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Micromachines
Volume 10
Issue 7
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Micromachines, Volume 10, Issue 7 (July 2019) – 65 articles

Cover Story (view full-size image): Colon disease is seriously harmful to human health, and “early diagnosis and early treatment” is an effective strategy to lower its incidence rate. A tether-less capsule robot that can be introduced from the anus and can explore the colon in a non-invasive manner is a promising device to implement this strategy. However, the nonstructural colon environment can seriously lower the movement performance of the capsule robot, and a commercially available button cell is unable to power the capsule robot for a long duration. Therefore, the question of how to improve movement performance and how to supply sufficient electric power have become the hot topics in the field of capsule robots. View this paper
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9 pages, 4284 KiB  
Article
The Role of ALD-ZnO Seed Layers in the Growth of ZnO Nanorods for Hydrogen Sensing
by Yangming Lu, Chiafen Hsieh and Guanci Su
Micromachines 2019, 10(7), 491; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10070491 - 23 Jul 2019
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3469
Abstract
Hydrogen is one of the most important clean energy sources of the future. Because of its flammability, explosiveness, and flammability, it is important to develop a highly sensitive hydrogen sensor. Among many gas sensing materials, zinc oxide has excellent sensing properties and is [...] Read more.
Hydrogen is one of the most important clean energy sources of the future. Because of its flammability, explosiveness, and flammability, it is important to develop a highly sensitive hydrogen sensor. Among many gas sensing materials, zinc oxide has excellent sensing properties and is therefore attracting attention. Effectively reducing the resistance of sensing materials and increasing the surface area of materials is an important issue to increase the sensitivity of gas sensing. Zinc oxide seed layers were prepared by atomic layer deposition (ALD) to facilitate the subsequent hydrothermal growth of ZnO nanorods. The nanorods are used as highly sensitive materials for sensing hydrogen due to their inherent properties as oxide semiconductors and their very high surface areas. The low resistance value of ALD-ZnO helps to transport electrons when sensing hydrogen gas and improves the sensitivity of hydrogen sensors. The large surface area of ZnO nanorods also provides lots of sites of gas adsorption which also increases the sensitivity of the hydrogen sensor. Our experimental results show that perfect crystallinity helped to reduce the electrical resistance of ALD-ZnO films. High areal nucleation density and sufficient inter-rod space were determining factors for efficient hydrogen sensing. The sensitivity increased with increasing hydrogen temperature, from 1.03 at 225 °C, to 1.32 at 380 °C after sensing 100 s in 10,000 ppm of hydrogen. We discuss in detail the properties of electrical conductivity, point defects, and crystal quality of ALD-ZnO films and their probable effects on the sensitivity of hydrogen sensing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue MEMS/NEMS Sensors: Fabrication and Application, Volume II)
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15 pages, 5498 KiB  
Article
Constructing a Dual-Function Surface by Microcasting and Nanospraying for Efficient Drag Reduction and Potential Antifouling Capabilities
by Liguo Qin, Mahshid Hafezi, Hao Yang, Guangneng Dong and Yali Zhang
Micromachines 2019, 10(7), 490; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10070490 - 23 Jul 2019
Cited by 34 | Viewed by 3915
Abstract
To improve the drag-reducing and antifouling performance of marine equipment, it is indispensable to learn from structures and materials that are found in nature. This is due to their excellent properties, such as intelligence, microminiaturization, hierarchical assembly, and adaptability. Considerable interest has arisen [...] Read more.
To improve the drag-reducing and antifouling performance of marine equipment, it is indispensable to learn from structures and materials that are found in nature. This is due to their excellent properties, such as intelligence, microminiaturization, hierarchical assembly, and adaptability. Considerable interest has arisen in fabricating surfaces with various types of biomimetic structures, which exhibit promising and synergistic performances similar to living organisms. In this study, a dual bio-inspired shark-skin and lotus-structure (BSLS) surface was developed for fabrication on commercial polyurethane (PU) polymer. Firstly, the shark-skin pattern was transferred on the PU by microcasting. Secondly, hierarchical micro- and nanostructures were introduced by spraying mesoporous silica nanospheres (MSNs). The dual biomimetic substrates were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, water contact angle characterization, antifouling, self-cleaning, and water flow impacting experiments. The results revealed that the BSLS surface exhibited dual biomimetic features. The micro- and nano-lotus-like structures were localized on a replicated shark dermal denticle. A contact angle of 147° was observed on the dual-treated surface and the contact angle hysteresis was decreased by 20% compared with that of the nontreated surface. Fluid drag was determined with shear stress measurements and a drag reduction of 36.7% was found for the biomimetic surface. With continuous impacting of high-speed water for up to 10 h, the biomimetic surface stayed superhydrophobic. Material properties such as inhibition of protein adsorption, mechanical robustness, and self-cleaning performances were evaluated, and the data indicated these behaviors were significantly improved. The mechanisms of drag reduction and self-cleaning are discussed. Our results indicate that this method is a potential strategy for efficient drag reduction and antifouling capabilities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Implantable Microdevices)
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14 pages, 4460 KiB  
Article
Real Time Electronic Feedback for Improved Acoustic Trapping of Micron-Scale Particles
by Charles P. Clark, Vahid Farmehini, Liam Spiers, M. Shane Woolf, Nathan S. Swami and James P. Landers
Micromachines 2019, 10(7), 489; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10070489 - 21 Jul 2019
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3648
Abstract
Acoustic differential extraction has been previously reported as a viable alternative to the repetitive manual pipetting and centrifugation steps for isolating sperm cells from female epithelial cells in sexual assault sample evidence. However, the efficiency of sperm cell isolation can be compromised in [...] Read more.
Acoustic differential extraction has been previously reported as a viable alternative to the repetitive manual pipetting and centrifugation steps for isolating sperm cells from female epithelial cells in sexual assault sample evidence. However, the efficiency of sperm cell isolation can be compromised in samples containing an extremely large number of epithelial cells. When highly concentrated samples are lysed, changes to the physicochemical nature of the medium surrounding the cells impacts the acoustic frequency needed for optimal trapping. Previous work has demonstrated successful, automated adjustment of acoustic frequency to account for changes in temperature and buffer properties in various samples. Here we show that, during acoustic trapping, real-time monitoring of voltage measurements across the piezoelectric transducer correlates with sample-dependent changes in the medium. This is achieved with a wideband peak detector circuit, which identifies the resonant frequency with minimal disruption to the applied voltage. We further demonstrate that immediate, corresponding adjustments to acoustic trapping frequency provides retention of sperm cells from high epithelial cell-containing mock sexual assault samples. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Particles Separation in Microfluidic Devices)
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13 pages, 2033 KiB  
Article
Single-Cell Point Constrictions for Reagent-Free High-Throughput Mechanical Lysis and Intact Nuclei Isolation
by Xiaomin Huang, Xiaoxing Xing, Chun Ning Ng and Levent Yobas
Micromachines 2019, 10(7), 488; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10070488 - 19 Jul 2019
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4172
Abstract
Highly localized (point) constrictions featuring a round geometry with ultra-sharp edges in silicon have been demonstrated for the reagent-free continuous-flow rapid mechanical lysis of mammalian cells on a single-cell basis. Silicon point constrictions, robust structures formed by a single-step dry etching process, are [...] Read more.
Highly localized (point) constrictions featuring a round geometry with ultra-sharp edges in silicon have been demonstrated for the reagent-free continuous-flow rapid mechanical lysis of mammalian cells on a single-cell basis. Silicon point constrictions, robust structures formed by a single-step dry etching process, are arranged in a cascade along microfluidic channels and can effectively rupture cells delivered in a pressure-driven flow. The influence of the constriction size and count on the lysis performance is presented for fibroblasts in reference to total protein, DNA, and intact nuclei levels in the lysates evaluated by biochemical and fluoremetric assays and flow-cytometric analyses. Protein and DNA levels obtained from an eight-constriction treatment match or surpass those from a chemical method. More importantly, many intact nuclei are found in the lysates with a relatively high nuclei-isolation efficiency from a four-constriction treatment. Point constrictions and their role in rapid reagent-free disruption of the plasma membrane could have implications for integrated sample preparation in future lab-on-a-chip systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Micromachines)
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17 pages, 3478 KiB  
Article
Micro Vacuum Chuck and Tensile Test System for Bio-Mechanical Evaluation of 3D Tissue Constructed of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes (hiPS-CM)
by Kaoru Uesugi, Fumiaki Shima, Ken Fukumoto, Ayami Hiura, Yoshinari Tsukamoto, Shigeru Miyagawa, Yoshiki Sawa, Takami Akagi, Mitsuru Akashi and Keisuke Morishima
Micromachines 2019, 10(7), 487; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10070487 - 19 Jul 2019
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4409
Abstract
In this report, we propose a micro vacuum chuck (MVC) which can connect three-dimensional (3D) tissues to a tensile test system by vacuum pressure. Because the MVC fixes the 3D tissue by vacuum pressure generated on multiple vacuum holes, it is expected that [...] Read more.
In this report, we propose a micro vacuum chuck (MVC) which can connect three-dimensional (3D) tissues to a tensile test system by vacuum pressure. Because the MVC fixes the 3D tissue by vacuum pressure generated on multiple vacuum holes, it is expected that the MVC can fix 3D tissue to the system easily and mitigate the damage which can happen by handling during fixing. In order to decide optimum conditions for the size of the vacuum holes and the vacuum pressure, various sized vacuum holes and vacuum pressures were applied to a normal human cardiac fibroblast 3D tissue. From the results, we confirmed that a square shape with 100 µm sides was better for fixing the 3D tissue. Then we mounted our developed MVCs on a specially developed tensile test system and measured the bio-mechanical property (beating force) of cardiac 3D tissue which was constructed of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPS-CM); the 3D tissue had been assembled by the layer-by-layer (LbL) method. We measured the beating force of the cardiac 3D tissue and confirmed the measured force followed the Frank-Starling relationship. This indicates that the beating property of cardiac 3D tissue obtained by the LbL method was close to that of native cardiac tissue. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organs-on-chips)
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13 pages, 6302 KiB  
Article
A Miniature Gas Sampling Interface with Open Microfluidic Channels: Characterization of Gas-to-Liquid Extraction Efficiency of Volatile Organic Compounds
by Andrew C. Warden, Stephen C. Trowell and Murat Gel
Micromachines 2019, 10(7), 486; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10070486 - 19 Jul 2019
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3468
Abstract
Chemosensory protein based olfactory biosensors are expected to play a significant role in next-generation volatile organic compound (VOC) detection systems due to their ultra-high sensitivity and selectivity. As these biosensors can perform most efficiently in aqueous environments, the detection systems need to incorporate [...] Read more.
Chemosensory protein based olfactory biosensors are expected to play a significant role in next-generation volatile organic compound (VOC) detection systems due to their ultra-high sensitivity and selectivity. As these biosensors can perform most efficiently in aqueous environments, the detection systems need to incorporate a gas sampling interface for gas-to-liquid extraction. This interface should extract the VOCs from the gas phase with high efficiency and transfer them into the liquid containing biosensors to enable subsequent detection. To design such a transfer interface, an understanding of the key parameters influencing the gas-to-liquid extraction efficiency of target VOCs is crucial. This paper reports a gas sampling interface system based on a microfluidic open-channel device for gas-to-liquid extraction. By using this device as a model platform, the key parameters dictating the VOC extraction efficiency were identified. When loaded with 30 μL of capture liquid, the microfluidic device generates a gas-liquid interface area of 3 cm2 without using an interfacial membrane. The pumpless operation based on capillary flow was demonstrated for capture liquid loading and collection. Gas samples spiked with lipophilic model volatiles (hexanal and allyl methyl sulfide) were used for characterization of the VOC extraction efficiency. Decreasing the sampling temperature to 15 °C had a significant impact on increasing capture efficiency, while variation in the gas sampling flow rate had no significant impact in the range between 40–120 mL min−1. This study found more than a 10-fold increase in capture efficiency by chemical modification of the capture liquid with alpha-cyclodextrin. The highest capture efficiency of 30% was demonstrated with gas samples spiked with hexanal to a concentration of 16 ppm (molar proportion). The approach in this study should be useful for further optimisation of miniaturised gas-to-liquid extraction systems and contribute to the design of chemosensory protein-based VOC detection systems. Full article
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17 pages, 5534 KiB  
Article
Investigation of 1200 V SiC MOSFETs’ Surge Reliability
by Huan Li, Jue Wang, Na Ren, Hongyi Xu and Kuang Sheng
Micromachines 2019, 10(7), 485; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10070485 - 18 Jul 2019
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 5531
Abstract
In this work, the surge reliability of 1200 V SiC metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) from various manufactures has been investigated in the reverse conduction mode. The surge current tests have been carried out in the channel conduction and non-conduction modes. The experimental results [...] Read more.
In this work, the surge reliability of 1200 V SiC metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) from various manufactures has been investigated in the reverse conduction mode. The surge current tests have been carried out in the channel conduction and non-conduction modes. The experimental results show that the maximum surge currents that the devices can withstand are similar for both cases. It is found that short circuits occurred between the gate and the source in the failed devices. The characteristics of the body diode have also changed after the tests. By measuring the device characteristics after each surge current is applied, it can be concluded that the damages to the gate oxide layer and the body diode occurred only when the maximum surge current is applied. By decapping the failed devices and observing the cross section of the damaged cell, it is found that high temperature caused by excessive current flow through the devices during the surge tests is the main reason for the device failure. Finally, the TCAD simulation of the devices has been carried out to bring insight into the operation of the devices during the surge events. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Miniaturized Transistors, Volume II)
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21 pages, 7084 KiB  
Article
A New Approach to Decoupled Non-Resonant Polishing
by Yucheng Li, Xiaoqin Zhou, Guilian Wang, Peiqun Ma and Rongqi Wang
Micromachines 2019, 10(7), 484; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10070484 - 18 Jul 2019
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2498
Abstract
Two-dimensional vibration-assisted polishing (2D-VAP) is a new polishing approach proposed in recent years, which is considered to be very suitable for the polishing of micro-optical parts and micro-structured surfaces. The advantages of the 2D-VAP approach are as follows: A very high relative velocity [...] Read more.
Two-dimensional vibration-assisted polishing (2D-VAP) is a new polishing approach proposed in recent years, which is considered to be very suitable for the polishing of micro-optical parts and micro-structured surfaces. The advantages of the 2D-VAP approach are as follows: A very high relative velocity can be obtained between the workpiece and the polishing tool; the desired motion trajectory can be formed in one polishing cycle. However, there are still some problems to be solved in the 2D-VAP approach, mainly involving: The vibration frequency of the resonant excitation cannot be regulated, which makes it difficult to adapt to the processing demands of different materials; the theoretical model of removal function has been studied in few papers; and motion coupling occurs easily between the horizontal and vertical directions, which affects the trajectory synthesized at the polishing tool. In order to solve these problems, a new approach to decoupled non-resonant polishing is developed in this paper, and its effectiveness is investigated by the theoretical analysis and polishing experiments. Theoretical studies of removal function show that the vibration frequency, vibration amplitude and loading force are proportional to the removal depth. The comparison of experimental and modeling results of removal function show that they have good coherence, and the correctness of the theoretical model of removal function is verified. In addition, the stability experiments of removal function prove that the polishing approach has better stability and is beneficial to the convergence of workpiece surface. Full article
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34 pages, 2610 KiB  
Review
Microfluidic and Micromachined/MEMS Devices for Separation, Discrimination and Detection of Airborne Particles for Pollution Monitoring
by Daniel Puiu Poenar
Micromachines 2019, 10(7), 483; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10070483 - 18 Jul 2019
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 6073
Abstract
Most of the microfluidics-related literature describes devices handling liquids, with only a small part dealing with gas-based applications, and a much smaller number of papers are devoted to the separation and/or detection of airborne inorganic particles. This review is dedicated to this rather [...] Read more.
Most of the microfluidics-related literature describes devices handling liquids, with only a small part dealing with gas-based applications, and a much smaller number of papers are devoted to the separation and/or detection of airborne inorganic particles. This review is dedicated to this rather less known field which has become increasingly important in the last years due to the growing attention devoted to pollution monitoring and air quality assessment. After a brief introduction summarizing the main particulate matter (PM) classes and the need for their study, the paper reviews miniaturized devices and/or systems for separation, detection and quantitative assessment of PM concentration in air with portable and easy-to-use platforms. The PM separation methods are described first, followed by the key detection methods, namely optical (scattering) and electrical. The most important miniaturized reported realizations are analyzed, with special attention given to microfluidic and micromachined or micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) chip-based implementations due to their inherent capability of being integrated in lab-on-chip (LOC) type of smart microsystems with increased functionalities that can be portable and are easy to use. The operating principles and (when available) key performance parameters of such devices are presented and compared, also highlighting their advantages and disadvantages. Finally, the most relevant conclusions are discussed in the last section. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles on Microfluidic Platforms)
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8 pages, 4320 KiB  
Letter
Silicon Optical Modulator Using a Low-Loss Phase Shifter Based on a Multimode Interference Waveguide
by Daisuke Inoue, Tadashi Ichikawa, Akari Kawasaki and Tatsuya Yamashita
Micromachines 2019, 10(7), 482; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10070482 - 18 Jul 2019
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3896
Abstract
We have developed a novel phase modulator, based on fin-type electrodes placed at self-imaging positions of a silicon multimode interference (MMI) waveguide, which allows reduced scattering losses and relaxes the fabrication tolerance. The measured propagation losses and spectral bandwidth are 0.7 dB and [...] Read more.
We have developed a novel phase modulator, based on fin-type electrodes placed at self-imaging positions of a silicon multimode interference (MMI) waveguide, which allows reduced scattering losses and relaxes the fabrication tolerance. The measured propagation losses and spectral bandwidth are 0.7 dB and 33 nm, respectively, on a 987 μm-long phase shifter. Owing to the self-imaging effect in the MMI waveguide, the wave-front expansion to the electrode was counteracted, and therefore, the scattering loss caused by electrode fins was successfully mitigated. As a proof-of-concept for the MMI-based phase modulator applications, we performed optical modulation based on Mach–Zehnder interferometers (MZIs). The π shift current of the modulator was 1.5 mA. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Silicon Photonics Bloom)
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11 pages, 1919 KiB  
Article
Thread as a Low-Cost Material for Microfluidic Assays on Intact Tumor Slices
by Maxwell Rumaner, Lisa Horowitz, Avital Ovadya and Albert Folch
Micromachines 2019, 10(7), 481; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10070481 - 17 Jul 2019
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4025
Abstract
In this paper we describe the use of thread as a low-cost material for a microfluidic chemosensitivity assay that uses intact tumor tissue ex vivo. Today, the need for new and effective cancer treatments is greater than ever, but unfortunately, the cost of [...] Read more.
In this paper we describe the use of thread as a low-cost material for a microfluidic chemosensitivity assay that uses intact tumor tissue ex vivo. Today, the need for new and effective cancer treatments is greater than ever, but unfortunately, the cost of developing new chemotherapy drugs has never been higher. Implementation of low-cost microfluidic techniques into drug screening devices could potentially mitigate some of the immense cost of drug development. Thread is an ideal material for use in drug screening as it is inexpensive, widely available, and can transport liquid without external pumping hardware, i.e., via capillary action. We have developed an inexpensive microfluidic delivery prototype that uses silk threads to selectively deliver fluids onto subregions of living xenograft tumor slices. Our device can be fabricated completely for less than $0.25 in materials and requires no external equipment to operate. We found that by varying thread materials, we could optimize device characteristics, such as flow rate; we specifically explored the behavior of silk, nylon, cotton, and polyester. The incremental cost of our device is insignificant compared to the tissue culture supplies. The use of thread as a microfluidic material has the potential to produce inexpensive, accessible, and user-friendly devices for drug testing that are especially suited for low-resource settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Micromachines)
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18 pages, 2183 KiB  
Review
The Applications of 3D Printing for Craniofacial Tissue Engineering
by Owen Tao, Jacqueline Kort-Mascort, Yi Lin, Hieu M. Pham, André M. Charbonneau, Osama A. ElKashty, Joseph M. Kinsella and Simon D. Tran
Micromachines 2019, 10(7), 480; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10070480 - 17 Jul 2019
Cited by 63 | Viewed by 8469
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) printing is an emerging technology in the field of dentistry. It uses a layer-by-layer manufacturing technique to create scaffolds that can be used for dental tissue engineering applications. While several 3D printing methodologies exist, such as selective laser sintering or fused [...] Read more.
Three-dimensional (3D) printing is an emerging technology in the field of dentistry. It uses a layer-by-layer manufacturing technique to create scaffolds that can be used for dental tissue engineering applications. While several 3D printing methodologies exist, such as selective laser sintering or fused deposition modeling, this paper will review the applications of 3D printing for craniofacial tissue engineering; in particular for the periodontal complex, dental pulp, alveolar bone, and cartilage. For the periodontal complex, a 3D printed scaffold was attempted to treat a periodontal defect; for dental pulp, hydrogels were created that can support an odontoblastic cell line; for bone and cartilage, a polycaprolactone scaffold with microspheres induced the formation of multiphase fibrocartilaginous tissues. While the current research highlights the development and potential of 3D printing, more research is required to fully understand this technology and for its incorporation into the dental field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 3D Printing for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine)
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7 pages, 1363 KiB  
Article
Improved MRD 4H-SiC MESFET with High Power Added Efficiency
by Shunwei Zhu, Hujun Jia, Xingyu Wang, Yuan Liang, Yibo Tong, Tao Li and Yintang Yang
Micromachines 2019, 10(7), 479; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10070479 - 17 Jul 2019
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3247
Abstract
An improved multi-recessed double-recessed p-buffer layer 4H–SiC metal semiconductor field effect transistor (IMRD 4H-SiC MESFET) with high power added efficiency is proposed and studied by co-simulation of advanced design system (ADS) and technology computer aided design (TCAD) Sentaurus software in this paper. Based [...] Read more.
An improved multi-recessed double-recessed p-buffer layer 4H–SiC metal semiconductor field effect transistor (IMRD 4H-SiC MESFET) with high power added efficiency is proposed and studied by co-simulation of advanced design system (ADS) and technology computer aided design (TCAD) Sentaurus software in this paper. Based on multi-recessed double-recessed p-buffer layer 4H–SiC metal semiconductor field effect transistor (MRD 4H-SiC MESFET), the recessed area of MRD MESFET on both sides of the gate is optimized, the direct current (DC), radio frequency (RF) parameters and efficiency of the device is balanced, and the IMRD MESFET with a best power-added efficiency (PAE) is finally obtained. The results show that the PAE of the IMRD MESFET is 68.33%, which is 28.66% higher than the MRD MESFET, and DC and RF performance have not dropped significantly. Compared with the MRD MESFET, the IMRD MESFET has a broader prospect in the field of microwave radio frequency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Miniaturized Transistors, Volume II)
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9 pages, 2132 KiB  
Article
Programmable Electrofluidics for Ionic Liquid Based Neuromorphic Platform
by Walker L. Boldman, Cheng Zhang, Thomas Z. Ward, Dayrl P. Briggs, Bernadeta R. Srijanto, Philip Brisk and Philip D. Rack
Micromachines 2019, 10(7), 478; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10070478 - 17 Jul 2019
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3206
Abstract
Due to the limit in computing power arising from the Von Neumann bottleneck, computational devices are being developed that mimic neuro-biological processing in the brain by correlating the device characteristics with the synaptic weight of neurons. This platform combines ionic liquid gating and [...] Read more.
Due to the limit in computing power arising from the Von Neumann bottleneck, computational devices are being developed that mimic neuro-biological processing in the brain by correlating the device characteristics with the synaptic weight of neurons. This platform combines ionic liquid gating and electrowetting for programmable placement/connectivity of the ionic liquid. In this platform, both short-term potentiation (STP) and long-term potentiation (LTP) are realized via electrostatic and electrochemical doping of the amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide (aIGZO), respectively, and pulsed bias measurements are demonstrated for lower power considerations. While compatible with resistive elements, we demonstrate a platform based on transitive amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide (aIGZO) pixel elements. Using a lithium based ionic liquid, we demonstrate both potentiation (decrease in device resistance) and depression (increase in device resistance), and propose a 2D platform array that would enable a much higher pixel count via Active Matrix electrowetting. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section D：Materials and Processing)
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12 pages, 7851 KiB  
Article
A High Temperature Drop-On-Demand Droplet Generator for Metallic Melts
by Saeedeh Imani Moqadam, Lutz Mädler and Nils Ellendt
Micromachines 2019, 10(7), 477; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10070477 - 17 Jul 2019
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 4472
Abstract
In this study we present the design and functionality of a pneumatic drop-on-demand droplet generator that produces metallic micro particles with a size range of 300 µm to 1350 µm at high temperatures of up to 1600 °C. Molten metal droplets were generated [...] Read more.
In this study we present the design and functionality of a pneumatic drop-on-demand droplet generator that produces metallic micro particles with a size range of 300 µm to 1350 µm at high temperatures of up to 1600 °C. Molten metal droplets were generated from an EN 1.3505 (AISI 52100) steel which solidified during a falling distance of 6.5 m. We analyzed the resulting particle size and morphology using static image analysis. Furthermore, the droplet formation mode was analyzed using high-speed recordings and the pressure oscillation was measured in the crucible. The system is meant to be reproducible in all aspects and therefore the in-situ measurements are set to control the droplet size and trajectory during the run. Additionally, the ex-situ measurements are done on the particles in order to characterize them in size and morphology aspects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section D：Materials and Processing)
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15 pages, 5456 KiB  
Article
Analysis on Machining Performance of Nickel-Base Superalloy by Electrochemical Micro-milling with High-Speed Spiral Electrode
by Yong Liu, Xiaodong Xu, Chunsheng Guo and Huanghai Kong
Micromachines 2019, 10(7), 476; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10070476 - 16 Jul 2019
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2525
Abstract
As one of the most promising micro-machining methods, electrochemical micro-machining is widely used in the field of metal micro-structures. The electrochemical micro-milling on Nickel-base superalloy by using high-speed spiral electrode was studied in detail. Firstly, the electric field and flow field models of [...] Read more.
As one of the most promising micro-machining methods, electrochemical micro-machining is widely used in the field of metal micro-structures. The electrochemical micro-milling on Nickel-base superalloy by using high-speed spiral electrode was studied in detail. Firstly, the electric field and flow field models of micro-electrochemical milling are established and analyzed by the finite element method. Then, the milling profile was predicted and the effect of high-speed rotation of electrodes on electrolyte promotion and secondary electrolysis prevention were analyzed. Secondly, the influence of the main machining parameters, such as rotating speed, electrical parameters, and feed rate on machining precision and efficiency was analyzed experimentally. Finally, by optimizing the machining parameters, a series of micro-graphic structures with a width of about 150 μm were obtained on Nickel-base superalloy 718 by using the spiral electrode with a diameter of 100 μm. The experimental and simulation results show that the high-speed rotation of electrodes can greatly improve the machining efficiency and stability. It was proved that micro-electrochemical milling with the high-speed rotating electrode technique is an effective method for machining micro-metal parts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section D：Materials and Processing)
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15 pages, 2431 KiB  
Article
Fabrication of Microwave Devices Based on Magnetic Nanowires Using a Laser-Assisted Process
by Vivien Van Kerckhoven, Luc Piraux and Isabelle Huynen
Micromachines 2019, 10(7), 475; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10070475 - 16 Jul 2019
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2981
Abstract
This paper compares two laser-assisted processes developed by the authors for the fabrication of microwave devices based on nanowire arrays loaded inside porous alumina templates. Pros and cons of each process are discussed in terms of accuracy, reproducibility and ease of fabrication. A [...] Read more.
This paper compares two laser-assisted processes developed by the authors for the fabrication of microwave devices based on nanowire arrays loaded inside porous alumina templates. Pros and cons of each process are discussed in terms of accuracy, reproducibility and ease of fabrication. A comparison with lithography technique is also provided. The efficiency of the laser-assisted process is demonstrated through the realization of substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) based devices. A Nanowired SIW line is firstly presented. It operates between 8.5 and 17 GHz, corresponding to the first and second cut-off frequency of the waveguide, respectively. Next, a Nanowired SIW isolator is demonstrated. It shows a nonreciprocal isolation of 12 dB (corresponding to 4.4 dB/cm), observed in absence of a DC magnetic field, and achieved through an adequate positioning of ferromagnetic nanowires inside the waveguide cavity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanodevices for Microwave and Millimeter Wave Applications)
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23 pages, 4952 KiB  
Review
In Vivo Tracking of Tissue Engineered Constructs
by Carmen J. Gil, Martin L. Tomov, Andrea S. Theus, Alexander Cetnar, Morteza Mahmoudi and Vahid Serpooshan
Micromachines 2019, 10(7), 474; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10070474 - 16 Jul 2019
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 5596
Abstract
To date, the fields of biomaterials science and tissue engineering have shown great promise in creating bioartificial tissues and organs for use in a variety of regenerative medicine applications. With the emergence of new technologies such as additive biomanufacturing and 3D bioprinting, increasingly [...] Read more.
To date, the fields of biomaterials science and tissue engineering have shown great promise in creating bioartificial tissues and organs for use in a variety of regenerative medicine applications. With the emergence of new technologies such as additive biomanufacturing and 3D bioprinting, increasingly complex tissue constructs are being fabricated to fulfill the desired patient-specific requirements. Fundamental to the further advancement of this field is the design and development of imaging modalities that can enable visualization of the bioengineered constructs following implantation, at adequate spatial and temporal resolution and high penetration depths. These in vivo tracking techniques should introduce minimum toxicity, disruption, and destruction to treated tissues, while generating clinically relevant signal-to-noise ratios. This article reviews the imaging techniques that are currently being adopted in both research and clinical studies to track tissue engineering scaffolds in vivo, with special attention to 3D bioprinted tissue constructs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 3D Printing for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine)
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11 pages, 5404 KiB  
Article
On-Chip Integration of Pressure Plus 2-Axis (X/Z) Acceleration Composite TPMS Sensors with a Single-Sided Bulk-Micromachining Technique
by Jiachou Wang and Fang Song
Micromachines 2019, 10(7), 473; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10070473 - 15 Jul 2019
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2852
Abstract
A novel on-chip integration of pressure plus 2-axis (X/Z) acceleration composite sensors for upgraded production of automobile tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is proposed, developed, and characterized. Herein, the X-axis accelerometer is with the cantilever beam-mass structure and is used for automatically identifying [...] Read more.
A novel on-chip integration of pressure plus 2-axis (X/Z) acceleration composite sensors for upgraded production of automobile tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is proposed, developed, and characterized. Herein, the X-axis accelerometer is with the cantilever beam-mass structure and is used for automatically identifying and positioning each of the four wheels. The IC-Foundry-Compatible low-cost batch fabrication technique of MIS (i.e., Micro-openings Inter-etch and Sealing) is employed to only fabricate the device from the front side of (111) silicon wafer, without double-sided micromachining, wafer bonding, complex Cavity-SOI (Silicon on Insulator) processing, and expensive SOI-wafer needed. Benefited from the single-wafer front-side fabrication technique on ordinary single-polished wafers, the fabricated composite TPMS sensor has the advantages of a small chip-size of 1.9 mm × 1.9 mm, low cross-talk interference, low-cost, and compatible process with IC-foundries. The fabricated pressure sensors, X-axis accelerometer and Z-axis accelerometer, show linear sensing outputs, with the sensitivities as about 0.102 mV/kPa, 0.132 mV/kPa, and 0.136 mV/kPa, respectively. Fabricated with the low-cost front-side MIS process, the fabricated composite TPMS sensors are promising in automotive electronics and volume production. Full article
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10 pages, 3093 KiB  
Article
Patterned Metal/Polymer Strain Sensor with Good Flexibility, Mechanical Stability and Repeatability for Human Motion Detection
by Xu Zheng, Qing Wang, Jinjin Luan, Yao Li and Ning Wang
Micromachines 2019, 10(7), 472; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10070472 - 15 Jul 2019
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3876
Abstract
Wearable health monitoring smart systems based on flexible metal films are considered to be the next generation of devices for remote medical practice. However, cracks on the metallic surface of the films and difficulty in repeatability are the key issues that restrict the [...] Read more.
Wearable health monitoring smart systems based on flexible metal films are considered to be the next generation of devices for remote medical practice. However, cracks on the metallic surface of the films and difficulty in repeatability are the key issues that restrict the application of such wearable strain sensors. In this work, a flexible wearable strain sensor with high sensitivity and good repeatability was fabricated based on a patterned metal/polymer composite material fabricated through nanoimprint lithography. The mechanical properties were measured through cyclic tension and bending loading. The sensor exhibited a small ΔR/R0 error line for multiple test pieces, indicating the good mechanical stability and repeatability of the fabricated device. Moreover, the sensor possesses high sensitivity with gauge factors of 10 for strain less than 50% and 40 for strain from 50% to 70%. Various activities were successfully detected in real-time, such as swallowing, closing/opening of the mouth, and multi-angle bending of elbow, which illustrates the proposed sensor’s potential as a wearable device for the human body. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Printable and Flexible Electronics for Sensors)
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17 pages, 2987 KiB  
Article
Microfluidic In-Flow Decantation Technique Using Stepped Pillar Arrays and Hydraulic Resistance Tuners
by Gangadhar Eluru, Pavan Nagendra and Sai Siva Gorthi
Micromachines 2019, 10(7), 471; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10070471 - 15 Jul 2019
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3989
Abstract
Separating the particles from the liquid component of sample solutions is important for several microfluidic-based sample preparations and/or sample handling techniques, such as plasma separation from whole blood, sheath-free flow focusing, particle enrichment etc. This paper presents a microfluidic in-flow decantation technique that [...] Read more.
Separating the particles from the liquid component of sample solutions is important for several microfluidic-based sample preparations and/or sample handling techniques, such as plasma separation from whole blood, sheath-free flow focusing, particle enrichment etc. This paper presents a microfluidic in-flow decantation technique that provides the separation of particles from particle-free fluid while in-flow. The design involves the expansion of sample fluid channel in lateral and depth directions, thereby producing a particle-free layer towards the walls of the channel, followed by gradual extraction of this particle-free fluid through a series of tiny openings located towards one-end of the depth-direction. The latter part of this design is quite crucial in the functionality of this decantation technique and is based on the principle called wee-extraction. The design, theory, and simulations were presented to explain the principle-of-operation. To demonstrate the proof-of-principle, the experimental characterization was performed on beads, platelets, and blood samples at various hematocrits (2.5%–45%). The experiments revealed clog-free separation of particle-free fluid for at least an hour of operation of the device and demonstrated purities close to 100% and yields as high as 14%. The avenues to improve the yield are discussed along with several potential applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Particles Separation in Microfluidic Devices)
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12 pages, 2873 KiB  
Article
The Actuation Mechanism of 3D Printed Flexure-Based Robotic Microtweezers
by Alexander Almeida, George Andrews, Devina Jaiswal and Kazunori Hoshino
Micromachines 2019, 10(7), 470; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10070470 - 14 Jul 2019
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4549
Abstract
We report on the design and the modeling of a three-dimensional (3D) printed flexure-based actuation mechanism for robotic microtweezers, the main body of which is a single piece of nylon. Our design aims to fill a void in sample manipulation between two classes [...] Read more.
We report on the design and the modeling of a three-dimensional (3D) printed flexure-based actuation mechanism for robotic microtweezers, the main body of which is a single piece of nylon. Our design aims to fill a void in sample manipulation between two classes of widely used instruments: nano-scale and macro-scale robotic manipulators. The key component is a uniquely designed cam flexure system, which linearly translates the bending of a piezoelectric bimorph actuator into angular displacement. The 3D printing made it possible to realize the fabrication of the cam with a specifically calculated curve, which would otherwise be costly using conventional milling techniques. We first characterized 3D printed nylon by studying sets of simple cantilevers, which provided fundamental characteristics that could be used for further designs. The finite element method analysis based on the obtained material data matched well with the experimental data. The tweezers showed angular displacement from 0° to 10° linearly to the deflection of the piezo actuator (0–1.74 mm) with the linearity error of 0.1°. Resonant frequency of the system with/without working tweezer tips was discovered as 101 Hz and 127 Hz, respectively. Our design provides simple and low-cost construction of a versatile manipulator system for samples in the micro/meso-scale (0.1–1 mm). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Micromachines)
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14 pages, 16516 KiB  
Article
The Hybrid Fabrication Process of Metal/Silicon Composite Structure for MEMS S&A Device
by Tengjiang Hu, Kuang Fang, Zhiming Zhang, Xiaohua Jiang and Yulong Zhao
Micromachines 2019, 10(7), 469; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10070469 - 13 Jul 2019
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3578
Abstract
The micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) safety-and-arming (S&A) device has the features of integration and miniaturization, which is one of the important directions of weapon development. Confined by the fabrication process, the silicon-based devices are too fragile, and the metal-based devices are low precision. In [...] Read more.
The micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) safety-and-arming (S&A) device has the features of integration and miniaturization, which is one of the important directions of weapon development. Confined by the fabrication process, the silicon-based devices are too fragile, and the metal-based devices are low precision. In order to solve the contradiction between high precision and high structure strength, a metal/silicon composite structure is proposed in this paper, and a hybrid fabrication process is introduced. This new method mainly consists of metal sputtering, electroplating, and (inductively–coupled-plasma) ICP etching. As the resolution of the thick dry film is limited, the process of a femtosecond laser is applied to refine the structure, and the Ni plate (a block of 1 mm × 3 mm × 0.3 mm with a cavity of ϕ 0.85 mm × 0.3 mm in the center) is fabricated on the silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer successfully. After the double sides are etched by ICP, the SOI wafer is immersed in a buffered-oxide-etch (BOE) etchant to remove the buried layer. The cover plate acts as the encapsulation and is bonded with the SOI wafer by the epoxy glue. Then, the temporary support beam of the device is broken by the probe, and the suspended composite structure can be fully released. The hybrid process is the integration of the silicon-based process and the metal-based process, which can combine the advantages of both high precision and a high structure strength. The process proposed here is suitable for the application of weapon miniaturization. Full article
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10 pages, 2526 KiB  
Article
Dark-Field Scattering and Local SERS Mapping from Plasmonic Aluminum Bowtie Antenna Array
by Thang Duy Dao, Chung Vu Hoang, Natsuki Nishio, Naoki Yamamoto, Akihiko Ohi, Toshihide Nabatame, Masakazu Aono and Tadaaki Nagao
Micromachines 2019, 10(7), 468; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10070468 - 13 Jul 2019
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3713
Abstract
On the search for the practical plasmonic materials beyond noble metals, aluminum has been emerging as a favorable candidate as it is abundant and offers the possibility of tailoring the plasmonic resonance spanning from ultra-violet to the infrared range. In this letter, in [...] Read more.
On the search for the practical plasmonic materials beyond noble metals, aluminum has been emerging as a favorable candidate as it is abundant and offers the possibility of tailoring the plasmonic resonance spanning from ultra-violet to the infrared range. In this letter, in combination with the numerical electromagnetic simulations, we experimentally study the dark-field scattering spectral mapping of plasmonic resonance from the free-standing Al bowtie antenna arrays and correlate their strong nearfield enhancement with the sensing capability by means of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. The spatial matching of plasmonic and Raman mapping puts another step to realize a very promising application of free-standing Al bowtie antennas for plasmonic sensing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Infrared Nanophotonics: Materials, Devices, and Applications)
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9 pages, 1960 KiB  
Article
Design and Performance of a J Band MEMS Switch
by Naibo Zhang, Ze Yan, Ruiliang Song, Chunting Wang, Qiuquan Guo and Jun Yang
Micromachines 2019, 10(7), 467; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10070467 - 13 Jul 2019
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2411
Abstract
This paper presents a novel J band (220–325 GHz) MEMS switch design. The equivalent circuits, the major parameters, capacitance, inductance and resistance in the circuit were extracted and calculated quantitatively to carry out the radio frequency analysis. In addition, the mechanical property of [...] Read more.
This paper presents a novel J band (220–325 GHz) MEMS switch design. The equivalent circuits, the major parameters, capacitance, inductance and resistance in the circuit were extracted and calculated quantitatively to carry out the radio frequency analysis. In addition, the mechanical property of the switch structure is analyzed, and the switching voltage is obtained. With the designed parameters, the MEMS switch is fabricated. The measurement results are in good agreement with simulation results, and the switch is actuated under a voltage of ~30 V. More importantly, the switch has achieved a low insertion loss of ~1.2 dB at 220 GHz and <~4 dB from 220 GHz to 270 GHz in the “UP” state, and isolation of ~16 dB from 220 GHz to 320 GHz in the “DOWN” state. Such switch shows great potential in the integration for terahertz components. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanodevices for Microwave and Millimeter Wave Applications)
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6 pages, 175 KiB  
Editorial
Editorial for the Special Issue on Neural Electrodes: Design and Applications
by Joseph J. Pancrazio and Stuart F. Cogan
Micromachines 2019, 10(7), 466; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10070466 - 12 Jul 2019
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2406
Abstract
Neural electrodes enable the recording and stimulation of bioelectrical activity from the nervous system [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neural Microelectrodes: Design and Applications)
10 pages, 3953 KiB  
Article
Investigation of Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) in MoS2- and WS2-Protected Titanium Side-Polished Optical Fiber as a Humidity Sensor
by Rozalina Zakaria, Nur Aina’a Mardhiah Zainuddin, Tan Chee Leong, Rosnadiya Rosli, Muhammad Farid Rusdi, Sulaiman Wadi Harun and Iraj Sadegh Amiri
Micromachines 2019, 10(7), 465; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10070465 - 11 Jul 2019
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 3859
Abstract
In this paper, we report the effects of a side-polished fiber (SPF) coated with titanium (Ti) films in different thicknesses, namely 5 nm, 13 nm, and 36 nm, protected by a thin layer of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS [...] Read more.
In this paper, we report the effects of a side-polished fiber (SPF) coated with titanium (Ti) films in different thicknesses, namely 5 nm, 13 nm, and 36 nm, protected by a thin layer of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and tungsten disulfide (WS2), which provide ultra-sensitive sensor-based surface plasmon resonance (SPR) covering from the visible to mid-infrared region. The SPF deposited with Ti exhibits strong evanescent field interaction with the MoS2 and WS2, and good optical absorption, hence resulting in high-sensitivity performance. Incremental increases in the thickness of the Ti layer contribute to the enhancement of the intensity of transmission with redshift and broad spectra. The findings show that the optimum thickness of Ti with 36 nm combined with MoS2 causes weak redshifts of the longitudinal localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) mode, while the same thickness of Ti with WS2 causes large blueshifts. The redshifts are possibly due to a reduced plasmon-coupling effect with the excitonic region of MoS2. The observed blueshifts of the LSPR peak position are possibly due to surface modification between WS2 and Ti. Changing the relative humidity from 58% to 88% only elicited a response in Ti/MoS2. Thus, MoS2 shows more sensitivity on 36-nm thickness of Ti compared with WS2. Therefore, the proposed fiber-optic sensor with integration of 2D materials is capable of measuring humidity in any environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue MEMS/NEMS Sensors: Fabrication and Application, Volume II)
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13 pages, 3926 KiB  
Article
Flexible Electrowetting-on-Dielectric Microlens Array Sheet
by Kari L. Van Grinsven, Alireza Ousati Ashtiani and Hongrui Jiang
Micromachines 2019, 10(7), 464; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10070464 - 11 Jul 2019
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3643
Abstract
We have fabricated a fully-flexible, focus-tunable microlens array on a sheet and demonstrated its imaging capabilities. Each liquid lens of the array is individually tunable via electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) actuation and is situated on a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate, which allows the lens [...] Read more.
We have fabricated a fully-flexible, focus-tunable microlens array on a sheet and demonstrated its imaging capabilities. Each liquid lens of the array is individually tunable via electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) actuation and is situated on a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate, which allows the lens array to operate as a reconfigurable optical system. In particular, we observed a significant increase in the field of view (FOV) of the system to 40.4° by wrapping it on a cylindrical surface as compared to the FOV of 21.5° obtained by the array on a planer surface. We also characterized the liquid lenses of the system, observing a range of focus length from 20.2 mm to 9.2 mm as increased voltage was applied to each EWOD lens. A Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensor (SHWS) was used to measure the wavefront of the lens as it was actuated, and the aberrations of the lens were assessed by reporting the Zernike coefficients of the wavefronts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section A：Physics)
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18 pages, 7786 KiB  
Article
Ergonomic Mechanical Design and Assessment of a Waist Assist Exoskeleton for Reducing Lumbar Loads During Lifting Task
by Xu Yong, Zefeng Yan, Can Wang, Chao Wang, Nan Li and Xinyu Wu
Micromachines 2019, 10(7), 463; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10070463 - 10 Jul 2019
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 6552
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to develop a wearable waist exoskeleton to provide back support for industrial workers during repetitive lifting tasks and to assess reductions in back muscular activity. The ergonomic mechanical structure is convenient to employ in different applications. The [...] Read more.
The purpose of this study was to develop a wearable waist exoskeleton to provide back support for industrial workers during repetitive lifting tasks and to assess reductions in back muscular activity. The ergonomic mechanical structure is convenient to employ in different applications. The exoskeleton attaches to the wearer’s body with 4 straps, takes only 30 s to put the exoskeleton on without additional help, weighs just 5 kg and is easy to carry. The mechanical clutch can assist the wearer as needed. Inertia Measurement Unit (IMU) was used to detect wearers’ motion intention. Ten subjects participated in the trial. Lower back muscle integrated electromyography (IEMG) of the left and right lumbar erector spinae (LES), thoracic erector spinae (TES), latissimus dorsi (LD) were compared in symmetrical lifting for six different objects (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 kg) under two conditions of with and without the exoskeleton. The exoskeleton significantly reduced the back muscular activity during repetitive lifting tasks. The average integrated electromyography reductions were 34.0%, 33.9% and 24.1% for LES, TES and LD respectively. The exoskeleton can reduce burden and the incidence of strain on lumbar muscles during long-term lifting work. Full article
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12 pages, 2252 KiB  
Article
Sheathless High-Throughput Circulating Tumor Cell Separation Using Viscoelastic non-Newtonian Fluid
by Hyunjung Lim, Seung Min Back, Min Ho Hwang, Dae-Hee Lee, Hyuk Choi and Jeonghun Nam
Micromachines 2019, 10(7), 462; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10070462 - 10 Jul 2019
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 3512
Abstract
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have attracted increasing attention as important biomarkers for clinical and biological applications. Several microfluidic approaches have been demonstrated to separate CTCs using immunoaffinity or size difference from other blood cells. This study demonstrates a sheathless, high-throughput separation of CTCs [...] Read more.
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have attracted increasing attention as important biomarkers for clinical and biological applications. Several microfluidic approaches have been demonstrated to separate CTCs using immunoaffinity or size difference from other blood cells. This study demonstrates a sheathless, high-throughput separation of CTCs from white blood cells (WBCs) using a viscoelastic fluid. To determine the fluid viscoelasticity and the flow rate for CTC separation, and to validate the device performance, flow characteristics of 6, 13, and 27 μm particles in viscoelastic fluids with various concentrations were estimated at different flow rates. Using 0.2% hyaluronic acid (HA) solution, MCF-7 (Michigan Cancer Foundation-7) cells mimicking CTCs in this study were successfully separated from WBCs at 500 μL/min with a separation efficiency of 94.8%. Small amounts of MCF-7 cells (~5.2%) were found at the center outlet due to the size overlap with WBCs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microfluidics for Soft Matter and Mechanobiology, Volume I)
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