Smart polymeric temperature sensors – for biological systems

The damaged brain is vulnerable to increase in brain temperature after a severe head injury. Continuous monitoring of intracranial temperature depicts functionality essential to the treatment of brain injury Many innovations have been made in the biomedical industry relying on electronic implants in treating condition such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) or other cerebral diseases. Hence, a methodical and reliable way to measure the temperature is crucial to assess the patient’s situation. In this investigation, an analysis of various approaches to detect the change in the temperature due to resistance, current-voltage characteristics with respect to time has been evaluated. Also, studies describing various materials used in sensors, their working principles and the results anticipated in these discrete procedures are presented. These smart temperature sensors have provided the accuracy and the stability compared to earlier methods used to detect the change in brain temperature since temperature is one of the most important variables in brain monitoring

Advanced Photonic Sciences

The new emerging field of photonics has significantly attracted the interest of many societies, professionals and researchers around the world. The great importance of this field is due to its applicability and possible utilization in almost all scientific and industrial areas. This book presents some advanced research topics in photonics. It consists of 16 chapters organized into three sections: Integrated Photonics, Photonic Materials and Photonic Applications. It can be said that this book is a good contribution for paving the way for further innovations in photonic technology. The chapters have been written and reviewed by well-experienced researchers in their fields. In their contributions they demonstrated the most profound knowledge and expertise for interested individuals in this expanding field. The book will be a good reference for experienced professionals, academics and researchers as well as young researchers only starting their carrier in this field

Bioactivity/cytotoxicity of micro-/nano-materials and novel development of fiber-optic probes for single cell monitoring

Manufactured nano-/micro-materials (MNMs) have been widely used and their interactions with niche biological environment are highly concerned for both of their biohazardous and bioactive effects, whereas no available comprehensive evaluations or regulations have been provided yet. This dissertation thus focuses on three major aspects: 1) fundamental toxicity understandings of a typical MNMs (zinc oxide nanoparticles), 2) bioactivity evaluations of representative bioactive MNMs, and 3) development of novel micro-probes for high spatial resolution monitoring. Firstly, the NP\u27s concentration, irradiation, hydrodynamic size, and the localized pH, ionic strength, NP zeta-potential as well as dissolved oxygen levels were found correlated with the production of hydroxyl radicals (•OH). Thus a novel physicochemical mechanism was hypothesized on •OH generation from ZnO NPs to cast light on cytotoxic mechanisms of MNMs. Secondly, silicate-/borate-based nano-/micro-sized glass fibers showed good rehabilitation capability and the underlying mechanisms were revealed as that quicker ion releasing and glass conversion (into hydroxyapatite (HA)) are the key to promote cell proliferation and migration, thus the wound-healing effect. Thirdly, several types of fiber-optic-based probes were developed to better cope with high spatial resolution, niche biological environmental detection. Up to date the best probe is able to acquire a pH resolution of up to ~0.02 pH unit within biologically relevant pH range of 6.17 - 8.11 with fast sensing time of ~5 seconds. Real-time monitoring of single live human cells were also demonstrated and validated in cytotoxic studies to detect early-onset of cell deterioration on different stages, indicating its powerful potent on studies that focusing on MNMs and single cells --Abstract, page iv

Recent Advances and Future Trends in Nanophotonics

Nanophotonics has emerged as a multidisciplinary frontier of science and engineering. Due to its high potential to contribute to breakthroughs in many areas of technology, nanophotonics is capturing the interest of many researchers from different fields. This Special Issue of Applied Sciences on “Recent advances and future trends in nanophotonics” aims to give an overview on the latest developments in nanophotonics and its roles in different application domains. Topics of discussion include, but are not limited to, the exploration of new directions of nanophotonic science and technology that enable technological breakthroughs in high-impact areas mainly regarding diffraction elements, detection, imaging, spectroscopy, optical communications, and computing

Optically Induced Nanostructures

Nanostructuring of materials is a task at the heart of many modern disciplines in mechanical engineering, as well as optics, electronics, and the life sciences. This book includes an introduction to the relevant nonlinear optical processes associated with very short laser pulses for the generation of structures far below the classical optical diffraction limit of about 200 nanometers as well as coverage of state-of-the-art technical and biomedical applications. These applications include silicon and glass wafer processing, production of nanowires, laser transfection and cell reprogramming, optical cleaning, surface treatments of implants, nanowires, 3D nanoprinting, STED lithography, friction modification, and integrated optics. The book highlights also the use of modern femtosecond laser microscopes and nanoscopes as novel nanoprocessing tools

Advances in Unconventional Lithography

The term Lithography encompasses a range of contemporary technologies for micro and nano scale fabrication. Originally driven by the evolution of the semiconductor industry, lithography has grown from its optical origins to demonstrate increasingly fine resolution and to permeate fields as diverse as photonics and biology. Today, greater flexibility and affordability are demanded from lithography more than ever before. Diverse needs across many disciplines have produced a multitude of innovative new lithography techniques. This book, which is the final instalment in a series of three, provides a compelling overview of some of the recent advances in lithography, as recounted by the researchers themselves. Topics discussed include nanoimprinting for plasmonic biosensing, soft lithography for neurobiology and stem cell differentiation, colloidal substrates for two-tier self-assembled nanostructures, tuneable diffractive elements using photochromic polymers, and extreme-UV lithography

Semiconducting Polymers for Electronic Biosensors and Biological Interfaces

Bioeletronics aims at the direct coupling of biomolecular function units with standard electronic devices. The main limitations of this field are the material needed to interface soft living entities with hard inorganic devices. Conducting polymers enabled the bridging between these two separate worlds, owing to their biocompatibility, soft nature and the ability to be tailored according to the required application. In particular, the intrinsically conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonic acid) (PEDOT:PSS) is one of the most promising polymers, having an excellent chemical and thermal stability, reversible doping state and high conductivity. This thesis relies on the use of PEDOT:PSS as semiconducting material for biological interfaces and biosensors. In detail, OECTs were demonstrated to be able to real-time monitor growth and detachment of both strong-barrier and no-barrier cells, according to the patterning of the device active area and the selected geometry. Thus, these devices were employed to assess silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) toxicity effects on cell lines, allowing further insights on citrate-coated AgNPs uptake by the cells and their toxic action, while demonstrating no cytotoxic activity of EG6OH-coated AgNPs. Moreover, PEDOT:PSS OECTs were proved to be capable of detecting oxygen dissolved in KCl or even cell culture medium, in the oxygen partial pressure range of 0-5%. Furthermore, PEDOT:PSS OECTs were biofunctionalized to impart specificity on the device sensing capabilities, through a biochemical functionalization strategy, electrically characterized. The resulting devices showed a proof of concept detection of a fundamental cytokine for cells undergoing osteogenic differentiation. Finally, PEDOT:PSS thickness-controlled films were employed as biocompatible, low-impedance and soft interfaces between the animal nerve and a gold electrode. The introduction of the plasticizer polyethylene glycol (PEG) enhanced the elasticity of the polymer, while keeping good conductivity and low-impedance properties. An in-vivo, chronic recording of the renal sympathetic nerve activity in rats demonstrated the efficiency of the device

Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical engineering is currently relatively wide scientific area which has been constantly bringing innovations with an objective to support and improve all areas of medicine such as therapy, diagnostics and rehabilitation. It holds a strong position also in natural and biological sciences. In the terms of application, biomedical engineering is present at almost all technical universities where some of them are targeted for the research and development in this area. The presented book brings chosen outputs and results of research and development tasks, often supported by important world or European framework programs or grant agencies. The knowledge and findings from the area of biomaterials, bioelectronics, bioinformatics, biomedical devices and tools or computer support in the processes of diagnostics and therapy are defined in a way that they bring both basic information to a reader and also specific outputs with a possible further use in research and development

Optoelectronics – Devices and Applications

Optoelectronics - Devices and Applications is the second part of an edited anthology on the multifaced areas of optoelectronics by a selected group of authors including promising novices to experts in the field. Photonics and optoelectronics are making an impact multiple times as the semiconductor revolution made on the quality of our life. In telecommunication, entertainment devices, computational techniques, clean energy harvesting, medical instrumentation, materials and device characterization and scores of other areas of R&D the science of optics and electronics get coupled by fine technology advances to make incredibly large strides. The technology of light has advanced to a stage where disciplines sans boundaries are finding it indispensable. New design concepts are fast emerging and being tested and applications developed in an unimaginable pace and speed. The wide spectrum of topics related to optoelectronics and photonics presented here is sure to make this collection of essays extremely useful to students and other stake holders in the field such as researchers and device designers

Photoactive Materials: Synthesis, Applications and Technology

This book presents a collection of 13 original research articles that focus on the science of light–matter interaction. This area of science has been led to some the greatest accomplishments of the past 100 years, with the discovery of materials that perform useful operations by collecting light or generating light from an outside stimulus. These materials are at the center of a multitude of technologies that have permeated our daily life; every day we rely on quantum well lasers for telecommunication, organic light emitting diodes for our displays, complementary metal–oxide–semiconductors for our camera detectors, and of course a plethora of new photovoltaic cells that harvest sunlight to satisfy our energy needs. In this book, top-rated researchers present their latest findings in the field of nano-particles, plasmonics, semi-conductors, magneto-optics, and holography