Contactless Stimulation and Control of Biomimetic Nanotubes by Calcium Ion Gradients.

Membrane tubular structures are important communication pathways between cells and cellular compartments. Studying these structures in their native environment is challenging, due to the complexity of membranes and varying chemical conditions within and outside of the cells. This work demonstrates that a calcium ion gradient, applied to a synthetic lipid nanotube, triggers lipid flow directed toward the application site, resulting in the formation of a bulge aggregate.

SU-8 free-standing microfluidic probes.

We present a process for fabrication of free-standing SU-8 probes, with a dry, mechanical release of the final micro-devices. The process utilizes the thermal release tape, a commonly used cleanroom material, for facile heat-release from the sacrificial layer. For characterization of the SU-8 microfluidic probes, two liquid interfaces were designed: a disposable interface with integrated wells and an interface with external liquid reservoirs.

A combination of experimental and finite element analyses of needle-tissue interaction to compute the stresses and deformations during injection at different angles.

One of the main clinical applications of the needles is its practical usage in the femoral vein catheterization. Annually more than two million peoples in the United States are exposed to femoral vein catheterization. How to use the input needles into the femoral vein has a key role in the sense of pain in post-injection and possible injuries, such as tissue damage and bleeding.

Nanopatterning of mobile lipid monolayers on electron-beam-sculpted Teflon AF surfaces.

Direct electron-beam lithography is used to fabricate nanostructured Teflon AF surfaces, which are utilized to pattern surface-supported monolayer phospholipid films with 50 nm lateral feature size. In comparison with unexposed Teflon AF coatings, e-beam-irradiated areas show reduced surface tension and surface potential. For phospholipid monolayer spreading experiments, these areas can be designed to function as barriers that enclose unexposed areas of nanometer dimensions and confine the lipid film within.

Genetic characterization of Giardia duodenalis by sequence analysis in humans and animals in Pemba Island, Tanzania.

Giardia duodenalis represents one of the most widespread human enteric parasites: about 200million people in Asia, Africa and Latin America are infected. Giardia exerts a deep impact on public health because of high prevalence and possible effects on growth and cognitive functions in infected children. The major aim of this study was to detect and genetically characterize G.