All-polymer microelectrode fabrication via high-throughput soft embossing

Micro and Nano Engineerin

Compliant Fluidic Control Structures: Concept and synthesis approach

The concept and synthesis approach for planar Compliant Fluidic Control Structures (CFCSs), monolithic flexible continua with embedded functional pores, is presented in this manuscript. Such structures are envisioned to find application in biomedicine as tunable microfluidic devices for drug/nutrient delivery. The functional pores enlarge and/or contract upon deformation of the compliant structure in response to external stimuli, facilitating the regulated control of fluid/nutrient/drug transport. A thickness design variable based topology optimization problem is formulated to generate effective designs of these structures. An objective based on hydraulic diameter(s) is conceptualized, and it is extremized using a gradient based optimizer. Both geometrical and material nonlinearities are considered. The nonlinear behaviour of employed hyperelastic material is modeled via the Arruda-Boyce constitutive material model. Large-displacement finite element analysis is performed using the updated Lagrangian formulation in plane-stress setting. The proposed synthesis approach is applied to various CFCSs for a variety of fluidic control functionalities. The optimized designs of various CFCSs with single and/or multiple functional pores are fabricated via a Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) soft lithography process, using a high precision 3D printed mold and their performances are compared with the numerical predictions.Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository ‘You share, we take care!’ – Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.Structural Optimization and MechanicsMicro and Nano Engineerin

High throughput soft embossing process for micro-patterning of PEDOT thin films

The patterning of conductive polymers is a major challenge in the implementation of these materials in several research and industrial applications, spanning from photovoltaics to biosensors. Within this context, we have developed a reliable technique to pattern a thin layer of the conductive polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) by means of a low cost and high throughput soft embossing process. We were able to reproduce a functional conductive pattern with a minimum dimension of 1 μm and to fabricate electrically decoupled electrodes. Moreover, the conductivity of the PEDOT films has been characterized, finding that a post-processing treatment with Ethylene Glycol allows an increase in conductivity and a decrease in water solubility of the PEDOT film. Finally, cyclic voltammetry demonstrates that the post-treatment also ensures the electrochemical activity of the film. Our technology offers a facile solution for the patterning of organic conductors with resolution in the micro scale, and can be the basis for the realization and development of polymeric microdevices with electrical and electrochemical functionalities.Accepted Author ManuscriptMicro and Nano Engineerin

DNA-functionalized solid state nanopore for biosensing

The possible use of nanopores for single DNA molecules biosensing has been demonstrated, but much remains to do in order to develop advanced engineered devices with enhanced stability, and controlled geometry and surface properties. Here we present morphological and electrical characterization of solid state silicon nitride nanopores fabricated by focused ion beam direct milling and chemically functionalized by probe oligonucleotides, with the final aim of developing a versatile tool for biosensing and gene expression profiling

Development of a polymeric device for gene expression profiling

We report the description af a new low cost method to create a device based on a chemically modified nanopore created on a polymeric membrane. Using Soft-Lithography and Nanofabrication it can be possible to create a nanopore on a free standing polymeric membrane. After oligonucleotide functionalization of the lumen of the nanopore it is possible to detect specific sequences of DNA, thanks to the hybridization properties of the double helix. The sensing principle is based on transient interruptions in the ion-current induced by entry, transport and exit of a particular analyte from the pore

Solid State nanopores for gene expression profiling

Recently, nanopore technology has been introduced for genome analysis. Here we show results related to the possibility of preparing \u201cengineered solid state nanopores\u201d. The nanopores were fabricated on a suspended Si3N4 membrane by Focused Ion Beam (FIB) drilling and chemically functionalized in order to covalently bind oligonucleotides (probes) on their surface. Our data show the stable effect of DNA attachment on the ionic current measured through the nanopore, making it possible to conceive and develop a selective biosensor for gene expression profiling