2000 — 2005 |
Yang, Tao (co-PI) [⬀] Petzold, Linda [⬀] Mezic, Igor (co-PI) [⬀] Macdonald, Noel Tirrell, Matthew (co-PI) [⬀] |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Itr: Computational Infrastructure For Microfluidic Systems With Applications to Biotechnology @ University of California-Santa Barbara
The applications of microfluidic devices (which involve liquids moving in spaces measured in micrometers, i.e. millionths of a meter) are growing explosively. As a specific example, consider the development of microsystems for blood testing and screening. For consumers, one could envision devices available in drugstores that could perform genetic screening for conditions of concern to individuals. At a larger scale, use of such devices in blood banks could significantly reduce the time and blood lost in screening the 14 million pints of blood donated per year. Sample preparation is a critical bottleneck in the development of integrated miniature analytical systems, and it remains largely unaddressed. It is currently done outside the microsystem by mixing, shaking, and pipetting, because there are no effective integrated design method. Improved computational methods promise to allow integration and interconnection of microfluidics. This will have an effect analogous to automated methods for VLSI design on microelectronics; it will revolutionize the field.
This project will develop a computational infrastructure for simulation and design of microfluidic systems involving non-Newtonian, micrometer/nanometer-scale flows dominated by surface-related phenomena. Computational tools and analytical tools will be developed and used to compare with theoretical and experimental results. The project emphasizes methods to deliver complex molecules to flow surfaces, to create surface reaction sites and to provide the components for molecular-scale mixing and dispensing. It will design, fabricate, and characterize both stationary and oscillating MEMS fluidic channels and surfaces to evaluate molecular-scale mixing, flow, delivery, and dispensing of complex biological fluids. The focus will be on surface dominated flow and reaction phenomena that can be scaled for delivery of single molecules to programmed reaction sites. Such surface-related phenomena should find broad application in making MEMS-based, "chip-scale" analytical instruments and "biochips". The computational tools required to analyze and design such devices are currently nonexistent. This project brings together a team of computer scientists, numerical analysts, fluid dynamicists, experimentalists, and microscale process theoreticians who will collaborate closely on creating those tools and using them.
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0.915 |
2004 — 2008 |
Safinya, Cyrus (co-PI) [⬀] Mezic, Igor (co-PI) [⬀] Macdonald, Noel Meinhart, Carl [⬀] |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Nirt: Titanium-Based Biomolecular Manipulation Tools @ University of California-Santa Barbara
PROPOSAL NO.: CTS-0404444 PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: CARL MEINHART INSTITUTION: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA- SANTA BARBARA
NIRT: TITANIUM-BASED BIOMOLECULAR MANIPULATION TOOLS
This proposal was received in response to Nanoscale Science and Engineering initiative, NSF 03-043, category NIRT. Novel micro/nanofluidic chips will be develop and optimized for separating, mixing, concentrating and positioning biomolecules and cells. Pioneering work in titanium micro/nanofabrication technology with alternating current electrokinetics & microfluidics will be developed to provide unique tools for the biotechnology industry. Titanium is a relatively new platform for fabrication of nanostructures. It allows complicated 3-D electrode structures to be fabricated, and is biologically compatible. Theoretical and experimental analysis of electrokinetic phenomena will be conducted to investigate details of the underlying physics. The titanium fabrication technology has the potential to revolutionize micro/nanoscale devices, especially in the areas of biotechnology, drug delivery, and in vivo sensing & probing, where durability and bio-compatibility are critical. The advanced electrokinetics and nanoscale electrode structures can be used to concentrate small (~50 nm) proteins and viral particles, which has not been achievable previously using dielectrophoresis. This research project will provide an opportunity to educate graduate students in the areas of micro/nano fabrication, nanofluidics, electrokinetics, and cell culturing in micro/nanodevices. The PIs teach a newly-developed three course sequence at the senior/graduate level on MEMS/NEMS design & fabrication, micro/nanofluidics & electrokinetics. These courses give students broad exposure to fundamental issues and the current state of the art in MEMS/NEMS and train students for careers and research opportunities in nanotechnology. The research program will also be used to advance underrepresented groups in science and engineering. In addition, the PIs will continue their outreach activities at local high schools, educating students and teachers about how science and technology impacts society, and encouraging students to pursue careers in nanotechnology & science.
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0.915 |