja D. James, Peter C. Lord, Justin M. Gregory, David E. Cliffel, David H. Wasserman. Fibrotic Encapsulation is the Dominant Source of Continuous Glucose Monitor Delays. Diabetes 2019; 68(10): 1892-1901, DOI: 10.2337/db19-0229

Dilek Dervishogullari, Evan A. Gizzie, G. Kane Jennings, David E. Cliffel. Polyviologen as Electron Transport Material in Photosystem I-Based Biophotovoltaic Cells. Langmuir, 2018, 34 (51), 15658-15664.

Dusty R. Miller, Ethan S. McClain, and David E. Cliffel. Electrochemical Microphysiometry Detects Cellular Glutamate Uptake. J. Electrochem. Soc. 2018 165:G3120-G3124; doi:10.1149/2.0201812jes

Maxwell T. Robinson, Marie E. Armbruster, Avi Gargye, David E. Cliffel, and G. Kane Jennings. Photosystem I Multilayer Films for Photovoltage Enhancement in Natural Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells, ACS Applied Energy Materials (2018), 1, 301-305. DOI: 10.1021/acsaem.7b00230.

Maxwell T. Robinson, David E. Cliffel, and G. Kane Jennings. An Electrochemical Reaction-Diffusion Model of the Photocatalytic Effect of Photosystem I Multilayer Films. Journal of Physical Chemistry B(2018) 122 (1), 117-125

McClatchey, P.M.; McClain, E.S.; Williams, I.M.; Malabanan, C.M.; James, F.D.; Lord, P.C.; Gregory, J.M.; Cliffel, D.E.; Wasserman, D.H. Fibrotic Encapsulation Is the Dominant Source of Continuous Glucose Monitor Delays Diabetes 2019 Oct; 68 (10): 1892-1901.

Dervishogullari, D; Gizzie, E.A.; Jennings, G.K.; Cliffel, D.E.; Polyviologen as Electron Transport Material in Photosystem I-Based Biophotovoltaic Cells Langmuir 2018, 34, 51, 15658-15664

Miller, D.R.; McClain, E.S.; Cliffel, D.E. Electrochemical Microphysiometry Detects Cellular Glutamate Uptake J. Electrochem. Soc. 2018 volume 165, issue 12, G3120-G3124

Robinson, M.T.; Armbruster, M.E.; Gargye, A.; Cliffel, D.E.; Jennings, G.K. Photosystem I Multilayer Films for Photovoltage Enhancement in Natural Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells ACS Applied Energy Materials 2018, 1(2), 301-305.

Robinson, M.T.; Cliffel, D.E.; Jennings, G.K. An Electrochemical Reaction-Diffusion Model of the Photocatalytic Effect of Photosystem I Multilayer Films Journal of Physical Chemistry B 2018, 122, 1, 117-125.

Gnecco, J.S.; Anders, A.P.; Cliffel. D.; Pensabene, V.; Rogers, L.M.; Osteen, K.; Arnoff, D.M. Instrumenting a Fetal Membrane on a Chip as Emerging Technology for Preterm Birth Research Current Pharmaceutical Design 2017, 23(40), 6115-6124.

Robinson, M.T.; Gizze, E.A.; Mwambutsa, F.; Cliffel, D.E.; Jennings, G.K. Mediated approaches to Photosystem I-based biophotovoltaics Current Opinion in Electrochemistry 2017, 5(1),211-217.

Travis, A.R.; Liau, V.A.; Agrawal, A.C.; Cliffel, D.E.Small gold nanoparticles presenting linear and looped Cilengitide analogues as radiosensitizers of cells expressing ανβ3 integrin Journal of Nanoparticle Research2017,19, 11, 1-9.

Davis, A.N.; Travis, A.R.; Miller, D.R; Cliffel, D.E. Multianalyte Physiological Microanalytical Devices Annual Review of Analytical Chemistry 2017, 10, 93-111.

Gnecco, J.S.; Anders, A.P.; Cliffel, D.; Pensabene, V.; Rogers, L.M.; Osteen, K.; Aronoff, D.M. Instrumenting a Fetal Membrane on a Chip as Emerging Technology for Preterm Birth Research Current Pharmaceutical Design 2017, 23 (46)

Kimmel, D.W.; Dole, W.P.; Cliffel, D.E. Elucidation of the Role of Lectin-Like oxLDL Receptor-1 in the Metabolic Responses of Macrophages to Human oxLDL Journal of Lipids 2017, Article ID 8479482.

Robinson, M.T.; Simons, C.E.; Cliffel, D.E.; Jennings, G.K. Photocatalytic photosystem I/PEDOT composite films prepared by vapor-phase polymerization Nanoscale 2017, 9, 6158-6166.

Yang, S.; Robinson, M.T.; Mwambutsa, F.; Cliffel, D.E.; Jennings, G.K. Effect of Cross-linking on the Performance and Stability of Photocatalytic Photosystem I Films Electrochimica Acta 2016, 222,926-932.

Lizama-Manibusan, B.N.; Klein,S.; McKenzie, J.R.; Cliffel, D.E.; McLaughlin, B. Analysis of a Nitroreductase-Based Hypoxia Sensor in Primary Neuronal Cultures ACS Chemical Neuroscience 2016, 7 (9), 1188-1191.

Wilburn, J.P.; Ciobanu, M.; Cliffel, D.E. Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy of Individual Pancreatic Islets Journal of The Electrochemical Society 2016, 163 (4), H3077-H3082.

Kimmel, D.W.; Cliffel, D.E.; Rogers, L.M.; Arnoff, D. M. Prostaglandin E2 Regulation of Macrophage Innate Immunity Chemical Research in Toxicology, 2016, 29, 19-25.

Gizzie, E.A.; Niezgoda, J.S.; Robinson, M.T.; Harris, A.G.; Jennings, G.K; Rosenthal, S.J.; Cliffel, D.E. Photosystem I-polyaniline/TiO2 solid-state solar cells: simple devices for biohybrid solar energy conversion Energy & Environmental Science, 2015, 8, 3572-3576.

Lewis, S.A.; Wilburn, J.P.; Wellons, M.S.; Cliffel, D.E.; Lukehart, C.M. Carbon-supported AuPt and AuPd bimetallic nanocomposites as formic acid electrooxidation catalysts Physica Status Solidi A: Applications and Materials Science, 2015.

Beam, J.C.; LeBlanc, G.; Gizzie, E.A.; Ivanov, B.L.; Needell, D.; Shearer, M.J; Jennings, G.K.; Cliffel, D.E. Construction of a Semiconductor-Biological Interface for Solar Energy Conversion: p-doped Silicon/Photosystem I/Zinc Oxide Langmuir, 2015, 31(36), 10002-10007.

McKenzie, J. R.; Cognata, A.C.; Davis, A.N.; Wikswo, J.P.; Cliffel, D.E. Real-Time Monitoring of Cellular Bioenergetics with a Multi-Analyte Screen-Printed Electrode Analytical Chemistry, 2015, 87 (15), 7857-7864.

Crisostomo, D.; Peterson, R.R.; Cliffel, D.E. Effect of Ligand Charge on Electron Transfer Rates of Water Soluble Gold Nanoparticles Journal Of Physical Chemistry C, 2015, 119 (21), 11296-11300.

Gizzie, E.A.; LeBlanc, G.; Jennings, G.K; Cliffel, D.E. Electrochemical Preparation of Photosystem I – Polyaniline Composite Films for Biohybrid Solar Energy Conversion ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 2015, 7 (18), 9328-9335.

Venmar KT, Kimmel DW, Cliffel DE, Fingleton B. IL4 receptor α mediates enhanced glucose and glutamine metabolism to support breast cancer growth. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. 2015, 4;1853(5):1219-1228.

Casey MC, Cliffel DE. Surface adsorption and electrochemical reduction of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene on vanadium dioxide.Analytical Chemistry. 2015, 87(1):334-7.

Lima EA, Snider RM, Reiserer RS, McKenzie JR, Kimmel DW, Eklund SE, Wikswo JP, Cliffel DE. Multichamber Multipotentiostat System for Cellular Microphysiometry.Sensors and Actuators. B, Chemical. 2014, 204:536-543.

Darby E, LeBlanc G, Gizzie EA, Winter KM, Jennings GK, Cliffel DE. Photoactive films of photosystem I on transparent reduced graphene oxide electrodes. Langmuir: the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids. 201430(29):8990-4.

Leblanc, G., Gizzie, E., Yang, S., Cliffel, D. E., Jennings, G. K. Photosystem I Protein Films at Electrode Surfaces for Solar Energy Conversion. Langmuir. 2014, 0 (0): [Epub ahead of print].

Gunther, D., LeBlanc, G., Prasai, D., Zhang, J. R., Cliffel, D. E., Bolotin, K. I., Jennings, G. K. Photosystem I on Graphene as a Highly Transparent, Photoactive Electrode. Langmuir. 2013, 29 (13): 4177-4180.

Wikswo, J. P., Block, F. E., Cliffel, D. E., Goodwin, C. R., Marasco, C. C., Markov, D. A., McLean, D. L., McLean, J. A., McKenzie, J. R., Reiserer, R. S., Samson, P. C., Schaffer, D. K., Seale, K. T., Sherrod, S. D. Engineering Challenges for Instrumenting and Controlling Integrated Organ-on-Chip Systems. IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering. 2013, 60 (3): 682-690.

Kimmel, D. W., Dole, W. P., Cliffel, D. E. Application of multianalyte microphysiometry to characterize macrophage metabolic responses to oxidized LDL and effects of an apoA-1 mimetic. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 2013, 431 (2): 181-185.

Simpson, C. A., Salleng, K. J., Cliffel, D. E., Feldheim, D. L. In vivo toxicity, biodistribution, and clearance of glutathione-coated gold nanoparticles. NanoMedicine-NanoTechnology Biology and Medicine. 2013, 9 (2): 257-263.

Harkness, K. M., Turner, B. N., Agrawal, A. C., Zhang, Y. B., McLean, J. A., Cliffel, D. E.Biomimetic monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles for immunorecognition. Nanoscale. 2012, 4 (13): 3843-3851.

Harkness, K. M., Tang, Y., Dass, A., Pan, J., Kothalawala, N., Reddy, V. J., Cliffel, D. E., Demeler, B., Stellacci, F., Bakr, O. M., McLean, J. A. Ag-44(SR)(30)(4-): a silver-thiolate superatom complex. Nanoscale. 2012, 4 (14): 4269-4274.

McKenzie, J. R., Palubinsky, A. M., Brown, J. E., McLaughlin, B., Cliffel, D. E. Metabolic Multianalyte Microphysiometry Reveals Extracellular Acidosis is an Essential Mediator of Neuronal Preconditioning. ACS Chemical Neuroscience. 2012, 3 (7): 510-518.

Harry, R. S., Hiatt, L. A., Kimmel, D. W., Carney, C. K., Halfpenny, K. C., Cliffel, D. E., Wright, D. W. Metabolic Impact of 4-Hydroxynonenal on Macrophage-Like RAW 264.7 Function and Activation. Chemical Research in Toxicology. 2012, 25 (8): 1643-1651.

LeBlanc, G., Chen, G. P., Jennings, G. K., Cliffel, D. E. Photoreduction of Catalytic Platinum Particles Using Immobilized Multilayers of Photosystem I. Langmuir. 2012, 28 (21): 7952-7956.

Hiatt, L. A., McKenzie, J. R., Deravi, L. F., Harry, R. S., Wright, D. W., Cliffel, D. E. A printed superoxide dismutase coated electrode for the study of macrophage oxidative burst. Biosensors & Bioelectronics. 2012, 33 (1): 128-133.

Kimmel, D. W., LeBlanc, G., Meschievitz, M. E., Cliffel, D. E. Electrochemical Sensors and Biosensors. Analytical Chemistry. 2012, 84 (2): 685-707.