Micro-systems for Optical Protein-Chip

Protein-Chip as micro-assays for the determination of protein interaction, the analysis, the identification and the purification of proteins has large potential applications. The Optical Protein-Chip is able to detect the multi-interaction of proteins and multi-bio-activities of molecules directly and simultaneously with no labeling. The chip is a small matrix on solid substrate containing multi-micro-area prepared by microfabrication with photolithography or soft lithography for surface patterning, and processed with surface modification which includes the physical, chemical, and bio-chemical modifications, etc. The ligand immobilization, such as protein immobilization, especially the oriented immobilization with low steric hindrance and high bio-specific binding activity between ligand and receptor is used to form a sensing surface. Each area of the pattern is corresponding to only one bioactivity. The interval between the areas is non-bioactive and optically extinctive. The affinity between proteins is used to realize non-labeling microassays for the determination of protein identification and protein interaction. The sampling of the chip is non-disturbing, performed with imaging ellipsometry and image processing on a database of proteins.

Solute transport in nanochannels with roughness-like structures

Newfound attention has been given to solute transport in nanochannels. Because the electric double layer (EDL) thickness is comparable to characteristic channel dimensions, nanochannels have been used to separate ionic species with a constant charge-to-size ratio (i.e., electrophoretic mobility) that otherwise cannot be separated in electroosmotic or pressure- driven flow along microchannels. In nanochannels, the electrical fields within the EDL cause transverse ion distributions and thus yield charge-dependent mean ion speeds in the flow. Surface roughness is usually inevitable during microfabrication of microchannels or nanochannels. Surface roughness is usually inevitable during the fabrication of nanochannels. In the present study, we develop a numerical model to investigate the transport of charged solutes in nanochannels with hundreds of roughness-like structures. The model is based on continuum theory that couples Navier-Stokes equations for flows, Poisson-Boltzmann equation for electrical fields, and Nernst-Planck equation for solute transports. Different operating conditions are considered and the solute transport patterns in rough channels are compared with those in smooth channels. Results indicate that solutes move slower in rough nanochannels than in smooth ones for both pressure- driven and electroosmotic flows. Moreover, solute separation can be significantly improved by surface roughness under certain circumstances.

Micromachining Of Passive Planar Micromixer On Poly (Methyl Methacrylate) Substrate With Excimer Laser Ablation

Excimer laser ablation technique was introduced into this work to fabricate a passive planar micromixer on the PMMA substrate. T-junction shaped and width-changed S-shaped microchannels were both designed in this micromixer to enhance mixing effect. The mixing experiment of distilled water and Rhodamine B with injection flow rate of 500 and 1,500 mu m/s validates the mixing effectivity of this micromixer, and indicates the feasibility of excimer laser ablation in the microfabrication of mu-TAS device.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrate fabricated by femtosecond laser direct writing

We report the fabrication of a novel surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate with a controllable enhancement factor (EF) using femtosecond laser direct writing on Ag+-doped phosphate glass followed by chemical plating at similar to 40 degrees C. Silver seeds were first photoreduced using a femtosecond laser in a laser-irradiated area and then transformed into silver nanoparticles of suitable size for SERS application in the subsequent chemical plating. Rhodamine 6G was used as a probing molecule to investigate the enhancement effect of a Raman signal on the substrate. Nearly homogenous enhancement of the Raman signal over the Substrate was achieved, and the EF of the substrate was controlled to some extent by adjusting fabrication parameters. Moreover, the ability of forming a SERS platform in an embedded microfluidic chamber would be of great use for establishing a compact lab-on-a-chip device based on Raman analysis.

TWO-DIMENSIONAL ARRAY OF ION TRAPS ON A PLANAR CHIP

We investigate a planar ion chip design with a two-dimensional array of linear ion traps for the scalable quantum information processor. The segmented electrodes reside in a single plane on a substrate and a grounded metal plate, a combination of appropriate rf and DC potentials are applied to them for stable ion confinement, and the trap axes are located above the surface at a distance controlled by the electrodes' lateral extent and the substrate's height as discussed. The potential distributions are calculated using static electric field qualitatively. This architecture is conceptually simple and many current microfabrication techniques are feasible for the basic structure. It may provide a promising route for scalable quantum computers.

Enhancement of three-photon absorption cross-sections in a novel class of symmetrical charge transfer fluorene-based molecules

The three-photon absorption effect (3PA) of two novel symmetrical charge transfer fluorene-based molecules (abbreviated as BASF and BMOSF) has been determined by using a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser pumped with 38 ps pulses at 1064 nm in DMF. The measured 3PA cross-sections are 84 x 10(-78) and 114 x 10(-78) cm(6) s(2), respectively. The geometries and electronic excitations of these two molecules are systematically studied by PM3 and ZINDO/S methods. The relationships between 3PA cross-sections and intramolecular charge transfer are discussed micromechanically. The experimental and theoretical results have shown that the larger intramolecular charge transfer, which was characterized by the charge density difference between the ground state (SO) and the first excited state (S-I), the greater enhancement of the 3PA cross-sections. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Large three-photon absorption cross-section in a novel class of bis-(N-carbazolyl) fluorene derivatives

Two novel symmetrical charge transfer fluorene derivatives (abbreviated as BCZF and BVCZF) with carbazole end-group as the donor moieties have been synthesized. Three-photon absorption cross-sections of these two compounds have been determined by using a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser pumped with 38 ps pulses at 1064 nm in DMF. The measured 3PA cross-sections are 140 x 10(-78) and 400 x 10(-78) cm(6) s(2) for BCZF and BVCZF, respectively. The geometries, electronic structures and electronic spectra of these two compounds are systematically studied by AM1 and ZINDO/S methods. On the basis of correct UV-vis spectra, the influence of different molecular structure on three-photon absorption cross-sections is discussed micromechanically. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Blue upconversion luminescence generation in Ce3+: Gd2SiO5 crystals by infrared femtosecond laser irradiation

Blue frequency-upconversion fluorescence emission has been observed in Ce3+-doped Gd2SiO5 single crystals, pumped with 120-fs 800 nm IR laser pulses. The observed fluorescence emission peaks at about 440nm is due to 5d -> 4f transition of Ce3+ ions. The intensity dependence of the blue fluorescence emission on the IR excitation laser power obeys the cubic law, demonstrating three-photon absorption process. Analysis suggested that three-photon simultaneous absorption induced population inversion should be the predominant frequency upconversion mechanism. (c) 2006 Optical Society of America.

Photoreduction of Ag+ in aluminoborate glasses induced by irradiation of a femtosecond laser

We report on photoreduction of Ag+ in aluminoborate glasses induced by irradiation of a femtosecond laser. Novel fluorescence was observed in the femtosecond laser irradiated glass when excited by a 365 nm ultraviolet lamp. Optical absorption, emission, and electron spin resonance spectra of the glass samples demonstrated that after the laser irradiation, portions of silver ions near the focused part of the laser beam inside the glass were reduced to silver atoms, which resulted in the formation of the characteristic fluorescence. The observed phenomenon may have promising applications in the fabrication of functional optical devices.

Fabrication of a miniature twin-fuel-cell on silicon wafer

The fabrication and performance evaluation of a miniature twin-fuel-cell on silicon wafers are presented in this paper. The miniature twin-fuel-cell was fabricated in series using two membrane-electrode-assemblies sandwiched between two silicon substrates in which electric current, reactant, and product flow. The novel structure of the miniature twin-fuel-cell is that the electricity interconnect from the cathode of one cell to the anode of another cell is made on the same plane. The interconnect was fabricated by sputtering a layer of copper over a layer of gold on the top of the silicon wafer. Silicon dioxide was deposited on the silicon wafer adjacent to the copper layer to prevent short-circuiting between the twin cells. The feed holes and channels in the silicon wafers were prepared by anisotropic silicon etching from the back and front of the wafer with silicon dioxide acting as intrinsic etch-stop layer. Operating on dry H-2/O-2 at 25 degreesC and atmospheric pressure, the measured peak power density was 190.4 mW/cm(2) at 270 mA/cm(2) for the miniature twin-fuel-cell using a Nafion 112 membrane. Based on the polarization curves of the twin-fuel-cell and the two single cells, the interconnect resistance between the twin cells was calculated to be in the range from 0.0113 Omega (at 10 mA/cm(2)) to 0.0150 Omega (at 300 mA/cm(2)), which is relatively low. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Pattern formation in a confined polymer film induced by a temperature gradient

We have studied a morphological instability of a double layer comprising the polymer film and air gap confined between the two plates set to different temperatures. The temperature gradient across the double layer causes the breakup of the polymer film into well-defined columnar, striped or spiral structures spanning the two plates. The pattern formation mechanisms have been discussed. The formed patterns can be transferred to produce PDMS stamp, a key element of soft lithography for future microfabrication.

Direct micropatterning of polymer materials by ice mold

Micropatterning of functional polymer materials by micromolding in capillaries (MIMIC) with ice mold is reported in this paper. Ice mold was selected due to its thaw or sublimation. Thus, the mold can be easily removed. Furthermore, the polymer solution did not react with, swell, or adhere to the ice mold, so the method is suitable for many kinds of materials (such as P3HT, PMMA Alq(3)/PVK, PEDOT: PSS, PS, P2VP, etc.). Freestanding polymer microstructures, binary polymer pattern, and microchannels have been fabricated by the use of ice mold freely.

How to form regular polymer microstructures by surface-pattern-directed dewetting

The substrates with regular patterns of self-assembly monolayers (SAMs) produced by microcontact printing with octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) was employed to direct thin polystyrene dewetting to fabricate ordered micrometer scale pattern. The pattern sizes and pattern fashion can be manipulated by controlling the experimental parameters. The pattern formation mechanisms have been discussed. The dewetting pattern can be transferred to form PDMS stamp for future microfabrication process.

Pattern formation in polymer films under the mask

This paper presents a straightforward method for patterning thin films of polymers, i.e. a prepatterned mask is used to induce self-assembly of polymers and the resulting pattern is the same as the lateral structures in the mask on a submicrometre length scale, The patterns can be formed at above T-g + 30 degreesC in a short time and the external electric field is not crucial. Electrostatic force is assumed to be the driving force for the pattern transfer. Viscous fingering and novel stress-relief lateral morphology induced under the featureless mask are also observed and the formation mechanisms are discussed.

Fabrication of integrated microelectrodes for electrochemical detection on electrophoresis microchip by electroless deposition and micromolding in capillary technique

A new method for the fabrication of an integrated microelectrode for electrochemical detection (ECD) on an electrophoresis microchip is described. The pattern of the microelectrode was directly made on the surface of a microscope slide through an electroless deposition procedure. The surface of the slide was first selectively coated with a thin layer of sodium silicate through a micromolding in capillary technique provided by a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microchannel; this left a rough patterned area for the anchoring of catalytic particles. A metal layer was deposited on the pattern guided by these catalytic particles and was used as the working electrode. Factors influencing the fabrication procedure were discussed. The whole chip was built by reversibly sealing the slide to another PDMS layer with electrophoresis microchannels at room temperature. This approach eliminates the need of clean room facilities and expensive apparatus such as for vacuum deposition or sputtering and makes it possible to produce patterned electrodes suitable for ECD on microchip under ordinary chemistry laboratory conditions. Also once the micropattern is ready, it allows the researchers to rebuild the electrode in a short period of time when an electrode failure occurs. Copper and gold microelectrodes were fabricated by this technique. Glucose, dopamine, and catechol as model analytes were tested.