Dielectrophoretic platforms for bio-microfluidic systems.

Dielectrophoretic (DEP) force is exerted when a neutral particle is polarized in a non-uniform electric field, and depends on the dielectric properties of the particle and the suspending medium. The integration of DEP and microfluidic systems offers numerous applications for the separation, trapping, assembling, transportation, and characterization of micro/nano particles. This article reviews the applications of DEP forces in microfluidic systems. It presents the theory of dielectrophoresis, different configurations, and the applications of such systems for particle manipulation and device fabrication.

/pdf/dielectrophoresis-for-manipulation-of-micro-nano-particles-130j9xyvse.pdf

Dielectrophoresis for manipulation of micro/nano particles in microfluidic systems

In nature, electrical signalling occurs with ions and protons, rather than electrons. Artificial devices that can control and monitor ionic and protonic currents are thus an ideal means for interfacing with biological systems. Here we report the first demonstration of a biopolymer protonic field-effect transistor with proton-transparent PdH(x) contacts. In maleic-chitosan nanofibres, the flow of protonic current is turned on or off by an electrostatic potential applied to a gate electrode. The protons move along the hydrated maleic-chitosan hydrogen-bond network with a mobility of ~4.9×10(-3) cm(2) V(-1) s(-1). This study introduces a new class of biocompatible solid-state devices, which can control and monitor the flow of protonic current. This represents a step towards bionanoprotonics.

/pdf/a-polysaccharide-bioprotonic-field-effect-transistor-47bpsu4feg.pdf

A polysaccharide bioprotonic field-effect transistor

http://www.wildcrafted.com.au/Documents/Nanotechnology-Assessing_the_risks.pdf

Nanotechnology: assessing the risks

Proton-conducting materials play a central role in many renewable energy and bioelectronics technologies, including fuel cells, batteries and sensors. Thus, much research effort has been expended to develop improved proton-conducting materials, such as ceramic oxides, solid acids, polymers and metal-organic frameworks. Within this context, bulk proton conductors from naturally occurring proteins have received somewhat less attention than other materials, which is surprising given the potential modularity, tunability and processability of protein-based materials. Here, we report proton conductivity for thin films composed of reflectin, a cephalopod structural protein. Bulk reflectin has a proton conductivity of ~2.6 × 10(-3) S cm(-1) at 65 °C, a proton transport activation energy of ~0.2 eV and a proton mobility of ~7 × 10(-3) cm(2) V(-1) s(-1). These figures of merit are similar to those reported for state-of-the-art artificial proton conductors and make it possible to use reflectin in protein-based protonic transistors. Our findings may hold implications for the next generation of biocompatible proton-conducting materials and protonic devices.

Bulk protonic conductivity in a cephalopod structural protein

We have trapped single protein molecules of R-phycoerythrin in an aqueous solution by an alternating electric field. A radio frequency voltage is applied to sharp nanoelectrodes and hence produces a strong electric field gradient. The resulting dielectrophoretic forces attract freely diffusing protein molecules. Trapping takes place at the electrode tips. Switching off the field immediately releases the molecules. The electric field distribution is computed, and from this the dielectrophoretic response of the molecules is calculated using a standard polarization model. The resulting forces are compared to the impact of Brownian motion. Finally, we discuss the experimental observations on the basis of the model calculations.

Trapping single molecules by dielectrophoresis.

Solid and soft nanostructured materials: Fundamentals and applications

As it follows from the results of C. H. Waddigton, F. E. Yates, A. S. Iberall, and other well-known bio-physicists, living fluids cannot be modelled within the frames of the fundamental assumptions of the statistical-mechanics formalism. One has to go beyond them. The present work does it by means of the generalized kinetics (GK), the theory enabling one to allow for the complex stochasticity of internal properties and parameters of the fluid particles. This is one of the key features which distinguish living fluids from the nonliving ones. It creates the disparity of the particles and hence breaks the each-fluid-component-uniformity requirement underlying statistical mechanics. The work deals with the corresponding modification of common kinetic equations which is in line with the GK theory and is the complement to the latter. This complement allows a subdivision of a fluid into the fluid components in terms of nondiscrete probability distributions. The treatment leads to one more equation that describes the above internal parameters. The resulting model is the system of these two equations. It appears to be always nonlinear in case of living fluids. In case of nonliving fluids, the model can be linear. Moreover, the living-fluid model, as a whole, cannot have the thermodynamic equilibrium, only partial equilibriums (such as the motional one) are possible. In contrast to this, in case of nonliving fluids, the thermodynamic equilibrium is, of course, possible. The number of the fluid components is treated as the number of the modes of the particle-characteristic probability density. In so doing, a fairly general extension of the notion of the mode from the one-dimensional case to the multidimensional case is proposed. The work also discusses the variety of the time-scales in a living fluid, the simplest quantum-mechanical equation relevant to living fluids, and the non-equilibrium nonlinear stochastic hydrodynamics option. The latter is simpler than, but conceptually comparable to, stochastic kinetic equations. A few directions for future research are suggested. The work notes a cohesion of mathematical physics and fluid mechanics with the living-fluid-related fields as a complex interdisciplinary problem.

Modelling living fluids with the subdivision into the components in terms of probability distributions

We demonstrate a nanoscale water-based transistor. The presented nanoscale water-based transistor relies on the controlled modification of the pH in deionized water through the base applied electric field. The dc characteristics are presented and studied with a focus on the influence of the base applied electric field, the base electrode design, and their proximity to the sensing emitter and collector nanoelectrodes. The demonstrated water-based nanoscale device is of interest for many bioelectrical applications due to the biocompatibility and the wide usage and presence of water in biological systems.

dc characteristics of a nanoscale water-based transistor

The reproducible development of vortex rings in pure water under the action of a static external electric field is demonstrated. The phenomenon results from the electrochemical decomposition of water. Given the low conductivity of water in the absence of electrolyte, the field-driven buildup of hydroxide ions at the anode becomes essential to the proton release, which in turn is the result of the molecular O-2(g) evolution. Water recombination processes, which have protons flowing in a hydroxide background, as a key ingredient produce the phenomenon. (C) 2005 American Institute of Physics.

Zackary Chiragwandi

Papers

Trapping single molecules by dielectrophoresis.

Solid and soft nanostructured materials: Fundamentals and applications

Modelling living fluids with the subdivision into the components in terms of probability distributions

dc characteristics of a nanoscale water-based transistor

Vortex rings in pure water under static external electric field