Development of a microfluidic biochip for online monitoring of fungal biofilm dynamics.

Microfabricated biochips are developed to continuously monitor cell population dynamics in a non-invasive manner. In the presented work we describe the novel combination of contact-less dielectric microsensors and microfluidics to promote biofilm formation for quantitative cell analysis. The cell chip consists of a polymeric fluidic (PDMS) system bonded to a glass wafer containing the electrodes while temperature and fluid flow are controlled by external heating and pumping stations.

Synthesis of single-crystalline Zn metal nanowires utilizing cold-wall physical vapor deposition.

Zinc metal nanowires (NWs) of two different morphologies have been synthesized in a cold-wall physical vapor deposition (CWPVD) chamber at high vacuum conditions and growth temperatures of 150 degrees C. Substrates initially seeded by gold or platinum crystals show NWs of wool-like and/or unidirectional morphologies. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies revealed that the rodlike NWs consist of single-crystalline Zn covered with a thin native oxide.