Search

Infusing highly transparent silicone optics with ferromagnetic particles makes these optical elements susceptible to controllable deformations. Lenses made of silicone can thus shift their focal length. This poster presents the results of determining a silicone’s transmittance and refractive index experimentally as well as utilizing multiphysical simulation to explore viable application spaces through focal length shifts. Further, concepts are shown to produce functionalized lenses, where particles are included using additive manufacturing and the curing behavior of the silicone is controlled.

For several decades, aging in Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been studied in hopes of understanding its causes and identifying conserved pathways that also drive aging in multicellular eukaryotes. While the short lifespan and unicellular nature of budding yeast has allowed its aging process to be observed by dissecting mother cells away from daughter cells under a microscope, this technique does not allow continuous, high-resolution, and high-throughput studies to be performed. Here, we present a protocol for constructing microfluidic devices for studying yeast aging that are free from these limitations. Our approach uses multilayer photolithography and soft lithography with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to construct microfluidic devices with distinct single-cell trapping regions as well as channels for supplying media and removing recently born daughter cells. By doing so, aging yeast cells can be imaged at scale for the entirety of their lifespans, and the dynamics of molecular processes within single cells can be simultaneously tracked using fluorescence microscopy. Key features This protocol requires access to a photolithography lab in a cleanroom facility. Photolithography process for patterning photoresist on silicon wafers with multiple different feature heights. Soft lithography process for making PDMS microfluidic devices from silicon wafer templates.

Oral delivery of macromolecules remains highly challenging due to their rapid degradation in the gastrointestinal tract and poor absorption across the tight junctions of the epithelium. In the last decade, researchers have investigated several medical devices to overcome these challenges using various approaches, some of which involve piercing through the intestine using micro and macro needles. We have developed a new generation of medical devices called self-unfolding proximity enabling devices, which makes it possible to orally deliver macromolecules without perforating the intestine. These devices protect macromolecules from the harsh conditions in the stomach and release their active pharmaceutical ingredients in the vicinity of the intestinal epithelium. One device version is a self-unfolding foil that we have used to deliver insulin and nisin to rats and pigs respectively. In our study, this device has shown a great potential for delivering peptides, with a significant increase in the absorption of solid dosage of insulin by ∼12 times and nisin by ∼4 times in rats and pigs, respectively. With the ability to load solid dosage forms, our devices can facilitate enhanced absorption of minimally invasive oral macromolecule formulations.

Organ-on-a-chip (OoC) and microfluidic devices are conventionally produced using microfabrication procedures that require cleanrooms, silicon wafers, and photomasks. The prototyping stage often requires multiple iterations of design steps. A simplified prototyping process could therefore offer major advantages. Here, we describe a rapid and cleanroom-free microfabrication method using maskless photolithography. The approach utilizes a commercial digital micromirror device (DMD)-based setup using 375 nm UV light for backside exposure of an epoxy-based negative photoresist (SU-8) on glass coverslips. We show that microstructures of various geometries and dimensions, microgrooves, and microchannels of different heights can be fabricated. New SU-8 molds and soft lithography-based polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) chips can thus be produced within hours. We further show that backside UV exposure and grayscale photolithography allow structures of different heights or structures with height gradients to be developed using a single-step fabrication process. Using this approach: (1) digital photomasks can be designed, projected, and quickly adjusted if needed; and (2) SU-8 molds can be fabricated without cleanroom availability, which in turn (3) reduces microfabrication time and costs and (4) expedites prototyping of new OoC devices, Electronic Components, Technology and Materials

Organ-on-a-chip (OoC) and microfluidic devices are conventionally produced using microfabrication procedures that require cleanrooms, silicon wafers, and photomasks. The prototyping stage often requires multiple iterations of design steps. A simplified prototyping process could therefore offer major advantages. Here, we describe a rapid and cleanroom-free microfabrication method using maskless photolithography. The approach utilizes a commercial digital micromirror device (DMD)-based setup using 375 nm UV light for backside exposure of an epoxy-based negative photoresist (SU-8) on glass coverslips. We show that microstructures of various geometries and dimensions, microgrooves, and microchannels of different heights can be fabricated. New SU-8 molds and soft lithography-based polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) chips can thus be produced within hours. We further show that backside UV exposure and grayscale photolithography allow structures of different heights or structures with height gradients to be developed using a single-step fabrication process. Using this approach: (1) digital photomasks can be designed, projected, and quickly adjusted if needed; and (2) SU-8 molds can be fabricated without cleanroom availability, which in turn (3) reduces microfabrication time and costs and (4) expedites prototyping of new OoC devices, Electronic Components, Technology and Materials

The first part of this dissertation will focus on the development of a simple, robust online solid phase extraction liquid chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry (SPE LC-HRMS) method followed by the use of computational software workflows for non-target analysis (NTA) of environmental samples (development). The benchmarks to assess reproducibility are not well defined for non-target analysis. Parameters to evaluate analytical performance, such as accuracy, precision and selectivity, are well defined for target analysis, but remain elusive for non-target screening analysis. In this study, quality control (QC) guidelines are proposed to assure reliable data in NTA methodologies using a simple set of standards. We have specifically evaluated method specificity, precision, accuracy and reproducibility in terms of peak area and retention time variability, true positive identification rate, intraday and interday variations and the use of QC samples to reduce false positives. The second part of this dissertation will focus on the evaluation of different bodies of water in order to characterize different sources (application). Here we have compared electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) for the detection and identification of organic contaminants in tap and surface waters from South Florida using a combination of Kendrick mass defect (KMD) plots and Van Krevelen diagrams (VKD). This work will lead to the creation of a unique “fingerprint” for each water body that can be used to track water quality and its point of impact. The chemical space coverage of both ESI and APCI for the purpose of non-targeted analysis was explored and documented with respect to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ToxCast chemical library. In addition, the performance of the developed NTA workflow was evaluated by analyzing 10 complex mixtures from an inter-laboratory study as part of the EPA’s Non-Targeted Analysis Collaborative Trial (EN

Water vapor permeation under supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) conditions through dense polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was investigated up to pressure of 185 bars to evaluate the regenerability of scCO2 as desiccant to dehydrate fresh products that are prone to product deterioration during conventional drying. This study experimentally examined the impact of concentration polarization on the H2O vapor permeation through dense PDMS membranes in the presence of sub- and supercritical CO2. The results were compared to a system containing N2 instead of CO2. For the CO2 system, the residual mass transfer resistance, which excludes the membrane layer resistance, decreased down to zero with increasing feed pressure, at 90 bar. This is the result of the convergence of the H2O contents of the feed bulk and permeate, which leads to a change of the main H2O transport mechanism within the feed boundary layer from diffusion to convection. Here the H2O and CO2 molecules are transported with comparable speed towards the membrane surface. For the system with N2, the opposite trend was found, due to the maintained significant difference in transport speed between H2O and N2 even at elevated pressures. Consequently, the water vapor transport rate through the PDMS membrane is governed by the type of matrix fluid (CO2 or N2).

Water vapor permeation under supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) conditions through dense polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was investigated up to pressure of 185 bars to evaluate the regenerability of scCO2 as desiccant to dehydrate fresh products that are prone to product deterioration during conventional drying. This study experimentally examined the impact of concentration polarization on the H2O vapor permeation through dense PDMS membranes in the presence of sub- and supercritical CO2. The results were compared to a system containing N2 instead of CO2. For the CO2 system, the residual mass transfer resistance, which excludes the membrane layer resistance, decreased down to zero with increasing feed pressure, at 90 bar. This is the result of the convergence of the H2O contents of the feed bulk and permeate, which leads to a change of the main H2O transport mechanism within the feed boundary layer from diffusion to convection. Here the H2O and CO2 molecules are transported with comparable speed towards the membrane surface. For the system with N2, the opposite trend was found, due to the maintained significant difference in transport speed between H2O and N2 even at elevated pressures. Consequently, the water vapor transport rate through the PDMS membrane is governed by the type of matrix fluid (CO2 or N2).

We present a finite-element method modeling of acoustophoretic devices consisting of a single, long, straight, water-filled microchannel surrounded by an elastic wall of either borosilicate glass (pyrex) or the elastomer polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and placed on top of a piezoelectric transducer that actuates the device by surface acoustic waves (SAW). We compare the resulting acoustic fields in these full solid-fluid models with those obtained in reduced fluid models comprising of only a water domain with simplified, approximate boundary conditions representing the surrounding solids. The reduced models are found to only approximate the acoustically hard pyrex systems to a limited degree for large wall thicknesses and but not very well for acoustically soft PDMS systems shorter than the PDMS damping length of 3 mm.

In this paper we proposed microfabrication scheme for PDMS (Polydimethylsiloxane) thin membrane fabrication on Si micromachined cavities with square cross section. PDMS network samples for this research were synthesized with the same composition, which are Sylgard 184 (Dow Corning, USA) silicone elastomer base and silicone elastomer curing agent, volume ratio 10:1. Mechanical testing of PDMS elastic properties and bond strength between membranes and oxidized Si wafers, were investigated applying pressurized bulge testing In this paper experimentally determined dependence of the PDMS membrane deflection on pressure load for different membrane thicknesses and sizes of square cavities in Si wafers are given. Also, the influence of different types of Si wafer structuring by anisotropic wet chemical etching on membrane bonding strength were considered.

In this paper we proposed microfabrication scheme for PDMS (Polydimethylsiloxane) thin membrane fabrication on Si micromachined cavities with square cross section. PDMS network samples for this research were synthesized with the same composition, which are Sylgard 184 (Dow Corning, USA) silicone elastomer base and silicone elastomer curing agent, volume ratio 10:1. Mechanical testing of PDMS elastic properties and bond strength between membranes and oxidized Si wafers, were investigated applying pressurized bulge testing In this paper experimentally determined dependence of the PDMS membrane deflection on pressure load for different membrane thicknesses and sizes of square cavities in Si wafers are given. Also, the influence of different types of Si wafer structuring by anisotropic wet chemical etching on membrane bonding strength were considered.

In this paper we proposed microfabrication scheme for PDMS (Polydimethylsiloxane) thin membrane fabrication on Si micromachined cavities with square cross section. PDMS network samples for this research were synthesized with the same composition, which are Sylgard 184 (Dow Corning, USA) silicone elastomer base and silicone elastomer curing agent, volume ratio 10:1. Mechanical testing of PDMS elastic properties and bond strength between membranes and oxidized Si wafers, were investigated applying pressurized bulge testing In this paper experimentally determined dependence of the PDMS membrane deflection on pressure load for different membrane thicknesses and sizes of square cavities in Si wafers are given. Also, the influence of different types of Si wafer structuring by anisotropic wet chemical etching on membrane bonding strength were considered.

In this paper we proposed microfabrication scheme for PDMS (Polydimethylsiloxane) thin membrane fabrication on Si micromachined cavities with square cross section. PDMS network samples for this research were synthesized with the same composition, which are Sylgard 184 (Dow Corning, USA) silicone elastomer base and silicone elastomer curing agent, volume ratio 10:1. Mechanical testing of PDMS elastic properties and bond strength between membranes and oxidized Si wafers, were investigated applying pressurized bulge testing In this paper experimentally determined dependence of the PDMS membrane deflection on pressure load for different membrane thicknesses and sizes of square cavities in Si wafers are given. Also, the influence of different types of Si wafer structuring by anisotropic wet chemical etching on membrane bonding strength were considered.

Biotechnological production of chemical building blocks is one important step towards a more sustainable production. Unfortunately, the products to be separated are often highly diluted. Pervaporation has received increasing attention for the separation of small amounts of organic compounds from aqueous solutions, especially in the separation of butanol from water or from fermentation broth. To evaluate the potential of pervaporation for biobutanol recovery a consistent database is required, describing the dependency of permeate fluxes and selectivities on process variables like temperature, permeate pressure as well as feed concentrations and compositions. Therefore, within this work we investigated the separation behaviour of a commercially available polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane and membranes based on poly(ether block amide) (PEBA) fabricated in our own laboratory. The membranes were tested under varying operating conditions. Fermentation by-products or impurities may affect the pervaporation separation performance. Therefore, in addition, the permeate fluxes and the influence of acetone, ethanol, acetic and butyric acid and 1,3-propanediol have been investigated in detail as well. Several differences in the permeability and selectivity of PDMS and PEBA were observed during the experimental study. Swelling experiments were applied to further analyse the separation behaviour of PDMS and PEBA more in detail. Finally the influence of the observed separation performances on the overall butanol pervaporation process is discussed. It was found that especially well permeating by-products like acetone can drastically influence the subsequent downstreaming process.

A mechanically flexible planar inverted cone antenna (PICA) for ultrawideband (UWB) applications is presented. It can be both folded and stretched significantly without permanent damage or loss of electrical functionality. The antenna is manufactured with a process in which conductors are realized by injecting room temperature liquid metal alloy into micro-structured channels in an elastic dielectric material. The elastic dielectric material together with the liquid metal enables bending with a very small radius, twisting, and stretching along any direction. Port impedance and radiation characteristics of the non-stretched and stretched antenna are studied in simulations and experiments. The presented antenna has a return loss better than 10 dB within 3-11 GHz and a radiation efficiency of > 70% over 3-10 GHz, also when stretched. Tests verify that stretching up to 40% is possible with maintained electrical performance. The presented antenna is useful for example for body-worn antennas and in applications in harsh environments where mechanical flexibility helps improve durability., wisenet

For over a century, Langmuir films have served as excellent two-dimensional model systems for studying the conformation and ordering of amphiphilic molecules at the air/water (A/W) interface. With the equipment of Wilhelmy plate technique, Brewster angle microscopy (BAM), and surface light scattering (SLS), the interfacial phase and rheological behavior of Langmuir films can be investigated. In this dissertation, these techniques are employed to examine Langmuir films of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS), polymer blends, and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). In a first time, SLS is employed to study POSS molecules. The interfacial rheological properties of trisilanolisobutyl-POSS (TiBuP) indicate that TiBuP forms a viscoelastic Langmuir film that is almost perfectly elastic in the monolayer state with a maximum dynamic dilational elasticity of around 50 mNâ m-1 prior to film collapse. This result suggests that TiBuP can serve as model nanofiller with polymers. As an interesting next step, blends of TiBuP and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with different compositions are examined via surface pressure (surface pressureâ surface area occupied per molecule (A) isotherms and SLS. The results show that TiBuP, with its attendant water, serves as a plasticizer and lowers the dilational modulus of the films at low surface pressure. As surface pressure increases, composition dependent behavior occurs. Around the collapse pressure of PDMS, the TiBuP component is able to form networks at the A/W interface as PDMS collapse into the upper layer. Blends of non-amphiphilic octaisobutyl-POSS (OiBuP) and PDMS are also studied as an interesting comparison to TiBuP/PDMS blends. In these blends, OiBuP serves as a filler and reinforces the blends prior to the collapse of PDMS by forming "bridge" structure on top of PDMS monolayer. However, OiBuP is non-amphiphilic and fails to anchor PDMS chains to the A/W interface. Hence, OiBuP/PDMS blends exhibit negligible dilational viscoelastic

Over the last 20 years "composite" insulators have been increasingly used in high voltage applications as an alternative traditional materials. More recently, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) have been used as weather sheds on these composite insulators. The main attraction with PDMS is that the surface hydrophobicity can be recovered following pollution or surface discharges. Among the possible mechanisms for recovery the most likely is the migration of low molecular weight silicone oil (LMWS) from the bulk to the surface encapsulating pollutant particles. Although it is widely recognised that the migration of LMWS is the cause of this recovery of hydrophobicity, the mechanism of what actually occurs is not well understood. It is also not known for how long this process will continue. The main objective of this study program was to gain improved understanding of the surface hydrophobic recovery process that is unique to polydimethlysiloxane high-voltage insulators. Fundamental knowledge of this mechanism has been increased through the development of the Contact Angle DRIFT Electrostatic Deposition (CADED) novel analytical technique. This technique enabled study of the degradation of silicone elastomers subjected to high voltage environments by closely following LMWS migration from the bulk material to the surface and linking it to the contact angle measurements. The migration rate data showed that the aged material recovered faster that the virgin material. Differences in the rate and maximum surface levels of silicone were seen between materials from different manufacturers. This has significant implications for the life-time of these materials A model system has been developed to examine LMWS diffusion through the bulk material and into the interface of surface and pollutant. This was achieved by examining theoretical and empirically derived equations and using existing experimental data to better understand the mechanism of recovery. This diffusion was Fickian in the