High Yield Assembly of Compliant MEMS Snap Fasteners

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rakesh Murthy ◽  
Aditya N. Das ◽  
Dan O. Popa
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Deformation Energy ◽  
High Yield ◽  
3 Dimensional ◽  
Lab Experiments ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Robotic Cells ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Important Design

Heterogeneous assembly at the microscale has recently emerged as a viable pathway to constructing 3-dimensional microrobots and other miniaturized devices. In contrast to self-assembly, this method is directed and deterministic, and is based on serial or parallel microassembly. Whereas at the meso and macro scales, automation is often undertaken after, and often benchmarked against manual assembly, we demonstrate that deterministic automation at the MEMS scale can be completed with higher yields through the use of engineered compliance and precision robotic cells. Snap fasteners have long been used as a way to exploit the inherent stability of local minima of the deformation energy caused by interference during part mating. In this paper we assume that the building blocks are 2 1/2 -dimensional, as is the case with lithographically microfabricated MEMS parts. The assembly of the snap fasteners is done using μ3, a multi-robot microassembly station with unique characteristics located at our ARRI’s Texas Microfactory lab. Experiments are performed to demonstrate that fast and reliable assemblies can be expected if the microparts and the robotic cell satisfy a so-called “High Yield Assembly Condition” (H.Y.A.C.). Important design trade-offs for assembly and performance of microsnap fasteners are discussed and experimentally evaluated.

scholarly journals Constructing Large 2D Lattices Out of DNA-Tiles

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 1502
Author(s):  
Johannes M. Parikka ◽  
Karolina Sokołowska ◽  
Nemanja Markešević ◽  
J. Jussi Toppari
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Dna Nanotechnology ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Dna Nanostructures ◽  
Liquid Interfaces ◽  
Basic Principles ◽  
Dna Tiles ◽  
One Step ◽  
Solid Liquid

The predictable nature of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) interactions enables assembly of DNA into almost any arbitrary shape with programmable features of nanometer precision. The recent progress of DNA nanotechnology has allowed production of an even wider gamut of possible shapes with high-yield and error-free assembly processes. Most of these structures are, however, limited in size to a nanometer scale. To overcome this limitation, a plethora of studies has been carried out to form larger structures using DNA assemblies as building blocks or tiles. Therefore, DNA tiles have become one of the most widely used building blocks for engineering large, intricate structures with nanometer precision. To create even larger assemblies with highly organized patterns, scientists have developed a variety of structural design principles and assembly methods. This review first summarizes currently available DNA tile toolboxes and the basic principles of lattice formation and hierarchical self-assembly using DNA tiles. Special emphasis is given to the forces involved in the assembly process in liquid-liquid and at solid-liquid interfaces, and how to master them to reach the optimum balance between the involved interactions for successful self-assembly. In addition, we focus on the recent approaches that have shown great potential for the controlled immobilization and positioning of DNA nanostructures on different surfaces. The ability to position DNA objects in a controllable manner on technologically relevant surfaces is one step forward towards the integration of DNA-based materials into nanoelectronic and sensor devices.

scholarly journals Self-assembled liposomal nanoparticles in photodynamic therapy

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Magesh Sadasivam ◽  
Pinar Avci ◽  
Gaurav K. Gupta ◽  
Shanmugamurthy Lakshmanan ◽  
Rakkiyappan Chandran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Photodynamic Therapy ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
3 Dimensional ◽  
Drug Delivery Vehicles ◽  
Judicious Choice ◽  
Delivery Vehicles ◽  
Self Assembled ◽  
Liposomal Nanoparticles

AbstractPhotodynamic therapy (PDT) employs the combination of non-toxic photosensitizers (PS) together with harmless visible light of the appropriate wavelength to produce reactive oxygen species that kill unwanted cells. Because many PS are hydrophobic molecules prone to aggregation, numerous drug delivery vehicles have been tested to solubilize these molecules, render them biocompatible and enhance the ease of administration after intravenous injection. The recent rise in nanotechnology has markedly expanded the range of these nanoparticulate delivery vehicles beyond the well-established liposomes and micelles. Self-assembled nanoparticles are formed by judicious choice of monomer building blocks that spontaneously form a well-oriented 3-dimensional structure that incorporates the PS when subjected to the appropriate conditions. This self-assembly process is governed by a subtle interplay of forces on the molecular level. This review will cover the state of the art in the preparation and use of self-assembled liposomal nanoparticles within the context of PDT.

scholarly journals Novel roles for well-known players: from tobacco mosaic virus pests to enzymatically active assemblies

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 613-629 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Koch ◽  
Fabian J Eber ◽  
Carlos Azucena ◽  
Alexander Förste ◽  
Stefan Walheim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tobacco Mosaic Virus ◽  
Mosaic Virus ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Mosaic Disease ◽  
Inorganic Materials ◽  
High Yield ◽  
External Control ◽  
Immobilization Of Enzymes

The rod-shaped nanoparticles of the widespread plant pathogentobacco mosaic virus(TMV) have been a matter of intense debates and cutting-edge research for more than a hundred years. During the late 19th century, their behavior in filtration tests applied to the agent causing the 'plant mosaic disease' eventually led to the discrimination of viruses from bacteria. Thereafter, they promoted the development of biophysical cornerstone techniques such as electron microscopy and ultracentrifugation. Since the 1950s, the robust, helically arranged nucleoprotein complexes consisting of a single RNA and more than 2100 identical coat protein subunits have enabled molecular studies which have pioneered the understanding of viral replication and self-assembly, and elucidated major aspects of virus–host interplay, which can lead to agronomically relevant diseases. However, during the last decades, TMV has acquired a new reputation as a well-defined high-yield nanotemplate with multivalent protein surfaces, allowing for an ordered high-density presentation of multiple active molecules or synthetic compounds. Amino acid side chains exposed on the viral coat may be tailored genetically or biochemically to meet the demands for selective conjugation reactions, or to directly engineer novel functionality on TMV-derived nanosticks. The natural TMV size (length: 300 nm) in combination with functional ligands such as peptides, enzymes, dyes, drugs or inorganic materials is advantageous for applications ranging from biomedical imaging and therapy approaches over surface enlargement of battery electrodes to the immobilization of enzymes. TMV building blocks are also amenable to external control of in vitro assembly and re-organization into technically expedient new shapes or arrays, which bears a unique potential for the development of 'smart' functional 3D structures. Among those, materials designed for enzyme-based biodetection layouts, which are routinely applied, e.g., for monitoring blood sugar concentrations, might profit particularly from the presence of TMV rods: Their surfaces were recently shown to stabilize enzymatic activities upon repeated consecutive uses and over several weeks. This review gives the reader a ride through strikingly diverse achievements obtained with TMV-based particles, compares them to the progress with related viruses, and focuses on latest results revealing special advantages for enzyme-based biosensing formats, which might be of high interest for diagnostics employing 'systems-on-a-chip'.

scholarly journals Bottom-Up Fabrication of Protein Nanowires via Controlled Self-Assembly of Recombinant Geobacter Pilins

mBio ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
K. M. Cosert ◽  
Angelines Castro-Forero ◽  
Rebecca J. Steidl ◽  
Robert M. Worden ◽  
G. Reguera
Keyword(s):  
Electronic Properties ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Geobacter Sulfurreducens ◽  
Helical Conformation ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Efficient Production ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACT Metal-reducing bacteria in the genus Geobacter use a complex protein apparatus to guide the self-assembly of a divergent type IVa pilin peptide and synthesize conductive pilus appendages that show promise for the sustainable manufacturing of protein nanowires. The preferential helical conformation of the Geobacter pilin, its high hydrophobicity, and precise distribution of charged and aromatic amino acids are critical for biological self-assembly and conductivity. We applied this knowledge to synthesize via recombinant methods truncated pilin peptides for the bottom-up fabrication of protein nanowires and identified rate-limiting steps of pilin nucleation and fiber elongation that control assembly efficiency and nanowire length, respectively. The synthetic fibers retained the biochemical and electronic properties of the native pili even under chemical fixation, a critical consideration for integration of the nanowires into electronic devices. The implications of these results for the design and mass production of customized protein nanowires for diverse applications are discussed. IMPORTANCE The discovery in 2005 of conductive protein appendages (pili) in the metal-reducing bacterium Geobacter sulfurreducens challenged our understanding of biological electron transfer and pioneered studies in electromicrobiology that revealed the electronic basis of many microbial metabolisms and interactions. The protein nature of the pili afforded opportunities for engineering novel conductive peptides for the synthesis of nanowires via cost-effective and scalable manufacturing approaches. However, methods did not exist for efficient production, purification, and in vitro assembly of pilins into nanowires. Here we describe platforms for high-yield recombinant synthesis of Geobacter pilin derivatives and their assembly as protein nanowires with biochemical and electronic properties rivaling those of the native pili. The bottom-up fabrication of protein nanowires exclusively from pilin building blocks confirms unequivocally the charge transport capacity of the peptide assembly and establishes the intellectual foundation needed to manufacture pilin-based nanowires in bioelectronics and other applications.

scholarly journals Frustrated self-assembly of non-Euclidean crystals of nanoparticles

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Serafin ◽  
Jun Lu ◽  
Nicholas Kotov ◽  
Kai Sun ◽  
Xiaoming Mao
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
The Self ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Complex Structures ◽  
Interparticle Interactions ◽  
Viral Capsids ◽  
Self Organized ◽  
New Material

AbstractSelf-organized complex structures in nature, e.g., viral capsids, hierarchical biopolymers, and bacterial flagella, offer efficiency, adaptability, robustness, and multi-functionality. Can we program the self-assembly of three-dimensional (3D) complex structures using simple building blocks, and reach similar or higher level of sophistication in engineered materials? Here we present an analytic theory for the self-assembly of polyhedral nanoparticles (NPs) based on their crystal structures in non-Euclidean space. We show that the unavoidable geometrical frustration of these particle shapes, combined with competing attractive and repulsive interparticle interactions, lead to controllable self-assembly of structures of complex order. Applying this theory to tetrahedral NPs, we find high-yield and enantiopure self-assembly of helicoidal ribbons, exhibiting qualitative agreement with experimental observations. We expect that this theory will offer a general framework for the self-assembly of simple polyhedral building blocks into rich complex morphologies with new material capabilities such as tunable optical activity, essential for multiple emerging technologies.

scholarly journals Predictive Self-Assembly of Complex Crystals via Building Block Design

2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (a1) ◽  
pp. C1537-C1537
Author(s):  
Pablo Damasceno ◽  
Michael Engel ◽  
Sharon Glotzer
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Computational Studies ◽  
Local Structures ◽  
Polyhedral Particles ◽  
Dense Fluid ◽  
Complex Crystals

A primary challenge for the development of bulk, scalable, and high yield materials with interesting properties is the limited number of structures that can be obtained via self-assembly of nano and micrometer sized particles. Systematic and extensive computational studies of hard polyhedral particles have demonstrated that anisotropy of the building blocks can be a viable route for increasing variability of assembled patterns [1, 2, 3]. Interestingly, the types of structures assembled from this method were shown to be predictable from information contained already in the dense fluid, prior to crystallization. In this talk, the role of such local structures for self-assembly will be rationalized and we will demonstrate how this information can be used as a strategy for design of crystalline and quasicrystalline patterns for both symmetric and asymmetric particles.

scholarly journals Formulation of tunable size PLGA-PEG nanoparticles for drug delivery using microfluidic technology

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. e0251821
Author(s):  
Adrianna Glinkowska Mares ◽  
Gaia Pacassoni ◽  
Josep Samitier Marti ◽  
Silvia Pujals ◽  
Lorenzo Albertazzi
Keyword(s):  
Drug Delivery ◽  
Particle Size ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Drug Loading ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Bulk Analysis ◽  
Fine Control ◽  
Advanced Analysis ◽  
And Performance

Amphiphilic block co-polymer nanoparticles are interesting candidates for drug delivery as a result of their unique properties such as the size, modularity, biocompatibility and drug loading capacity. They can be rapidly formulated in a nanoprecipitation process based on self-assembly, resulting in kinetically locked nanostructures. The control over this step allows us to obtain nanoparticles with tailor-made properties without modification of the co-polymer building blocks. Furthermore, a reproducible and controlled formulation supports better predictability of a batch effectiveness in preclinical tests. Herein, we compared the formulation of PLGA-PEG nanoparticles using the typical manual bulk mixing and a microfluidic chip-assisted nanoprecipitation. The particle size tunability and controllability in a hydrodynamic flow focusing device was demonstrated to be greater than in the manual dropwise addition method. We also analyzed particle size and encapsulation of fluorescent compounds, using the common bulk analysis and advanced microscopy techniques: Transmission Electron Microscopy and Total Internal Reflection Microscopy, to reveal the heterogeneities occurred in the formulated nanoparticles. Finally, we performed in vitro evaluation of obtained NPs using MCF-7 cell line. Our results show how the microfluidic formulation improves the fine control over the resulting nanoparticles, without compromising any appealing property of PLGA nanoparticle. The combination of microfluidic formulation with advanced analysis methods, looking at the single particle level, can improve the understanding of the NP properties, heterogeneities and performance.

scholarly journals Magnetic handshake materials as a scale-invariant platform for programmed self-assembly

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (49) ◽  
pp. 24402-24407 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ran Niu ◽  
Chrisy Xiyu Du ◽  
Edward Esposito ◽  
Jakin Ng ◽  
Michael P. Brenner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Specific Binding ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Binding Energies ◽  
Scale Invariant ◽  
Controlled Polymerization ◽  
Magnetic Dipoles ◽  
3 Dimensional ◽  
Assembly Instructions ◽  
Mechanical Elements

Programmable self-assembly of smart, digital, and structurally complex materials from simple components at size scales from the macro to the nano remains a long-standing goal of material science. Here, we introduce a platform based on magnetic encoding of information to drive programmable self-assembly that works across length scales. Our building blocks consist of panels with different patterns of magnetic dipoles that are capable of specific binding. Because the ratios of the different panel-binding energies are scale-invariant, this approach can, in principle, be applied down to the nanometer scale. Using a centimeter-sized version of these panels, we demonstrate 3 canonical hallmarks of assembly: controlled polymerization of individual building blocks; assembly of 1-dimensional strands made of panels connected by elastic backbones into secondary structures; and hierarchical assembly of 2-dimensional nets into 3-dimensional objects. We envision that magnetic encoding of assembly instructions into primary structures of panels, strands, and nets will lead to the formation of secondary and even tertiary structures that transmit information, act as mechanical elements, or function as machines on scales ranging from the nano to the macro.

Wood and Paper as Materials for the 21st Century

2009 ◽  
Vol 1187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Jones ◽  
Theodore H Wegner
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Hierarchical Structures ◽  
High Strength ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Forest Products Industry ◽  
Strength Performance ◽  
New Science ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Long Fibers

AbstractWood and paper are ubiquitous in societies around the world and are largely taken for granted as part of traditional industries with no new science to learn. Many of the technologies used in the forest products industry have been gained empirically through experience. The complexities of wood are now yielding to newer tools and we are beginning to see how the mechanical, optical and other physical properties of wood are related to hierarchical structures based on 2 to 10 nm diameter several hundred nm long fibers of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC). The liberation of these NCC’s is allowing their re-assembly into remarkably strong structures. Examples will be given of the nature of these building blocks and structures assembled from them. Examples will include nanocomposites as well as very high strength “paper”. Paper is another example of a process whereby nanofibrils are released and then re-assembled with the use of “retention, drainage and formation aides” to make substrates we call paper with remarkable strength to weight performance. Other disciplines call this process “self-assembly” and the “aids” as necessary surfactants and additives to control structure and performance. Glossy magazine papers, for example, have approximately 10 micron thick coatings of white minerals and latex binders which are increasingly of nano dimensions. The coatings are assembled in structures to provide optical barrier performance (opacity) as well as controlled ink interaction with the necessary strength to survive printing and handling. These coatings are frequently similar in structure to seashells and, from this knowledge, progress has been made in understanding the mechanisms at play in achieving higher strength coatings. More recently kaolin clays have been introduced with mean crystal thicknesses in the range 20 to 40 nm instead of the usual 100 to 140 nm. These clays show useful strength performance and represent what may be called pragmatic nanoclays. Novel chemistries based on biomimetic learnings are emerging to displace the conventional starch or latex binders. Examples will be given of protocols for moving toward higher strength systems.

Nanoscale Self-Assembly Using Ion and Electron Beam Techniques: A Rapid Review

MRS Advances ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (64) ◽  
pp. 3507-3520
Author(s):  
Chunhui Dai ◽  
Kriti Agarwal ◽  
Jeong-Hyun Cho
Keyword(s):  
Electron Beam ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Ion Beam ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
The Self ◽  
Stress Generation ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
High Yield ◽  
3D Nanostructures ◽  
Self Assembled

AbstractNanoscale self-assembly, as a technique to transform two-dimensional (2D) planar patterns into three-dimensional (3D) nanoscale architectures, has achieved tremendous success in the past decade. However, an assembly process at nanoscale is easily affected by small unavoidable variations in sample conditions and reaction environment, resulting in a low yield. Recently, in-situ monitored self-assembly based on ion and electron irradiation has stood out as a promising candidate to overcome this limitation. The usage of ion and electron beam allows stress generation and real-time observation simultaneously, which significantly enhances the controllability of self-assembly. This enables the realization of various complex 3D nanostructures with a high yield. The additional dimension of the self-assembled 3D nanostructures opens the possibility to explore novel properties that cannot be demonstrated in 2D planar patterns. Here, we present a rapid review on the recent achievements and challenges in nanoscale self-assembly using electron and ion beam techniques, followed by a discussion of the novel optical properties achieved in the self-assembled 3D nanostructures.

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