Detection of beta-amyloid (1-42) on protein array based on electrical detection technique using scanning tunneling microscopy

In this study an immuno-array for Abeta42 based on scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) was developed using conjugated gold nanoparticle (Au-NP) and antibody (Ab) complex. Fragmented monoclonal Ab against Abeta42 was allowed to immobilize on the Au-dot arrays followed by its target protein Abeta42 and Au NP and Ab complex. The surface structure of Au-NP and Ab complex on Au-dots was investigated with Atomic Force Microscopy and the current profile of fabricated immunosensing element was investigated with STM. The power spectrum derived from the current profile was found to be increasing with higher concentrations of Abeta42 having a detection limit of 100 fg/ml. The proposed technique can be a promising method to construct the highly sensitive and efficient protein chip of immunosensors arrays.     

Electrochemical sensor to detect neurotransmitter using gold nano-island coated ITO electrode

Parkinson disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter in the substantia nigra. In this study, a simple, rapid and inexpensive method to fabricate gold nano-island film (GNIF) coated ITO electrode has been developed based on electrochemical deposition of Au onto ITO substrate. The nanostructured film surface was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) were used to evaluate the electrochemical behavior of induvidul dopamine and uric acid solution were studied. Moreover, GNIF/ITO electrode was applied to detecte DA in the presence of Bovine Serum Albumin (50 microM) as an interference. These results demonstrate that, interfering component has no effect on the determination of DA at GNIF electrode, hence this GNIF electrode is suitable for the determination of DA with high sensitivity and selectivity. Then, GNIF coated ITO electrode was applied to monitor the electrochemical simultaneous detection of dopamine and uric acid mixtures based on CV and DPV with high sensitivity. GNIF-modified ITO electrode showed a linear range for the determination of dopamine concentration from 0.1 microM to 40 microM in the presence of 50 microM of uric acid. Based on these results, the proposed technique can be a promising method to construct a highly sensitive biosensor as well as highly efficient protein chip.     

Intracellular drug delivery of layered double hydroxide nanoparticles

Intracellular drug delivery of layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanocarriers have been examined in human osteosarcoma Saos-2 cell culture line by both electron and confocal microscopies. For transmission electron microsopic (TEM) study, LDHs and anticancer drug, methotrexate (MTX) loaded LDHs were synthesized and the particle size was controlled. From the scanning electron microscopic (SEM) studies, morphologies of LDH nanoparticle and its MTX intercalated form were proven to be platelike hexagonal with an average size of approximately 150 nm. In order to understand the cellular penetration behavior, both nanoparticles were treated to human osteosarcoma Saos-2 cell culture lines and the cellular uptake pattern with respect to incubation time was observed by TEM and SEM. We observed that the nanoparticles are attached at the cellular membrane at first and then internalized into the cells via endocytosis within 1 h. Then are located in the intracellular vacuole (endosome). In order to examine the intracellular drug delivery mechanism of LDH nanoparticles, fluorescein 5-isothiocyanate (FITC) labeled MTX was intercalated into LDH and treated on Saos-2 cells. Laser scanning confocal microscopic studies revealed that the FITC-MTX molecules were first internalized with LDH nanocarriers via endocytosis, and located in endosome to deliver loaded drug to target cellular organ. It was, therefore, concluded that LDH could play a role as drug delivery nanocarriers.     

Diffusion control of porous membrane by modifying the nanopore properties

We have investigated the diffusion of various solvents on nanoporous membranes with various pore size and surface energy. We have modified the size of pore channel and surface energy of porous membrane through grafting different sized alkyl chain on inorganic membranes. Typically, disc type zirconia membranes with pore size of 3 nm and silica ones with 1 nm pore were purchased from Inocermic Co. Ltd. (Germany), and the surface and pore channel was modified by either octyltriethoxysilane (OTS) with chain length approximately 1 nm or pentyltriethoxysilane (PTS) with chain length approximately 0.5 nm. The water contact angles of both OTS and PTS grafted membrane were larger than 100 degrees indicating the hydrophobically modified surface. Contact angles of hydrophilic and hydrophobic solvents were also examined to obtain exact surface energy (gamma(sv)) of grafted membrane, and the values were determined to be 56.3, 45.3, and 42.2 mN/m for ungrafted, PTS- and OTS-grafted membrane, respectively. The solvent diffusion patterns were evaluated by measuring the concentration gradient of small dye molecule, azobenzene. The diffusion coefficients of various solvents were measured on the basis of Fick's diffusion law. It was concluded that the diffusivity is dependent on the pore size for solvent with low surface tension and on the gamma(sv) value for solvent with high surface tension.     

Molecular dynamics study of nano mass transfer in a vibrating cantilevered carbon-nanotube

We investigate the nano mass transfer in an ultrahigh frequency carbon-nanotube-resonator encapsulating a nanocluster via classical molecular dynamics simulations. When the carbon-nanotube-resonator vibrated, the encapsulated copper nanocluster more rapidly approached the end of the cantilevered carbon-nanotube-resonator. Such phenomena were due to the migration of the encapsulated copper nanocluster due to the centrifugal force induced by the vibrating nanotube resonator. So the resonance frequency change could be time-dependently found. For the movable copper nanocluster in carbon nanotube resonator, the vibrational spectra when the copper nanocluster inside the carbon nanotube resonator rapidly settled at the capped edge were different from those obtained when the copper nanocluster continuously oscillated inside the carbon nanotube resonator. Such results showed that the frequency of the carbon-nanotube-resonator encapsulating the movable copper nanocluster could be adjusted by controlling the mean position of the oscillating copper nanocluster. The movable nanocluster inside a carbon-nanotube can be applied to a nanotube-based data storage media by sensing the position of the nanocluster.     

Reduce cell to cell charge interference by virtual ground inclusion in 3-dimensional vertical gate NAND flash memory

In this work, we propose a structural modification to the 3-dimensional vertical gate NAND flash memory that will reduce the charge interference caused by stored charge on the opposite facing cell. In the barrier oxide structure (BOS), an oxide layer was inserted into the center of the body to physically block the conduction electrons moving to and from the channel regions influenced by the charge stored on either of the Oxide-Nitride-Oxide (ONO) trap layers. In the virtual ground structure (VGS), a highly p-type doped poly silicon layer was inserted to act as a virtual ground to reduce the electric-field changes caused by the stored change on the ONO trap layers. We investigated the I-V characteristics of the different structures using 3-D TCAD simulation tool, depending on the body type (crystalline or poly silicon) at double programming and single programming. We confirmed that the charge interference problem was reduced significantly by the BOS and VGS modifications in the crystalline silicon and high quality poly silicon body structures.     

Advanced lithography simulation for various 3-dimensional nano/microstructuring fabrications in positive- and negative-tone photoresists

Photoresist lithography has been applied to the fabrication of micro/nano devices, such as microfluidic structures, quantum dots, and photonic devices, in MEMS (micro-electro mechanical systems) and NEMS (nano-electro-mechanical systems). In particular, nano devices can be expected to present different physical phenomena due to their three-dimensional (3D) structure. The flexible 3D micro/nano fabrication technique and its process simulation have become among the major topics needed to understand nano-mechanical phenomena. For this purpose, the moving-mask technology and the lithography processes for the positive- and negative-tone photoresists were modeled. The validity of the simulation of the proposed 3D nano/microstructuring was successfully confirmed by comparing the experiment results and the simulated results. Hence, the developed model and the simulation can present and optimize photoresist characteristics and lithography process conditions due to the various 3D nano/microstructures. They could be help in the understanding of nanomaterial and mechanical phenomena.     

Transparent conductive film fabrication using intercalating silver nanoparticles within carbon nanotube layers

Carbon nanotubes have received attention as alternative materials to indium tin oxide for application in transparent conductive films. Their electrical conductivity, however, still has to be improved. In this study, a layer-by-layer self-assembly process was demonstrated using nano-silver-coated carbon nanotubes, which help improve electrical conductivity. The method was based on the pi-pi interaction between the side walls of the carbon nanotubes and nano-silver clusters that were functionalized with benzyl mercaptan. The self-assembled nano-silver cluster monolayer on the surface of the nanotubes can reduce the interfacial contact resistance, thereby leading to high conductivity at a high transparency. The compound was characterized via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and the four-point probe method.     

Analysis of the inorganic component of autogenous tooth bone graft material

This study was performed to identify the calcium phosphate minerals, chemical element and Ca/P ratio and to examine the surface structure of autogenous tooth bone grafting material (AutoBT) which recently developed and applied clinically as a bone graft materials. The analytical results showed that AutoBT is composed of low-crystalline hydroxyapatite (HA) and possibly other calcium phosphate minerals, which is similar to the minerals of human bone tissues. And the dental crown portion was composed of high-crystalline calcium phosphate minerals (mainly HA) with higher Ca/P ratio while the root portion was mainly composed of low-crystalline calcium phosphates with relatively low Ca/P ratio.     

Development of a robotic system for the bed-ridden

The ability to live without the help of a caretaker enhances the quality of life of those who are bed-ridden or confined to a wheel-chair. A lot of systems have been proposed to support the daily life of bed-ridden. A smart home, especially a bed-type robot system, can help the movement and action of patients.This paper discusses the development of an intelligent bed robot system (IBRS), which can help the elderly and the disabled have independent life in bed. The IBRS is a special bed equipped with two robot arms and an array of pressure sensors attached to the mattress. The pressure distribution on the mattress is used to estimate the pose of the patient, and an appropriate assistance is provided by the robot arms. The proposed system has been tested experimentally for its effectiveness while maximizing the therapeutic outcome.