The chemical decoration of biosilica shells (frustules) from microalgae with several classes of organic molecules is a convenient, scalable biotechnological route to silica nanostructures with applications ranging from photonics to biomedicine. Here we report for the first time the in vivo staining of Thalassiosira weissflogii diatoms with a two photon red emitting triphenylamine-based fluorescent dye bearing a triethoxysilyl functional group (tPhA-Silane). In vivo staining of the cells has been investigated with confocal microscopy and hybrid silica structures comprising the dye embedded into the biosilica have been isolated by proper protocols able to remove the organic protoplasm.

Graphene based devices have already proven to be extremely sensitive and very useful in a wide spectrum of bioelectronics research. In the manuscript we describe a method to fabricate arrays of graphene-based probes, requiring minimal number of fabrication steps, while maintaining overall device functionality. These polyimide-based probes are approximately 6 µm thick, therefore ultraflexible, yet robust and stable. Devices, such as graphene field effect transistors (GFETs) and graphene multielectrode arrays (GMEAs) have been designed, fabricated and tested for their performance. The flexible GFETs exhibit sensitivity, i.e. transconductance up to 700 µS/V, which an order of magnitude larger compared to typical silicon transistors. Multiple probe per wafer design allows us to fabricate different kinds of devices on one 4-inch wafer, consequently increasing a possible range of applications from e.g. retinal to cortical neuroprosthetics.

In this study, we present a 4-channel intracortical glassy carbon (GC) microelectrode array on a flexible substrate for the simultaneous in vivo neural activity recording and dopamine (DA) concentration measurement at four different brain locations (220µm vertical spacing). The ability of GC microelectrodes to detect DA was firstly assessed in vitro in phosphate-buffered saline solution and then validated in vivo measuring spontaneous DA concentration in the Striatum of European Starling songbird through fast scan cyclic voltammetry(FSCV). The capability of GC microelectrode arrays and commercial penetrating metal microelectrode arrays to record neural activity from the Caudomedial Neostriatum of European starling songbird was compared. Preliminary results demonstrated the ability of GC microelectrodes in detecting neurotransmitters release and recording neural activity in vivo. GC microelectrodes array may, therefore, offer a new opportunity to understand the intimate relations linking electrophysiological parameters with neurotransmitters release.

This work further advances the micromagnetic stimulation (μMS) technology, which has shown the capability of stimulating the nervous system using magnetic induction in a focal region of tissue by discharging a time-varying current through a sub-millimeter size coil. However, μMS was originally based on commercial off the shelf (COTS) inductors, which are designed to maximize efficiency and minimize its losses albeit shielding off the magnetic field from reaching the neural tissue. In this work, we study and fabricate microscale coil structures for next-generation μMS devices. The coil was designed to optimize the flux injected into the tissue by using a planar square spiral coil geometry, which was previously shown to be optimal for neuronal stimulation. The results of the electromagnetic Finite Elements Method (FEM) simulations of the proposed μMS device show that even though the spiral has a fully symmetric design, it nonetheless exhibits an asymmetry in the induced electric field in the tissue that can potentially be used for activating neurons with a specific axonal orientation. Such devices could become the brain and heart stimulators of the future with their contactless ability to deliver the neuronal stimulation needed for therapeutic efficacy in patients in need of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators or pace-makers, or patients with Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy.

Bioinspired micromanipulators have been made based on gecko dynamic self-cleaning mechanism. Various particles such as spherical SiO2/polystyrene, and short fibrous glass can be captured, transmitted and dropped on glass substrate with precisely predesigned patterns, by using the micromanipulator with the help of atomic force microscope (AFM). It has been demonstrated that particle-pad interface and particle-substrate interface exhibit diverse adhesion behaviors under different z-piezo retracting speed. The particle-substrate adhesion increases faster than the particle-pad adhesion with increasing the detaching velocity, which makes it possible to manipulate the particles by adjusting the retreating speed only. Probability tests was performed to better choose suitable parameters for picking and dropping operations. This work provides a potential solution to manipulation of micro/nano particles for precise assembly.

Engineered non-wetting surfaces inspired by biological species are of interest in the industry due to their potential applications such as water repelling, self-cleaning, anti-icing, anti-corrosion, anti-fouling, and low fluid drag surfaces. However, the adoption of non-wetting surfaces in large scale industrial applications has been hampered by synthesis techniques that are not easily scalable and the limited long term stability and wear robustness of these surfaces in service. In this study, we demonstrate a simple, low cost, and scalable electrochemical technique to produce robust composite coatings with tunable non-wetting properties. The composite coatings are composed of an ultra-fine grain nickel matrix with embedded hydrophobic cerium oxide ceramic particles. Comprehensive characterization, including wetting property measurements, electron microscopy, focused ion beam analysis, hardness measurements, and abrasive wear testing were performed to establish the structure-property relationships for these materials. The grain refinement of the nickel matrix contributes to the high hardness of the composites. As a result of the bimodal CeO2 particle size, hierarchical roughness is present on the surface of the composite, leading to remarkable non-wetting properties, even after 720 m of abrasive wear.

Flexible sensors are fundamental components of flexible electronics allowing a great number of applications from compliant robots to biomonitoring devices. The present work developed a carbohydrate-based elastomer (CBE) which possesses flexibility and tunable properties to meet the requirements of several sensing applications. Specifically, CBE was engineered to have high elasticity and sensing capabilities to humidity, stress and strain, enabling possible applications for monitoring physiological and external mechanical stimuli. These sensing capabilities of CBE were also adjustable to meet the requirements of applications such as electronic skin and wearable electronics.

This work shows a part of a theoretical study of Polymer-Clay Nanocomposites (PCN) formed by an acetylated amylose segment and fatty acids present in the Pequi oil, a fruit from the Brazilian Cerrado, in aqueous medium, including or not, organophilized montmorillonite (MMT-O). The simulated systems aim to provide qualitative information about the molecular movement among diverse chemical species; their structural and behavioral correlations and essential intermolecular forces. The calculations were carried out by Molecular Mechanics and Dynamics methods with the Polymer Consistent Force Field-interface. Simulation results had shown behavioral differences between systems. Without MMT-O, the acetyl amylose residues quickly became coiled, most of the fatty acids cover its surface, and water molecules are stabilized over the polysaccharide portions free of fatty acids. With MMT-O the fatty acids show a potential plasticizing effect due to the greater compatibility between the components of the studied system, since the organic assemblage is strongly attracted by the electrostatic force of the clay. Besides, water molecules flow to the clay layer, while the non polar portion of fatty acids increase their flexibility, in spite to stay attached to acetyl amylose, progressively coiled, through hydrogen bonds. This behavior is interpreted as an improvement in the miscibility of the oil. The new knowledge acquired about these molecular systems encourages us to increase the models complexity, and undertake further studies in the design of PCNs with biopolymers.