Introduction to polymer-based solid-contact ion-selective electrodes-basic concepts, practical considerations, and current research topics.

This review aims at providing an introductory overview for researchers new to the field of ion-selective electrodes. Both state of the art technology and novel developments towards solid-contact reference (sc-RE) and solid-contact ion selective electrodes (sc-ISE) are discussed. This technology has potentially widespread and important applications provided certain performance criteria can be met.

Electrochemical etching of micro-pores in medical grade cobalt-chromium alloy as reservoirs for drug eluting stents.

Drug eluting stents (DES) have shown efficacy in reducing restenosis after angioplasty followed by application of a coronary stent. However, polymer matrices typically used for immobilizing drugs on the stent surface may cause irritation and have limited drug loading capacity. In contrast, drug loading into micro- or nanopores created within the stent material could avoid these problems.

PEDOT-CNT Composite Microelectrodes for Recording and Electrostimulation Applications: Fabrication, Morphology, and Electrical Properties.

Composites of carbon nanotubes and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene, PEDOT) and layers of PEDOT are deposited onto microelectrodes by electropolymerization of ethylenedioxythiophene in the presence of a suspension of carbon nanotubes and polystyrene sulfonate. Analysis by FIB and SEM demonstrates that CNT-PEDOT composites exhibit a porous morphology whereas PEDOT layers are more compact. Accordingly, capacitance and charge injection capacity of the composite material exceed those of pure PEDOT layers.

Multiwalled carbon-nanotube-functionalized microelectrode arrays fabricated by microcontact printing: platform for studying chemical and electrical neuronal signaling.

A facile method is proposed for the deposition of multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) layers onto microelectrode arrays by means of a microcontact printing technique, leading to the fabrication of MEAs characterized by well defined electrical and morphological properties. Using polydimethyl siloxane stamps, produced from different mold designs, a flexibility of printing is achieved that provides access to microscale, nanostructured electrodes. The thickness of MWCNT layers can be exactly predetermined by evaluating the concentration of the MWCNT solution employed in the process.

MicroPrep: chip-based dielectrophoretic purification of mitochondria.

We have developed a microfluidic system--microPrep--for subcellular fractionation of cell homogenates based on dielectrophoretic sorting. Separation of mitochondria isolated from a human lymphoblastoid cell line was monitored by fluorescence microscopy and further characterized by western blot analysis. Robust high throughput and continuous long-term operation for up to 60 h of the microPrep chip system with complex biological samples became feasible as a result of a comprehensive set of technical measures: (i) coating of the inner surfaces of the chip with BSA, (ii) application of mechanical actuators to induce periodic flow patterns, (iii) efficient cooling of the device to ensure integrity of organelle, (iv) a wide channel to provide for high fluidic throughput, and (v) integration of a serial arrangement of 10 dielectrophoretic deflector units to enable separation of samples with a high particle load without clogging.