Rigiflex, Spontaneously Wettable Polymeric Mold for Forming Reversibly Bonded Nanocapillaries

We present a novel ultraviolet (UV)-curable mold that enables the formation of reversibly bonded nanocapillaries (500−50 nm) on a gold or silicon substrate. A sheet-type (∼50 μm) polyethylene diacrylate (PEG-DA) mold was used for its rigiflex nature; it provides rigidity high enough for maintaining nanostructures (elastic modulus >70 MPa) and also flexibility good enough for intimate contact over a large area aided by weak electrostatic forces (zeta potential ≈ −113.55 mW). The electrostatic charge is generated on a rigiflex PEG-DA mold upon peeling from an original engraved silicon master by mechanical friction, thereby assisting the formation of spontaneous contact with the gold or silicon substrate

Rigiflex, Spontaneously Wettable Polymeric Mold for Forming Reversibly Bonded Nanocapillaries

We present a novel ultraviolet (UV)-curable mold that enables the formation of reversibly bonded nanocapillaries (500−50 nm) on a gold or silicon substrate. A sheet-type (∼50 μm) polyethylene diacrylate (PEG-DA) mold was used for its rigiflex nature; it provides rigidity high enough for maintaining nanostructures (elastic modulus >70 MPa) and also flexibility good enough for intimate contact over a large area aided by weak electrostatic forces (zeta potential ≈ −113.55 mW). The electrostatic charge is generated on a rigiflex PEG-DA mold upon peeling from an original engraved silicon master by mechanical friction, thereby assisting the formation of spontaneous contact with the gold or silicon substrate

Crack/Fold Hybrid Structure-Based Fluidic Networks Inspired by the Epidermis of Desert Lizards

A bioinspired fluidic system with cracks and folds was introduced to emulate the structures and functions of desert lizards’ integuments, which show marked ability of water management. Because there was a structural analogy between scales and interscalar channels of lizard’s skin and cracks and folds of a bilayer elastic material, we can mimic lizard’s skin by controlling the stress distribution on patterned elastomers. Our system showed not only capillary-driven water retention within confined fluidic network, but also stretching-driven biaxial water transport. Observed features of our system may enhance understanding of water management in relation to morphogenetic aspects of lizards

Stabilization of Ion Concentration Polarization Using a Heterogeneous Nanoporous Junction

We demonstrate a recycled ion-flux through heterogeneous nanoporous junctions, which induce stable ion concentration polarization with an electric field. The nanoporous junctions are based on integration of ionic hydrogels whose surfaces are negatively or positively charged for cationic or anionic selectivity, respectively. Such heterogeneous junctions can be matched up in a way to achieve continuous ion-flux operation for stable concentration gradient or ionic conductance. Furthermore, the combined junctions can be used to accumulate ions on a specific region of the device

Stabilization of Ion Concentration Polarization Using a Heterogeneous Nanoporous Junction

We demonstrate a recycled ion-flux through heterogeneous nanoporous junctions, which induce stable ion concentration polarization with an electric field. The nanoporous junctions are based on integration of ionic hydrogels whose surfaces are negatively or positively charged for cationic or anionic selectivity, respectively. Such heterogeneous junctions can be matched up in a way to achieve continuous ion-flux operation for stable concentration gradient or ionic conductance. Furthermore, the combined junctions can be used to accumulate ions on a specific region of the device

Stabilization of Ion Concentration Polarization Using a Heterogeneous Nanoporous Junction

We demonstrate a recycled ion-flux through heterogeneous nanoporous junctions, which induce stable ion concentration polarization with an electric field. The nanoporous junctions are based on integration of ionic hydrogels whose surfaces are negatively or positively charged for cationic or anionic selectivity, respectively. Such heterogeneous junctions can be matched up in a way to achieve continuous ion-flux operation for stable concentration gradient or ionic conductance. Furthermore, the combined junctions can be used to accumulate ions on a specific region of the device

Stabilization of Ion Concentration Polarization Using a Heterogeneous Nanoporous Junction

We demonstrate a recycled ion-flux through heterogeneous nanoporous junctions, which induce stable ion concentration polarization with an electric field. The nanoporous junctions are based on integration of ionic hydrogels whose surfaces are negatively or positively charged for cationic or anionic selectivity, respectively. Such heterogeneous junctions can be matched up in a way to achieve continuous ion-flux operation for stable concentration gradient or ionic conductance. Furthermore, the combined junctions can be used to accumulate ions on a specific region of the device

Stabilization of Ion Concentration Polarization Using a Heterogeneous Nanoporous Junction

We demonstrate a recycled ion-flux through heterogeneous nanoporous junctions, which induce stable ion concentration polarization with an electric field. The nanoporous junctions are based on integration of ionic hydrogels whose surfaces are negatively or positively charged for cationic or anionic selectivity, respectively. Such heterogeneous junctions can be matched up in a way to achieve continuous ion-flux operation for stable concentration gradient or ionic conductance. Furthermore, the combined junctions can be used to accumulate ions on a specific region of the device

Time-Dependent Retention of Nanotopographical Cues in Differentiated Neural Stem Cells

Exposure time to mechanical cues is important to properly modulating stem cell fate. The phenomenon in which the cells retain information from past stimuli, the so-called “time-retention effect”, has become one of the major factors to modulate stem cell differentiation with different mechanical cues. Using a stress-responsive and tunable nanowrinkle topography, we investigated the effects of time-dependent retention of a nanotopographical cue on differentiating the neural stem cells (NSCs). After removing nanotopography used to induce hNSCs neuronal differentiation, we observed that differentiated NSCs exposed to the nanotopography for longer times retained their neural features compared to NSCs exposed shorter. We concluded that the NSCs could retain the nanotopographical stimuli depending on the dosing time during differentiation, suggesting the impact of the time-retention effect in controlling stem cell fate