Photo-attachment of biomolecules for miniaturization on wicking Si-nanowire platform.

We demonstrated the surface functionalization of a highly three-dimensional, superhydrophilic wicking substrate using light to immobilize functional biomolecules for sensor or microarray applications. We showed here that the three-dimensional substrate was compatible with photo-attachment and the performance of functionalization was greatly improved due to both increased surface capacity and reduced substrate reflectivity. In addition, photo-attachment circumvents the problems induced by wicking effect that was typically encountered on superhydrophilic three-dimensional substrates, thus reducing the difficulty of producing miniaturized sites on such substrate.

Nano-topology guided neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells is mediated by miRNAs.

Unlabelled: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are master regulators of gene expression at post-transcriptional level. The present study investigated the involvement of miRNAs in topological guidance of neurite outgrowth in an NGF treated PC12 cell model cultured on nano-patterned polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates fabricated with interference lithography. The expressions of 38 neuronal miRNAs were measured and 3 were found to be differentially regulated during topological guidance of neurite outgrowth.

Uni-, bi-, and tri-directional wetting caused by nanostructures with anisotropic surface energies.

Wetting is a pervasive phenomenon that governs many natural and artificial processes. Asymmetric wetting along a single axis, in particular, has generated considerable interest but has thus far been achieved only by the creation of structural anisotropy. In this paper, we report that such directional wetting can also be achieved by anisotropically coating nanostructure surfaces with materials that modify the nanostructure surface energy, a phenomenon that has not been observed in natural or artificial systems thus far.