Permanent polymer bonding for MEMS device fabrication and packaging applications

Permanent wafer bonding with polymers as intermediate adhesive layers plays an important role in fabrication for MEMS systems such as integrated circuits and packaging applications. Polymer adhesive wafer bonding has gained much interest due to its low cost, robust and simple fabrication process. Low temperature bonding has gain importance as elevated temperatures may result in damage to device and affect operation. In this project, low temperature bonding processes using polymers such as Benzocyclobutene (BCB) and Parylene C are presented. Wafers were bonded with both patterned BCB and blanket BCB. Experiment parameters are also presented to achieve an almost void-free bonding with BCB as adhesive layer. Excellent bond quality and strength have also been achieved with BCB with a minimum requirement temperature of 180°C for bonding. BCB bonding are done at 180, 200 and 250°C for 1 hour. Experiment steps for Parylene-to-Silicon patterned bonding are presented with bonding temperatures of 200, 230 and 250°C for 30 minutes. Besides bonding quality, shear strength testing is also conducted and results are presented in the report.Bachelor of Engineerin

Targeted EpCAM-binding for the development of potent and effective anticancer proteins

Protein-based cancer therapies are considered an alternative to conventional anticancer regimens, providing multifunctional properties while showing low toxicity. However, its widespread use is limited by absorption and instability issues, resulting in higher dosage requirements and a prolonged onset of bioactivity to elicit the desired response. Here, we developed a non-invasive antitumor treatment using designed ankyrin repeat protein (DARPin)-anticancer protein-conjugate that specifically targets the cancer biomarker, epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM). The DARPin-anticancer proteins bind to EpCAM-positive cancer cells and improve the in vitro anticancer efficacy by over 100-folds within 24 h, where the DARPin-tagged human lactoferrin fragment (drtHLF4) IC50 value is within the nanomolar range. Orally administered drtHLF4 was readily absorbed into the systemic flow of the HT-29 cancer murine model, exerting its anticancer effect on other tumors in the host body. Orally administered drtHFL4 cleared HT29-colorectal tumors using a single dose, whereas intratumoral injection cleared HT29-subcutaneous tumors within three doses. This approach addresses the limitations of other protein-based anticancer treatments by providing a non-invasive anticancer therapy with improved potency and tumor-specificity