Search

Implantable sensors can be used to monitor biomechanical strain continuously. However, three key challenges need to be addressed before they can be of use in clinical practice: the structural mismatch between the sensors and tissue or organs should be eliminated; a practical suturing attachment process should be developed; and the sensors should be equipped with wireless readout. Here, we report a wireless and suturable fibre strain-sensing system created by combining a capacitive fibre strain sensor with an inductive coil for wireless readout. The sensor is composed of two stretchable conductive fibres organized in a double helical structure with an empty core, and has a sensitivity of around 12. Mathematical analysis and simulation of the sensor can effectively predict its capacitive response and can be used to modulate performance according to the intended application. To illustrate the capabilities of the system, we use it to perform strain measurements on the Achilles tendon and knee ligament in an ex vivo and in vivo porcine leg. A capacitive, fibre-like stretchable strain sensor, formed of two conductors in a double helical structure, can be combined with an inductive coil to create a wireless strain-sensing system for biomedical applications.

This brief presents a high voltage modular supply multiplying pulser in a 0.18- $\mu m$ BCD CMOS process. Two prototypes of the pulser were implemented for target loads of 55pF and 1nF, and generated up to 1MHz and 28.7V pulse from 1.2 and 5V supplies. Proposed modular based stepwise pulse generation achieved a peak power reduction of 75.4% relative to CV 2 f and a peak power efficiency of 82.3%. The proposed pulser was used for driving piezoelectric micromachined ultrasound transducer (pMUT) and achieved a relative efficiency improvement of 113.7% against conventional two-level square wave pulsing.

To fundamentally solve the bottleneck of Von Neumann’s computing architecture, a neuromorphic thin-film transistor (NTFT) employing Pb(Zr, Ti)O3 (PZT) was investigated. The indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) channel back gate TFT structure was chosen to solve the diffusion of atoms that form a channel layer during the annealing process for crystallization of PZT. A post-deposition process with IGZO after annealing PZT and using an oxide-based material as a channel structure can minimize the diffusion phenomenon of junction materials and oxygen together, which leads to a high and reliable performance of the NTFT. The basic operations of synapses short-term memory (STM) and long-term memory (LTM) were also analyzed to confirm the application of a neuromorphic device. The high dielectric constant and polarization properties of Pb(Zr, Ti)O3 (PZT) allow the power consumption of spike signals used in spike dependent plasticity change to be reduced to 10 pJ. Moreover, a wide dynamic range of $\text{G}_{\mathrm {max}}/\text{G}_{\mathrm {min}} \cong ~1000$ was obtained, and the channel conductance was maintained over 40000 seconds. The optimized pulse achieved multi-level states (>32), which made the learning process efficient. This study verified that the PZT-TFT structure has a high potential and merits for neuromorphic devices.

Objective: Interventional ultrasound imaging is a prerequisite for guiding implants and treatment within the hearts and blood vessels. Due to limitations on the catheter's diameter, interventional ultrasonic transducers have side-looking structures although forward-looking imaging may provide more intuitive and real time guidance in treating diseased sites ahead of catheters. To address the issue, a magnetically actuated forward-looking interventional ultrasound imaging device is implemented for the first time. Methods: A forward-looking catheter containing a 1 mm ring type focused 35 MHz ultrasound transducer and a micro magnet, was fabricated. For imaging, the transducer was placed at the center of four electromagnetic coils positioned on four sides of a squared acrylic housing. By modifying the magnetic field, the catheter tip could be remotely translated for sector scanning. Results: The scanning angle could reach up to 3° in 1 Hz with 15 mT, while wider angles of 5° could be achieved with a higher magnetic field of 25 mT for ex-vivo imaging. The position of the transducer could be detected by monitoring the motion with a CCD camera, mimicking clinical X-ray imaging. In the wire target and tissue mimicking phantom studies, the measured hole size, spatial resolution and distance between wires by the proposed system were comparable with the values from a linear scanner. Multi-frame real time data acquisition was demonstrated via ex-vivo imaging on a pig's coronary artery. Conclusion/Significance: The feasibility of magnetically actuated forward-looking interventional ultrasound imaging was demonstrated. The remote-controlled scanning method may allow to simplify the structures of forward-looking interventional ultrasound imaging catheters.

All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) based on solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) are receiving significant interest as promising candidates to overcome the limitations of conventional lithium ion batteries (LIBs), particularly safety problems. Development of operando or in situ microscopy and spectroscopy measurement techniques is crucial for real-time observations of the morphological and chemical phenomena occurring in ASSBs during charge/discharge cycles. In this study, we develop in situ Auger electron microscopy and spectroscopy techniques for real-time investigations of the various phenomena occurring in ASSBs based on pelletized argyrodite (Li6PS5Cl; LiPS) SSEs. Volume expansion/contraction of the Li metal anode owing to the injection/extraction of Li is observed during the charge/discharge process. Li migration to the Li metal anode is strongly dependent on the pressing force applied to the sample during the charge/discharge cycles. At the sample position under excessively high local pressure, a superabundant amount of Li metal migrates to the anode, and irreversible growth of Li metal is observed. In contrast, the volume expansion of the Li metal anode is negligible at the unpressurised sample position, resulting in poor capacity of the ASSBs. This result demonstrates that homogeneous pressurization of the sample is a critical factor for a stable charge/discharge process. The results provided herein can guide the development of practical ASSBs in industry, and the novel in situ measurement technique can be a useful tool for the real-time analysis of various phenomena in ASSBs.

The energy harvesting by utilizing the piezoelectric effect for the conversion of oscillatory mechanical energy to useful electrical energy has been promising for self-powered devices. The output power can be controlled by designing the size and shape of the constituents of the harvester. This study demonstrates the effect of Ti plate (elastic layer) thickness on the resonant frequency, neutral axis position, vibration amplitude and energy harvesting performance of the cantilever structured piezoelectric energy harvester (PEH). Here, the each harvester had the same dimensions of piezoelectric layer and the same proof mass position at the end of the cantilever while it had the different elastic layer thicknesses (70–300 μm). The analysis revealed that the output power showed the opposite trend in vibration amplitude with varying the elastic layer thickness. Among all of the PEHs, the configuration with the largest elastic layer thickness (300 μm) exhibited a maximum output power of 48 μW at 76 Hz under 0.2 g acceleration, despite of the smallest vibration amplitude and the highest resonant frequency. The outcomes suggest that the thickness ratio of the piezoelectric and elastic layers should be optimized to realize the best harvesting performance.

This study presents the fabrication and characterization of a piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer (pMUT, radius: 40 &mu, m) using a patterned aluminum nitride (AlN) thin film as the active piezoelectric material. A 20 &times, 20 array of pMUTs using a 1 &mu, m thick AlN thin film was designed and fabricated on a 2 &times, 2 mm2 footprint for a high fill factor. Based on the electrical impedance and phase of the pMUT array, the electromechanical coefficient was ~1.7% at the average resonant frequency of 2.82 MHz in air. Dynamic displacement of the pMUT surface was characterized by scanning laser Doppler vibrometry. The pressure output while immersed in water was 19.79 kPa when calculated based on the peak displacement at the resonant frequency. The proposed AlN pMUT array has potential applications in biomedical sensing for healthcare, medical imaging, and biometrics.

Magnetic microrobots have potential use in biomedical applications such as minimally invasive surgery targeted diagnosis and therapy. Inspired by nature artificial bacterial flagella (ABFs) are a form of microrobot powered by magnetic helical propulsion. For the promise of ABFs to be realized issues of biocompatibility must be addressed and the materials used in their fabrication should be carefully considered. In this work we fabricate the helical bodies of ABFs from a commercially available biocompatible photoresist ORMOCOMP by subsequently coating them with Fe for magnetic actuation. 3 (45 Dimethylthiazol 2 yl) 25 diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays show that Fe coated ORMOCOMP layers do not undermine the cell viability during 72 hours of incubation compared to control substrates. Cells exhibit normal morphology on ABF arrays and show good lamellipodial and filopodial interactions with the ABF surfaces. The swimming performance of Fe coated ABFs is characterized using a three pair Helmholtz coil arrangement. ABFs exhibit a maximum forward speed of 48.9 µm s 1 under a field of 9 mT at a frequency of 72 Hz. In summary our Fe coated ABFs exhibit little cytotoxicity and have potential for in vivo applications especially those involving difficult to access regions within the human body. © 2014 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

In this study, we have established 5 different micro-organs (Cortex-Hippocampus-Heat-Liver-Tumor) network in vitro in the 96-well format-based microfluidic platform by physically separating but fluidically interconnecting spherical microtissues (MTs) via the microfluidic channel. An effect of the anti-cancer drug, 5-fluorouaracil (5-FU), on tumor MT and also other organotypic MTs was investigated with their interaction through microfluidic network in vitro for 3-day cultivation While no significant suppression was observed when tumor MTs were solely cultured in 5-FU, growth of tumor MTs was suppressed in the in vitro 5 micro-organ network without critical impact on the other 4 MTs. It addresses feasibility of our microfluidic platform for more complex and comprehensive pharmacokinetic study in an in vivo-like in vitro physiological environment.

Here, we propose magnetically driven microrobots for targeted cell delivery that can efficiently swim in various physiological environments. The three-dimensional (3D) microrobots were sophisticatedly fabricated by using micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technologies such as 3D laser lithography and metal sputtering. The magnetic field generated by an electromagnetic coil system allows efficient wireless actuation of the microrobots, which was characterized in various physiological conditions (in vitro viscous fluid, ex vivo rat brain blood vessels and a live nude mouse intraperitoneal cavity (in vivo)). Especially, the microrobots demonstrated stem cell transportation inside the body cavity of the nude mouse as a proof of concept of targeted cell delivery. Through this study, the use of the proposed microrobots has shown the feasibility of future applications in precision medicine.

Magnetically manipulated biodegradable microrobots that encapsulate drugs from the outset are produced in a novel, simple way using UV-laser micro-machining. This method enables multiple microrobots to be produced rapidly, without the need for post-drug encapsulation or polymerization by light exposure, which may cause the drug compound to denature. The microrobot consists of poly (dl-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), iron (Fe) particles and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) as biodegradable, magnetic and drug material, respectively. The fabricated microrobots are precisely and remotely controlled in a fluidic environment by external magnetic fields. To prove the feasibility of targeted drug delivery, the drug release is profiled as a function of time, biodegrading in aqueous solution at 37 °C over 6 weeks. The Fe concentration has a significant effect on the biodegradation rate of the microrobots. The amount of drug encapsulated can be controlled by adjusting the concentration of the drug in the PLGA/Fe/5-FU mixture whilst fabricating the microrobots. Approximately 0.013 μg of 5-FU is released from a single PLGA/Fe/5-FU microrobot over a period of 6 weeks. In addition, we have conducted drug testing with human colorectal cancer (HCT116) cells to investigate the effect of drugs released from our microrobots on cancer cells. While no significant reduction in live cell ratio was observed with the controls, it decreased approximately 20% when cells were cultured with the PLGA/Fe/5-FU microrobot for 2 days. It presents that 5-FU was delivered from the microrobot to cancer cells and negatively affected them.

A needle-type microrobot (MR) for targeted drug delivery is developed to stably deliver drugs to a target microtissue (MT) for a given period time without the need for an external force after affixing. The MRs are fabricatedby 3D laser lithography and nickel (Ni)/titanium oxide (TiO2 ) layers are coated by physical vapor deposition. The translational velocity of the MR is 714 µm s-1 at 20 mT and affixed to the target MT under the control of a rotating magnetic field. The manipulability of the MR is shown by using both manual and automatic controls. Finally, drug release from the paclitaxel-loaded MR is characterized to determine the efficiency of targeted drug delivery. This study demonstrates the utility of the proposed needle-type MR for targeted drug delivery to MT with various flow rates in vitro physiological fluidic environments.

Underwater sensors that detect the distance and direction of acoustic sources are critical for surveillance monitoring and target detection in the water. Here, we propose an axial vector sensor that utilizes a small (~1 cm3) compressive-type piezoelectric accelerometer using piezoelectric single crystals. Initially, finite element analysis (FEA) was used to optimize the structure that comprised piezoelectric Pb(Mb1/3Nb2/3)O3-28%PbTiO3 single crystals on a tungsten seismic mass. The receiving voltage sensitivity (RVS) was enhanced through geometric optimization of the thickness and sensing area of the piezoelectric material and the seismic mass. The estimated maximum RVS of the optimized vector sensor was &minus, 212 dB. FEA simulations and practical measurements were used to verify the directivity of the vector sensor design, which exhibited a dipole pattern. The dipole beam pattern was used to obtain cardioid patterns using the simulated and measured results for comparison. The results clearly showed the feasibility of using the proposed piezoelectric single-crystal accelerometer for a compressive-type vector sensor.

In this study, we present a piezoelectric artificial basilar membrane (ABM) composed of a 10-channel aluminum nitride beam array. Each beam varies in length from 1306 to 3194 μm for mimicking the frequency selectivity of the cochlea. To characterize the frequency selectivity of the ABM, we measured the mechanical displacement and piezoelectric output while applying acoustic stimulus at 100 dB sound pressure level in the range of 500 Hz–40 kHz. The resonance frequencies measured by mechanical displacement and piezoelectric output were in the range of 10.56–36.5 and 10.9–37.0 kHz, respectively. In addition, the electrical stimulus was applied to the ABMs to compare the mechanical responses in air and fluid. The measured resonance frequencies were in the range of 11.1–47.7 kHz in the air and 3.10–11.9 kHz in the fluid. Understanding the characteristics of the ABM is important for its potential use as a key technology for auditory prostheses.

Vector hydrophones based on a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) hold great promise for underwater communications, due to their potential for miniaturization and mass production. Piezoelectric materials have recently been utilized in the fabrication of MEMS-based vector hydrophones, as less power is typically required for their operation. Here, we propose a millimeter-scale piezoelectric MEMS vector sensor with a suspended cross-shaped beam and a mushroom-shaped proof mass configuration. This design was inspired by the bio-transducer of the lateral line of fish. Sensor fabrication involved piezoelectric Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 thin-film deposition by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering onto the beam structure, followed by a multi-etching process and assembly using a three-axis microassembly technique. The fabricated MEMS vector sensor showed a resonance frequency above the working frequency range, which was suitable for naval applications. The directivity of the proposed sensor was determined by dipole patterns in the x and y directions, with a maximum relative sensitivity difference of −42 dB at 1 kHz. Finite element analysis results for the resonance frequency and directivity were in good agreement with the experimental results, suggesting that the proposed vector sensor could be used in underwater communications as a vector hydrophone.

Microprobes are used to repair neuronal injury by recording electrical signals from neuronal cells around the surface of the device. Following implantation into the brain, the immune response results in formation of scar tissue around the microprobe. However, neurons must be in close proximity to the microprobe to enable signal recording. A common reason for failure of microprobes is impaired signal recording due to scar tissue, which is not related to the microprobe itself. Therefore, the device–cell interface must be improved to increase the number of neurons in contact with the surface. In this study, we developed nanostructured SU-8 microprobes to support neuronal growth. Nanostructures of 200 nm diameter and depth were applied to the surface of microprobes, and the attachment and neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells on the microprobes were evaluated. Neuronal attachment and neurite outgrowth on the nanostructured microprobes were significantly greater than those on non-nanostructured microprobes. The enhanced neuronal attachment and neurite outgrowth on the nanostructured microprobes occurred in the absence of an adhesive coating, such as poly-l-lysine, and so may be useful for implantable devices for long-term use. Therefore, nanostructured microprobes can be implanted without adhesive coating, which can cause problems in vivo over the long term.

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and its copolymers have been extensively utilized owing to their fascinating properties such as thermal stability, chemical resistance, and mechanical robustness. However, their lack of microbial resistance is considered a drawback that limits their adoption as biomedical materials. In this study, to overcome this problem, PVDF-based antimicrobial polymers were prepared by grafting quaternary ammonium or quaternary pyridinium monomers. The polymers could effectively kill gram-positive S. aureus, gram-negative E. coli, and the pathogenic yeast C. albicans (antimicrobial rates > 99.99%). Using the polymer blending method, 1 wt% or 5 wt% of the polymers were added to the pristine PVDF film to provide antimicrobial properties. The blend films exhibited enhanced mechanical properties compared to those of pristine PVDF and notably higher antimicrobial performances (>99% for Blend-Q4VP-5); moreover, they were all biocompatible.

Polymeric ionic liquids (PILs) containing a poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (POEM) coating layer significantly suppresses the reduction of the ionic liquid and of solvent molecules on Li metal anode in the Pyr14TFSI/carbonate electrolyte. Therefore, when Li metal was coated with the PILs–POEM, a cycling test performed with the electrolyte highlights an improved cycling stability.

We report that ultra-thin tellurium (Te) nanoflakes were successfully grown on a sample of a gold-coated textile, which then was used as an active piezoelectric material. An output voltage of 4 V and a current of 300 nA were obtained from the bending test under a driving frequency of 10 Hz. To test the practical applications, Te nanoflake nanogenerator (TFNG) device was attached to the subject’s arm, and mechanical energy was converted to electrical energy by means of periodic arm-bending motions. The optimized open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current density of approximately 125 V and 17 μA/cm 2 , respectively, were observed when a TFNG device underwent a compression test with a compressive force of 8 N and driving frequency of 10 Hz. This high-power generation enabled the instantaneous powering of 10 green light-emitting diodes that shone without any assistance from an external power source.

Microrobots facilitate targeted therapy due to their small size, minimal invasiveness, and precise wireless control. A degradable hyperthermia microrobot (DHM) with a 3D helical structure is developed, enabling actively controlled drug delivery, release, and hyperthermia therapy. The microrobot is made of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) and pentaerythritol triacrylate (PETA) and contains magnetic Fe3 O4 nanoparticles (MNPs) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Its locomotion is remotely and precisely controlled by a rotating magnetic field (RMF) generated by an electromagnetic actuation system. Drug-free DHMs reduce the viability of cancer cells by elevating the temperature under an alternating magnetic field (AMF), a hyperthermic effect. 5-FU is released from the proposed DHMs in normal-, high-burst-, and constant-release modes, controlled by the AMF. Finally, actively controlled drug release from the DHMs in normal- and high-burst-release mode results in a reduction in cell viability. The reduction in cell viability is of greater magnitude in high-burst- than in normal-release mode. In summary, biodegradable DHMs have potential for actively controlled drug release and hyperthermia therapy.

Here, we develop a flexible microrobot enhancing the steerability of a conventional guidewire. To improve steerability, a microrobot is attached to the tip of the guidewire and guided using an external magnetic field generated by an electromagnetic coil system. The flexible microrobot is fabricated via replica-molding and features a body made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and a single permanent magnet. As the robot is made of a deformable material, it can be steered using a low-intensity external magnetic field; the robot can potentially be guided into the coronary artery. To study steering performance, we employed mathematical modeling and a finite element model (FEM), and performed experiments under various magnetic fields. We found that a mathematical model using the Euler–Bernoulli beam could not precisely calculate the deformation angles. The FEM more accurately estimated those angles. The deformation angle can be controlled from 0 to 80° at a magnetic field intensity of 15 mT. The trackability at angles of 45 and 80° of the guidewire-based microrobot was confirmed in vitro using a two-dimensional blood vessel phantom., Micro and Nano Systems Letters, 6

Microrobots for targeted drug delivery are of great interest due to their minimal invasiveness and wireless controllability. Here, a magnetically driven porous degradable microrobot (PDM) is reported that consists of a 3D printed helical soft polymeric chassis made of a poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate and pentaerythritol triacrylate matrix containing magnetite nanoparticles and the anticancer drug 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU). The encapsulated Fe3O4 nanoparticles render the PDM a precise wireless magnetic actuation by means of rotating magnetic fields (RMFs). The increased surface area of the porous PDM facilitates the acoustically induced drug release due to a higher response to the acoustic energy. The drug release profile from the PDM can be selected on command from three different modes, referred to herein as natural, burst, and constant, by differentiating the ultrasound exposure condition. Finally, in vitro test results reveal different therapeutic results for each release mode. The observed great reduction of cancer cell viability in the burst‐ and constant‐release modes confirms that ultrasound with the proposed PDM can enhance the therapeutic effect by increasing drug concentration and sonoporation. ISSN:2192-2640 ISSN:2192-2659

Advanced Functional Materials, 30 (17), ISSN:1616-3028, ISSN:1616-301X

Display Omitted We fabricated nanopores with a diameter of ~240nm on a SU-8 substrate.Nanopores were created by a nanosphere lithography method.We examined neuronal growth of PC12 cells for 7days.Nanoporous SU-8 substrate showed positive effect on PC12 cell differentiation.PC12 cells tended to move from a flat bare region to a nanoporous region. Most polymer-based biomedical implantable microscale devices have a smooth surface, so that cell seeding is suppressed in the absence of an adhesive material coating on the surface. SU-8 is a negative photoresist, and is widely used for the fabrication of micro-/nanoscale biomedical devices. A physical surface modification technique was introduced in this study to enhance cell viability and mobility on a SU-8 substrate. To characterize cell viability and mobility, four types of SU-8 substrate were prepared: flat bare substrate, poly-l-lysine (PLL)-coated flat bare substrate, nanoporous substrate, and PLL-coated nanoporous substrate. Rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells were cultured on these substrates, and nerve growth factor (NGF) was added to induce differentiation of the PC12 cells. On the seventh day of cell culture, PC12 cells on the nanoporous SU-8 substrate showed 24.3% cell differentiation (neurite outgrowth) versus 1.1% cell differentiation on the flat bare substrate. It was also found that cells had a tendency to move from a flat surface to a nanoporous region. These cellular activities on the nanoporous SU-8 substrate suggest that nanopores can be used to regulate cellular activities and can be applied to SU-8-based microscale biomedical devices.

Length of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) has strong impact on mechanical strength of MWCNT/polymer composite. In this paper, MWCNT/polyamide 6, 6 (PA 66) composites using ten different MWCNTs were prepared by melt processing. The harsh mixing process used to achieve a fine dispersion of MWCNTs in the polymer matrix broke and severely reduced the lengths of the MWCNTs. The characteristics of MWCNTs that influence the breakage and length reduction were systematically and experimentally explored. Insights into designing the microstructures and morphological properties of pristine MWCNTs were provided, based on the correlation data and statistical evaluation results, in an effort to preserve the high aspect ratio of the MWCNTs during the melt mixing process, thereby expecting the enhanced mechanical properties of the composite.

Two types of microfabricated acoustic transducers—the resonator array of isolated beams (RAIB) and the resonator array of coupled beams (RACB)—were built using MEMS technology. The frequency selectivity of the two types of transducers was qualitatively compared using the transfer functions measured with a scanning laser Doppler vibrometer (SLDV). Each RAIB beam operated as a band-pass filter in the proximity to the corresponding resonance frequency, thereby showing the frequency-selective feature of the basilar membrane (BM). However, the frequency selectivity of RACB was poor because the SiO2 membrane, which mechanically coupled the neighboring beams, suppressed the independent response of each beam. The influence of the mechanical coupling of the SiO2 membrane was simulated using lumped parametric models. Simulation results showed that the coupling stiffness of the SiO2 membrane may significantly undermine the frequency selectivity of the resonator array. The comparison of the frequency-selective performance revealed that RAIB is a better option than RACB for mimicking the tonotopy of BM.

A novel cell-stimulation system was fabricated using 10 × 29 piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer (pMUT) arrays for targeted ultrasonic cell stimulation. Both the diameter of a single pMUT element and the edge-to-edge gap were 120 μm, and the size of a pMUT array was 2.27 × 6.84 mm, to be placed at the bottom of a Transwell. The measured resonance frequency of a single pMUT element was 1.48 ± 0.13 MHz and the measured acoustic intensity of the pMUT array was 0.15 ± 0.03 MPa at 1 mm away from the transducer. A pMUT array was mounted on a print circuit board (PCB), which was designed in accordance with the size of a 12-well Transwell. The Transwell was placed on the PCB and wire bonding was performed to electrically connect the PCB and pMUT arrays. After wiring, the PCB and pMUT arrays were coated with 2.6-μm thick parylene-C to ensure biocompatibility and waterproofing. PC12 cells were used for ultrasonic cell stimulation tests to examine the proposed all-in-one low-intensity pulsed ultrasound stimulation system. Various stimulation times and duty cycles were used simultaneously for cell proliferation in a confined cell culture environment. All stimulation groups showed increased cell proliferation rates, in the range 138-166%, versus the proliferation rate of the control group.

We investigate the effect of electric field on VO2 back-gated field effect transistor (FET) devices. Using hybrid dielectric layers, we demonstrate the highest resistance modulation on the order of 102 in VO2 at a positive gate bias of 80 V (1.6 MV/cm). VO2 FET devices are prepared on SiO2 substrates of different thicknesses (100–300 nm) and hybrid dielectric layers of Al2O3/SiO2 (500 nm). For thicknesses less than 300 nm, no electric-field effects are observed, whereas for a 300 nm thickness, a small decrease in resistance is observed under a 0.2 MV/cm electric field. Under the electrostatic effect, the carrier concentration increases in VO2 devices, decreasing the resistance and the transition temperature from 66.75 to 64 °C. The leakage analysis shows that the interface quality of VO2 films on hybrid dielectric layers can be further improved. These studies suggest a multilevel fast resistance switching with the electric field and give an insight into the gate-source leakage current, which limits the ph...

Mobile microvortices generated by rotating nickel (Ni) nanowires (NW) have been reported as capable of inducing fluidic trapping that can be precisely focused and translated to manipulate microobjects. Here, a new design for significantly enhanced fluidic trapping is reported, which is a dumbbell (DB)-shaped magnetic actuator, assembled by a Ni NW and two polystyrene microbeads. In contrast to the single mode of tumbling trapping possessed by Ni NW, the magnetic dumbbell is able to perform dynamical trapping and implement on-demand transport of microobjects in three modes, i.e., tumbling, wobbling, and rolling. Experiments are conducted to demonstrate the robustness and efficacy of the fluidic trap by the DB actuator. And simulations using a finite element model compare the fluidic traps induced by NW and DB, followed by further discussion on the actuation and transport efficiency of NW and DB fluidic tweezers (FT). At last, some practical issues regarding the application of DB FT are addressed.

We report an experimental assessment of the electrical performance of two piezoelectric beam arrays for artificial basilar membranes (ABMs): a continuous beam array (CBA) and a narrow-supports beam array (NSBA). Both arrays consist of piezoelectric beams of sequentially varying lengths that mimic the frequency selectivity of mammalian cochleae. The narrow supports of the NSBA resulted in lateral deformation of the beams, whereas the CBA beams were flat. The displacement and piezoelectric output of each beam were measured at the resonance frequency of each beam using a scanning laser-Doppler vibrometer (SLDV). Both ABM prototypes showed mechanical frequency selectivity that depended on the beam length. The CBA generated a piezoelectric output in the range 6.6–23.2 μV and exhibited electrical frequency separability, whereas the NSBA failed to generate sufficient electrical potential due to the lateral deformation of the piezoelectric beams. The CBA was found to be more effective as an ABM, with potential for use in cochlear implants.

We discuss the theoretical approaches for various electrochemical capacitor systems via performance-potential estimation in regard to specific energy and power densities. Typical energy storage systems, such as symmetric capacitor system and asymmetric capacitor system, are classified with the symmetry of the electrodes (symmetric/asymmetric), and the types of electrolytes (aqueous/organic). Energy and power densities of each system are theoretically calculated using various factors and coefficients for performance comparison. Then, theoretical modeling for the BatCap system is conducted to indicate the electrochemical performance of this new concept device followed by consideration of ideal structure of the BatCap electrode material. Conclusively, this study successively indicates the performance of each energy storage system depending on the specified conditions of the electrodes and electrolyte which consist of the energy storage systems.

Thick polycrystalline pure PbTiO3 films with nano size grains were synthesized for the first time by aerosol deposition. Annealed 7 μm thick films exhibit well-saturated ferroelectric hysteresis loops with a remanent polarization and coercive field of 35 μC/cm(2) and 94 kV/cm, respectively. A large-signal effective d33,eff value of >60 pm/V is achieved at room temperature. The measured ferroelectric transition temperature (Tc) of the films ∼550 °C is >50 °C higher than the reported values (∼490 °C) for PbTiO3 ceramics. First-principles calculations combined with electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and structural analysis indicate that the film is composed of nano size grains with slightly decreased tetragonality. There is no severe off-stoichiometry, but a high compressive in-plane residual stress was observed in the film along with a high transition temperature and piezoelectric response. The ferroelectric characteristics were sustained until 200 °C, providing significant advancement toward realizing high temperature piezoelectric materials.

Microelectromechanical system (MEMS) test sockets with attached tips were developed for a ball-grid-array integrated circuit (BGA IC) package, using MEMS fabrication technology in conjunction with Ni-Co electroplating and XeF2 isotropic silicon etching. The electroplating process was used to create metal tips and thick metal cantilevers, which increased the contact reliability and conductivity. XeF2 isotropic silicon etching was used to release the cantilever array, which reduced the process cost and increased the mechanical stability. A finite element analysis (FEA) simulation was conducted to verify the force-deflection relationships of five types of cantilevers with attached tips. With an input deflection of 40 μm, the measured forces ranged from 12.55 to 26.14 mN, and matched the FEA results. The path resistance between a tip and the appropriate electrode pad was less than 3.49 Ω for all cantilevers when the tips were connected to the corresponding positions with more than 5 mN of contact force. The cantilever design with a length of 430 um and a tip height of 60 um (L430D60) showed the best performance in terms of the force-deflection relationship, a well as resistance. Therefore, the fabricated MEMS test sockets with tips are potentially applicable to actual BGA IC package tests.

In this study, a one-dimensional beam array acoustic sensor was built using microelectromechanical system technology to achieve mechanical frequency selectivity. The acoustic sensor contained 16 beams of various lengths. The frequency selectivity was evaluated with a scanning laser Doppler vibrometer, while applying an alternating current having various frequencies with 2 volts amplitude and 0 volt offset. The beams formed separate band-pass filters in the proximity of the corresponding resonance frequencies in the range of 3 kHz to 13 kHz. The first resonance frequencies of the beams were calculated using finite element analysis to simulate the frequency response. In the finite element analysis models, mode shapes were studied to understand the effect of the beam deformation caused by the residual stress generated during the MEMS fabrication. The measured and simulated first resonance frequencies of the beams provided solid evidence of the tonotopicity of the sensor.

Sulfur–carbon nanosheet hybrids (SCNHs) are simply synthesized by a single-step solid solvothermal reaction as the cathode material for lithium sulfur (LiS) batteries. Sulfur is homogeneously embedded into the carbon nanosheet by an in situ hybridization process, which enhances the electron and ion transportation due to the higher electronic conductivity and morphology, respectively. The solid solvothermal reaction provides insight into the unique chemical-state of the sulfur content in the sulfur–carbon hybrids due to the small difference in electronegativity between sulfur and carbon contents. This characteristic effect on the production of electrolyte-dissoluble lithium sulfide in the electrochemical reaction can enhance the cycle performance of the hybrid as a cathode material in LiS batteries. The SCNHs show improved electrochemical performance of 810 mA h g−1 at 100 mA g−1 and excellent Coulombic efficiency close to 100% at a high rate.

A silicon carbonitride (SICN) ceramic microrobot, biocompatible and magnetically activable, is developed for the delivery of viable cells to defective tissue by sequential steps of microstructuring, magnetization, and cell loading. The ceramic carrier of porous cylindrical framework is fabricated by 3D laser lithography using a photocurable preceramic polymer, chemically modified polyvinylsilazane, and subsequent pyrolysis at 600 °C under an inert atmosphere. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) are integrated into the surface-modified ceramic carrier by thiol-ene click reaction. Finally, the microrobot is loaded with fibroblast cells, which can be guided by a rotating external magnetic field. The proposed ceramic microrobot is mechanically durable, adequately controllable with external magnetic field, and quite compatible with mammalian cells.

Biocompatibility and high responsiveness to magnetic fields are fundamental requisites to translate magnetic small-scale robots into clinical applications. The magnetic element iron exhibits the highest saturation magnetization and magnetic susceptibility while exhibiting excellent biocompatibility characteristics. Here, a process to reliably fabricate iron microrobots by means of template-assisted electrodeposition in 3D-printed micromolds is presented. The 3D molds are fabricated using a modified two-photon absorption configuration, which overcomes previous limitations such as the use of transparent substrates, low writing speeds, and limited depth of field. By optimizing the geometrical parameters of the 3D molds, metallic structures with complex features can be fabricated. Fe microrollers and microswimmers are realized that demonstrate motion at ≈20 body lengths per second, perform 3D motion in viscous environments, and overcome higher flow velocities than those of "conventional 3D printed helical microswimmers." The cytotoxicity of these microrobots is assessed by culturing them with human colorectal cancer (HCT116) cells for four days, demonstrating their good biocompatibility characteristics. Finally, preliminary results regarding the degradation of iron structures in simulated gastric acid liquid are provided.

We demonstrated a novel MEMS artificial basilar membrane composed of a piezoelectric beam array that mimics the passive frequency selectivity of the cochlea and exhibits acoustic-to-electrical energy conversion. Each beam was designed to have a unique resonance frequency. To determine the resonance frequencies of the beams, the displacement and piezoelectric voltage were measured by applying a periodic chirped signal with a sound pressure level of 109.7 dB. The measured resonance frequencies were in the range 10–37 kHz. The piezoelectric signal was used to modulate a finite pulse-width signal for electrical stimulation; the pulse widths were in the range 0.43–5.1 ms with sound pressure levels in the range 84.9–112.4 dB.

In this research, piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer (pMUT) array was used for stimulation of mechanosensitive channel of HEK293T cells. The fabricated pMUT array was made by microelectromechanical system (MEMS) technology such as photo process, etching, sputtering, and sol-gel method. The resonance frequency and acoustic positive peak pressure were 2.07 MHz and 3.94 kPa, respectively. The proposed system can be used for ultrasonic stimulation and the result can be confirmed using fluorescence microscope by observing the cation changing in real-time. The cells were treated by fluorescence staining and transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1) channel inserting. The Ca+ ion level of stimulated cell was changed by ultrasound. The result showed mechanosensitive channel was activated by ultrasound stimulation and observed influx of Ca+ ion in real-time.

Mimicking the nanoscale surface texture of the extracellular matrix can affect the regulation of cellular behavior, including adhesion, differentiation, and neurite outgrowth. In this study, SU-8-based polymer surfaces with well-ordered nanowell arrays were fabricated using nanosphere lithography with polystyrene nanoparticles. We show that the SU-8 surface with nanowells resulted in similar neuronal development of rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells compared with an unpatterned poly-L-lysine (PLL)-coated SU-8 surface. Additionally, even after soaking the substrate in cell culture medium for two weeks, cells on the nanowell SU-8 surface showed long-term neurite outgrowth compared to cells on the PLL-coated SU-8 surface. The topographical surface modification of the nanowell array demonstrates potential as a replacement for cell adhesive material coatings such as PLL, for applications requiring long-term use of polymer-based implantable devices.

Magnetically actuated ciliary microrobots were designed, fabricated, and manipulated to mimic cilia-based microorganisms such as paramecia. Full three-dimensional (3D) microrobot structures were fabricated using 3D laser lithography to form a polymer base structure. A nickel/titanium bilayer was sputtered onto the cilia part of the microrobot to ensure magnetic actuation and biocompatibility. The microrobots were manipulated by an electromagnetic coil system, which generated a stepping magnetic field to actuate the cilia with non-reciprocal motion. The cilia beating motion produced a net propulsive force, resulting in movement of the microrobot. The magnetic forces on individual cilia were calculated with various input parameters including magnetic field strength, cilium length, applied field angle, actual cilium angle, etc., and the translational velocity was measured experimentally. The position and orientation of the ciliary microrobots were precisely controlled, and targeted particle transportation was demonstrated experimentally., Scientific Reports, 6, ISSN:2045-2322

A triboelectric-based artificial basilar membrane (TEABM) can mimic cochlear tonotopy by triboelectrification between Kapton film and aluminum foil. The two films are stacked and clamped to form a beam structure. The TEABM tonotopy is tested using an animal model to verify the feasibility of a self-powered acoustic sensor for a prototype cochlear implant.

Biodegradable polymer droplet containing natural magnetic nanoparticle is composed for smart drug delivery and heat treatment. For selective and efficient drug delivery to the target tissue, direct high magnetic field will be applied near the target tissue. For drug release control and heat treatment, alternative high magnetic field will be applied. Magnetosome, natural magnetic nanoparticle, is extracted from magnetotactic bacteria, AMB-1. Mixture of magnetosome and sodium alginate composes into droplet using the microfluidic device applied Plateau-Rayleigh instability principle. The magnetosome contained droplet selected its rout at the bifurcate microchannels by direct high magnetic field. High alternative magnetic field generating circuit is designed with 18 mT and 4 Hz magnetic wave. The generated magnetic wave was applied to the extracted magnetosomes so that temperature of the magnetosomes increased from 15.2°C to 17.6°C.

The catalytic activity of Pt nanoparticles (NPs) significantly influences the electrochemical performance of direct methanol fuel cells. Information about the factors that influence the electrochemical activity of the catalyst themselves is scarce; hence, guidelines for the preparation of Pt NPs that yields the best performances are lacking. With consideration for this situation, we systematically investigated the relationship(s) between the characteristics of Pt NPs and their electrochemical performance. The general characteristics of Pt NPs, such as the average size, loading density, and dispersion status on the support, were varied in the presence of poly(acrylic acid)-wrapped multiwalled carbon nanotubes by controlling the preparation conditions, including the pH of the aqueous solution, the reaction temperature, and the reaction time. The enhanced catalytic activity is attributable to higher degree of dispersion, specific surface area, and electrochemically active surface area of Pt NPs. The optimized catalyst exhibits a ∼165% higher catalytic activity toward methanol oxidation than the commercial E-TEK.

The preparation of effective dispersions of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) presents a major impediment to the extension and utilization of CNTs. CNTs intrinsically tend to bundle and/or aggregate. The prevention of such behavior has been explored by testing various surface modification techniques to improve the dispersibility of CNTs in a variety of solvents and polymer matrices. General guidelines for the design of end-use tailor-fit surface modifications to achieve a particular CNT dispersibility have not thus far been articulated. This review aims to identify such guidelines by providing a perspective of the state of the art in surface modifications and the resultant dispersibility of CNTs. Surface modifications and dispersion properties must first be defined by agreeing upon a few new terms, such as the degree of surface modification, degree of substitution, and degree of dispersion, to determine the possible relationship(s) that may exist between surface characteristics and the dispersibility of CNTs. Furthermore, several critical issues that require concerted in-depth studies are discussed with particular emphasis on the quantitative characterization of CNT surface modifications and dispersions. This discussion describes the Flory–Huggins interaction parameter based on the solubility parameter for CNTs, which is correlated with the dispersibility in the surrounding media.

We report herein the effects of various surrounding confinements of Si nanoparticles on the electrochemical performance of Si nanoparticles based anode for lithium ion batteries (LIBs). Three different types of surrounding confinements are incorporated onto or around the surface of Si nanoparticles: Si nanoparticles-embedded carbon nanofibers (Si@CNF) via electrospinning, carbon nitride encapsulated Si nanoparticles with core/shell structure (Si@CND), and binder enriched Si nanoparticles-based anode (Si@RBD). Morphology and microstructure of the samples are characterized using X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and the results were discussed in relation to the electrochemical performances. It is found that Si@CNF which has conducting hard surrounding confinements and Si@RBD exhibited high reversible specific capacity of 620 mA hg−1 and 1200 mA hg−1, up to 30th cycle, respectively. Meanwhile, Si@CND that has mechanically hard but poor electrical conductivity exhibits low specific capacity compared with the other two samples.