Abstract:
A soft robotic device with one or more sensors is described. The sensor may be embedded in the soft body of the soft robotic device, attached to the soft body of the soft robotic device, or otherwise linked to the soft body of the soft robotic device.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to articles comprising smudge-resistant anti-reflective surfaces, and products and devices comprising the articles.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to substrates comprising amplified patterns, methods for making the amplified patterns, and methods of using the amplified patterns to form surface features on the substrates.
Abstract:
Three-dimensional microfluidic devices including by a plurality of patterned porous, hydrophilic layers and a fluid-impermeable layer disposed between every two adjacent patterned porous, hydrophilic layers are described. Each patterned porous, hydrophilic layer has a fluid-impermeable barrier which substantially permeates the thickness of the porous, hydrophilic layer and defines boundaries of one or more hydrophilic regions within the patterned porous, hydrophilic layer. The fluid-impermeable layer has openings which are aligned with at least part of the hydrophilic region within at least one adjacent patterned porous, hydrophilic layer. Microfluidic assay device, microfluidic mixer, microfluidic flow control device are also described.
Abstract:
The present invention generally relates to the charging of materials via contact electrification, including systems and methods of assembly using contact electrification. One aspect of the present invention is directed to systems and methods of identifying and synthesizing nonionic polymeric materials that can be charged using contact electrification. Another aspect of the present invention is directed to methods of localizing charged particles or other materials on such surfaces, for example, in the presence of a controlled humidity environment. Yet another aspect of the present invention is directed to a surface comprising positively and negatively charged regions. Oppositely charged materials may be attracted to those regions. Other aspects of the invention are directed to methods of making, using, and promoting such materials, or kits containing such materials.
Abstract:
Articles and methods for forming structures in microfluidic channels are provided. Methods described herein may include the use of spatially-defined flows of fluid within microchannels to form portions of gel (e.g., gel structures) inside the microchannels. The gel structures may be formed by flowing, e.g., laminarly, one or more streams of fluid in a microfluidic channel, at least one of the streams including a gel precursor. The stream(s) of gel precursor can be polymerized to form one or more gel structures by various methods such as by application of heat. Advantageously, the dimensions of the gel structures may be varied, for example, by applying different flow rates to the fluid streams, choosing different viscosities of the fluids, and/or by varying the dimensions of the microchannel. Using such methods, different configurations of gel structures in microfluidic channels can be formed. Gel structures having different components encapsulated therein may also be formed. Articles and methods described herein may involve, in some embodiments, i) culturing cells within or on surfaces of the gel portions, ii) patterning different types of cells on or in adjacent gel structures, and/or iii) applying gradients of soluble factors across the cell-containing gel portions. Such structures may be used for studying intercellular communication between cells cultured within biologically-derived, 3-D matrices of microscopic size.
Abstract:
In one aspect, methods of patterning of thin films of an ionotropic polymer (e.g., poly(acrylic acid)) are provided. These processes can create micron or sub-micron-scale patterns of ionotropic polymers such as cation crosslinked poly(acrylic acid) (CCL- PAA). In one embodiment, patterning may be performed within microfluidic channels by flowing a solution of crosslinking agent (e.g., metal cations such as Ag+, Ca2+, Pd2+, Al3+, La3+, and Ti4+) that can crosslink a portion of an ionotropic polymer in contact with the solution. In another embodiment, methods of patterning ionotropic polymers involve photolithography. Upon patterning a positive photoresist (e.g., diazonaphthoquinone- novolac resin) on a film of CCL-PAA, the exposed regions of CCL-PAA can be etched by an aqueous solution. Advantageously, the patterned, crosslinked polymer may also serve as both a reactant and a matrix for subsequent chemistry. For example, in some embodiments, the initial crosslinking cation can be exchanged for a second cation that could not be patterned photolithographically. Patterned films of CCL-PAA can also be used to host and template the reduction of metallic cations to metallic nanoparticles, and to fabricate porous, low-k dielectric substrates.
Abstract:
The ability to levitate, to separate, and to detect changes in density using diamagnetic particles suspended in solutions containing paramagnetic cations using an inhomogeneous magnetic field is described. The major advantages of this separation device are that: i) it is a simple apparatus that does not require electric power (a set of permanent magnets and gravity are sufficient for the diamagnetic separation and collection system to work); ii) it is compatible with simple optical detection (provided that transparent materials are used to fabricate the containers/channels where separation occurs; iii) it is simple to collect the separated particles for further processing; iv) it does not require magnetic labeling of the particles/materials; and v) it is small, portable. The method and kits provided provide for separation and collection of materials of different densities, diagnostics for detection of analytes of interest, monitoring of solid-supported chemical reactions and determination of densities of solid and liquid mixtures.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to edge-emitting light-emitting diode arrays, a process to prepare the edge-emitting light-emitting diode arrays, and process products prepared by the process.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein are a variety of microfluidic devices and solid, typically electrically conductive devices that can be formed using such devices as molds. In certain embodiments, the devices that are formed comprise conductive pathways formed by solidifying a liquid metal present in one or more microfluidic channels (such devices hereinafter referred to as "microsolidic" devices). In certain such devices, in which electrical connections can be formed and/or reformed between regions in a microfluidic structure; in some cases, the devices/circuits formed may be flexible and/or involve flexible electrical components. In certain embodiments, the solid metal wires/conductive pathways formed in microfluidic channel(s) may remain contained within the microfluidic structure. In certain such embodiments, the conductive pathways formed may be located in proximity to other microfluidic channel(s) of the structure that carry flowing fluid, such that the conductive pathway can create energy (e.g. electromagnetic and/or thermal energy) that interacts withy and/or affects the flowing fluid and/or a component contained therein or carried thereby. In other embodiments, a microsolidic structure may be removed from a microfluidic mold to form a stand-alone structure. In certain embodiments, the solid metal structures formed may interact with light energy incident upon a structure or may be used to fabricate a light-weight electrode. Another aspect of the invention relates to the formation of self-assembled structures that may comprise these electrically conductive pathways/connections.