scholarly journals Transfer Printing of Conductive Thin Films on PDMS with Soluble Substrates for Flexible Biosensors

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 47
Author(s):  
Steffen Hadeler ◽  
Sebastian Bengsch ◽  
Maren S. Prediger ◽  
Marc Christopher Wurz

The resolution of commercially available electrocorticography (ECoG) electrodes is limited due to the large electrode spacing and, therefore, allows only a limited identification of the active nerve cell area. This paper describes a novel manufacturing process for neural implants with higher spatial resolution combining micro technological processes and Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as the flexible, biocompatible material. The conductive electrode structure is deposited on a water-soluble transfer substrate by Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) processes. Subsequently, the structure is contacted. Finally, the transfer to PDMS and dissolution of the transfer substrate takes place. In this way, high-resolution conductive structures can be produced on the PDMS. Transferred gold structures exhibit higher adhesion and conductivity than transferred platinum structures. The adhesion was improved by applying a silica surface modification to the conductive layer prior to transferring. Furthermore, the conductive layer is flexible, conductive up to an elongation of 10%, and resistant to sodium chloride solution, mimicking brain fluids. Using the introduced production process, an ECoG electrode was manufactured and characterized for its functionality in an electrochemical impedance measurement. Furthermore, the electrodes are flexible enough to adapt to different shapes. The transfer process can also be carried out in a three-dimensional mold to produce electrodes tailored to the individual patient.

Author(s):  
B. Carragher ◽  
M. Whittaker

Techniques for three-dimensional reconstruction of macromolecular complexes from electron micrographs have been successfully used for many years. These include methods which take advantage of the natural symmetry properties of the structure (for example helical or icosahedral) as well as those that use single axis or other tilting geometries to reconstruct from a set of projection images. These techniques have traditionally relied on a very experienced operator to manually perform the often numerous and time consuming steps required to obtain the final reconstruction. While the guidance and oversight of an experienced and critical operator will always be an essential component of these techniques, recent advances in computer technology, microprocessor controlled microscopes and the availability of high quality CCD cameras have provided the means to automate many of the individual steps.During the acquisition of data automation provides benefits not only in terms of convenience and time saving but also in circumstances where manual procedures limit the quality of the final reconstruction.


2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 156-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renáta Gregová ◽  
Lívia Körtvélyessy ◽  
Július Zimmermann

Universals Archive (Universal #1926) indicates a universal tendency for sound symbolism in reference to the expression of diminutives and augmentatives. The research ( Štekauer et al. 2009 ) carried out on European languages has not proved the tendency at all. Therefore, our research was extended to cover three language families – Indo-European, Niger-Congo and Austronesian. A three-step analysis examining different aspects of phonetic symbolism was carried out on a core vocabulary of 35 lexical items. A research sample was selected out of 60 languages. The evaluative markers were analyzed according to both phonetic classification of vowels and consonants and Ultan's and Niewenhuis' conclusions on the dominance of palatal and post-alveolar consonants in diminutive markers. Finally, the data obtained in our sample languages was evaluated by means of a three-dimensional model illustrating the place of articulation of the individual segments.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zehua Zheng ◽  
Kazuhiro Kawakami ◽  
Dingkun Zhang ◽  
Lumi Negishi ◽  
Mohamed Abomosallam ◽  
...  

AbstractThe Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, is a traditional food worldwide. The soft body of the oyster can easily accumulate heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd). To clarify the molecular mechanism of Cd accumulation in the viscera of C. gigas, we identified Cd-binding proteins. 5,10,15,20-Tetraphenyl-21H,23H-porphinetetrasulfonic acid, disulfuric acid, tetrahydrate, and Cd-binding competition experiments using immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography revealed the binding of water-soluble high molecular weight proteins to Cd, including C. gigas protein disulfide isomerase (cgPDI). Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) analyses revealed two CGHC motifs in cgPDI. The binding between Cd and rcgPDI was confirmed through a Cd-binding experiment using the TPPS method. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) revealed the binding of two Cd ions to one molecule of rcgPDI. Circular dichroism (CD) spectrum and tryptophan fluorescence analyses demonstrated that the rcgPDI bound to Cd. The binding markedly changed the two-dimensional or three-dimensional structures. The activity of rcgPDI measured by a PDI Activity Assay Kit was more affected by the addition of Cd than by human PDI. Immunological analyses indicated that C. gigas contained cgPDI at a concentration of 1.0 nmol/g (viscera wet weight). The combination of ITC and quantification results revealed that Cd-binding to cgPDI accounted for 20% of the total bound Cd in the visceral mass. The findings provide new insights into the defense mechanisms of invertebrates against Cd.


Membranes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 536
Author(s):  
Shaojian He ◽  
Zhongrui Lu ◽  
Wenxu Dai ◽  
Kangning Yang ◽  
Yang Xue ◽  
...  

Phosphotungstic acid (HPW)-filled composite proton exchange membranes possess high proton conductivity under low relative humidity (RH). However, the leaching of HPW limits their wide application. Herein, we propose a novel approach for anchoring water soluble phosphotungstic acid (HPW) by polydopamine (PDA) coated graphene oxide and halloysite nanotubes (DGO and DHNTs) in order to construct hybrid three-dimensional proton transport networks in a sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) membrane. The introduction of PDA on the surfaces of the hybrid fillers could provide hydroxyl groups and secondary amine groups to anchor HPW, resulting in the uniform dispersion of HPW in the SPEEK matrix. The SPEEK/DGO/DHNTs/HPW (90/5/5/60) composite membrane exhibited higher water uptake and much better conductivity than the SPEEK membrane at low relative humidity. The best conductivity reached wass 0.062 S cm−1 for the composite membrane, which is quite stable during the water immersion test.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 77
Author(s):  
Md Sazzad Hosen ◽  
Rahul Gopalakrishnan ◽  
Theodoros Kalogiannis ◽  
Joris Jaguemont ◽  
Joeri Van Mierlo ◽  
...  

In electrified vehicle applications, understanding the battery characteristics is of great importance as it is the state-of-art principal energy source. The key battery parameters can be identified by one of the robust and nondestructive characterization techniques, such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). However, relaxing the battery cell before performing the EIS method is crucial for the characterization results to be standardized. In this study, the three most common and commercially available lithium-ion technologies (NMC/graphite, LFP/graphite, NCA/LTO) are investigated at 15–45 °C temperature, in the range of 20–80% state of charge (SoC) and in fresh and aged state of health (SoH) conditions. The analysis shows that the duration of the relaxation time before impedance measurement has an impact on the battery’s nonlinear behavior. A rest time of 2 h can be proposed, irrespective of battery health condition, considering neutral technology-based impedance measurement. An impedance growth in ohmic and charge transfer characteristics was found, due to aging, and the effect of rest periods was also analyzed from an electrochemical standpoint. This experimental data was fitted to develop an empirical model, which can predict the nonlinear dynamics of lithium technologies with a 4–8% relative error for longer rest time.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
Sorel E. De Leon ◽  
Lana Cleuren ◽  
Zay Yar Oo ◽  
Paul R. Stoddart ◽  
Sally L. McArthur

Three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures have recently emerged as tools for biologically modelling the human body. As 3D models make their way into laboratories there is a need to develop characterisation techniques that are sensitive enough to monitor the cells in real time and without the need for chemical labels. Impedance spectroscopy has been shown to address both of these challenges, but there has been little research into the full impedance spectrum and how the different components of the system affect the impedance signal. Here we investigate the impedance of human fibroblast cells in 2D and 3D collagen gel cultures across a broad range of frequencies (10 Hz to 5 MHz) using a commercial well with in-plane electrodes. At low frequencies in both 2D and 3D models it was observed that protein adsorption influences the magnitude of the impedance for the cell-free samples. This effect was eliminated once cells were introduced to the systems. Cell proliferation could be monitored in 2D at intermediate frequencies (30 kHz). However, the in-plane electrodes were unable to detect any changes in the impedance at any frequency when the cells were cultured in the 3D collagen gel. The results suggest that in designing impedance measurement devices, both the nature and distribution of the cells within the 3D culture as well as the architecture of the electrodes are key variables.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 1118-1136
Author(s):  
Zhenjia Huang ◽  
Gary Chi-Pong Tsui ◽  
Yu Deng ◽  
Chak-Yin Tang

AbstractMicro/nano-fabrication technology via two-photon polymerization (TPP) nanolithography is a powerful and useful manufacturing tool that is capable of generating two dimensional (2D) to three dimensional (3D) arbitrary micro/nano-structures of various materials with a high spatial resolution. This technology has received tremendous interest in cell and tissue engineering and medical microdevices because of its remarkable fabrication capability for sophisticated structures from macro- to nano-scale, which are difficult to be achieved by traditional methods with limited microarchitecture controllability. To fabricate precisely designed 3D micro/nano-structures for biomedical applications via TPP nanolithography, the use of photoinitiators (PIs) and photoresists needs to be considered comprehensively and systematically. In this review, widely used commercially available PIs are first discussed, followed by elucidating synthesis strategies of water-soluble initiators for biomedical applications. In addition to the conventional photoresists, the distinctive properties of customized stimulus-responsive photoresists are discussed. Finally, current limitations and challenges in the material and fabrication aspects and an outlook for future prospects of TPP for biomedical applications based on different biocompatible photosensitive composites are discussed comprehensively. In all, this review provides a basic understanding of TPP technology and important roles of PIs and photoresists for fabricating high-precision stimulus-responsive micro/nano-structures for a wide range of biomedical applications.


2013 ◽  
Vol 05 (01) ◽  
pp. 1350002 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Benedetti ◽  
F. Barbe

A survey of recent contributions on three-dimensional grain-scale mechanical modelling of polycrystalline materials is given in this work. The analysis of material micro-structures requires the generation of reliable micro-morphologies and affordable computational meshes as well as the description of the mechanical behavior of the elementary constituents and their interactions. The polycrystalline microstructure is characterized by the topology, morphology and crystallographic orientations of the individual grains and by the grain interfaces and microstructural defects, within the bulk grains and at the inter-granular interfaces. Their analysis has been until recently restricted to two-dimensional cases, due to high computational requirements. In the last decade, however, the wider affordability of increased computational capability has promoted the development of fully three-dimensional models. In this work, different aspects involved in the grain-scale analysis of polycrystalline materials are considered. Different techniques for generating artificial micro-structures, ranging from highly idealized to experimentally based high-fidelity representations, are briefly reviewed. Structured and unstructured meshes are discussed. The main strategies for constitutive modelling of individual bulk grains and inter-granular interfaces are introduced. Some attention has also been devoted to three-dimensional multiscale approaches and some established and emerging applications have been discussed.


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