MEMSuniverse » tension http://www.memsuniverse.com A Passion for Creativity & Innovation Tue, 23 Oct 2012 21:57:22 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 Self-Assembling Nanoliter Containers http://www.memsuniverse.com/microfabrication/self-assembling-nanoliter-containers.html http://www.memsuniverse.com/microfabrication/self-assembling-nanoliter-containers.html#comments Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:42:14 +0000 admin http://www.memsuniverse.com/?p=839 Nanotechnology, the new science of extreme miniaturization, is a rapidly growing field in engineering. On this size scale, it is extremely difficult and expensive to fabricate analogs of macroscale engineering, such as grippers. Drawing inspiration from biological fabrication in nature, engineers are seeking to self-assemble structures from the bottom up. This manufacturing paradigm has been largely unexplored in human engineering since the process is generally perceived to be indeterminable and uncontrollable.

The Gracias Lab at Johns Hopkins has developed a relatively easy, precise, and cost-effective process by which the 2D templates of semi-tethered “faces” can self-assemble into controlled 3D structures by utilizing the natural phenomena of surface tension. This video highlights the development, manufacturing process, and proposed functions (cell encapsulation devices and controlled drug delivery carriers) of our self-assembling nanoliter containers.

Duration : 0:4:11


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]]> http://www.memsuniverse.com/microfabrication/self-assembling-nanoliter-containers.html/feed 0 Surface Tension-Confined Microfluidics http://www.memsuniverse.com/microfluidics/surface-tension-confined-microfluidics.html http://www.memsuniverse.com/microfluidics/surface-tension-confined-microfluidics.html#comments Tue, 19 Aug 2008 03:30:59 +0000 admin http://www.memsuniverse.com/?p=609 Video from figure 4 of reference (1) implemented with an aqueous solution. The surface tension-confined microfluidic paradigm is an approach to microfluidic manufacturing seeking to bring the burgeoning micro total analysis technology to market for deployable sensor applications. The device in the video is implemented with under 20 microliters of fluid. Fabricating such a device requires only commodity polymers and solvents and can be accomplished for pennies in a matter of minutes. For more information, please see reference (1) and/or contact gew5@case.edu or michael.swickrath@gmail.com.

(1) Swickrath MJ, Shenoy S, Mann JA, Belcher J, Kovar R, Wnek G, “The Design and Fabrication of Autonomous Polymer-Based Surface Tension-Confined Microfluidic Platforms” Microfluidics and Nanofluidics (2007, In Press)

Duration : 0:0:9


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