3D direct laser writing of nano- and microstructured hierarchical gecko-mimicking surfaces.

Applying 3D direct laser writing, artificial hierarchical gecko-type structures are designed and fabricated down to nanometer dimensions. In this way, the elastic modulus and the length scale of the gecko's setae are very closely matched. Direct laser writing is a very flexible rapid prototyping method allowing the fabrication of arbitrary nanostructures.

Maskless projection lithography for the fast and flexible generation of grayscale protein patterns.

Protein patterns of different shapes and densities are useful tools for studies of cell behavior and to create biomaterials that induce specific cellular responses. Up to now the dominant techniques for creating protein patterns are mostly based on serial writing processes or require templates such as photomasks or elastomer stamps. Only a few of these techniques permit the creation of grayscale patterns.

Design and integration of a generic disposable array-compatible sensor housing into an integrated disposable indirect microfluidic flow injection analysis system.

We describe an integration strategy for arbitrary sensors intended to be used as biosensors in biomedical or bioanalytical applications. For such devices ease of handling (by a potential end user) as well as strict disposable usage are of importance. Firstly we describe a generic array compatible polymer sensor housing with an effective sample volume of 1.

Plastic lab-on-a-chip for fluorescence excitation with integrated organic semiconductor lasers.

Laser light excitation of fluorescent markers offers highly sensitive and specific analysis for bio-medical or chemical analysis. To profit from these advantages for applications in the field or at the point-of-care, a plastic lab-on-a-chip with integrated organic semiconductor lasers is presented here. First order distributed feedback lasers based on the organic semiconductor tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (Alq3) doped with the laser dye 4-dicyanomethylene-2-methyl-6-(p-dimethylaminostyril)-4H-pyrane (DCM), deep ultraviolet induced waveguides, and a nanostructured microfluidic channel are integrated into a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) substrate.

Fabrication of metal and polymer microstructures.

Microelectrical discharge machining (microEDM) is an innovative manufacturing technique for producing multifunctional metal microcomponents from difficult to machine materials such as nitinol and stainless steel. In addition, the microEDM technique allows the microstructurisation of stainless steel mould inserts for low-cost mass production of components made from various types of polymers.