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The numerous studies of electrical transport in undoped hydrogenated microcrystalline silicon ͑c-Si: H͒ failed so far to establish an agreement of where does the current flow in this heterogeneous system. Here we present a comprehensive local probe investigation that solves this intriguing question and sets up a self consistent picture of the conduction mechanisms and routes in this system. The corresponding significance regarding the emerging field of percolation in semiconductor composites and the related photovoltaic applications are discussed.

Microfluidics and miniaturization of biosensors are fundamental for the development of point-of-care (PoC) diagnostic and analytical tools with the potential of decreasing reagent consumption and time of analysis while increasing portability. However, interfacing microfluidics with fluid control systems is still a limiting factor in practical implementation. We demonstrate an innovative capillary microfluidic design that allows sequential insertion of controlled volumes of liquids into a microfluidic channel with general applicability. The system requires only the placing of liquids at the corresponding inlets. Subsequently, the different solutions flow inside the microfluidic device sequentially and autonomously without the use of valves using integrated capillary pumps. The capillary microfluidic system is demonstrated with a model immunoassay.

Two novel sandwich-based immunoassays for prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis are reported, in which the primary antibody for capture is replaced by a DNA aptamer. The assays, which can be performed in parallel, were developed in a microfluidic device and tested for the detection of free Prostate Specific Antigen (fPSA). A secondary antibody (Aptamer-Antibody Assay) or a lectin (Aptamer-Lectin Assay) is used to quantify, by chemiluminescence, both the amount of fPSA and its glycosylation levels. The use of aptamers enables a more reliable, selective and controlled sensing of the analyte. The dual approach provides sensitive detection of fPSA along with selective fPSA glycoprofiling, which is of significant importance in the diagnosis and prognosis of PCa, as tumor progression is associated with changes in fPSA glycosylation. With these approaches, we can potentially detect 0.5 ng/mL of fPSA and 3 ng/mL of glycosylated fPSA using Sambucus nigra (SNA) lectin, both within the relevant clinical range. The approach can be applied to a wide range of biomarkers, thus providing a good alternative to standard antibody-based immunoassays with significant impact in medical diagnosis and prognosis.

Electrostatically actuated thin-film amorphous silicon microbridge resonators J. Appl. Phys. 97, 094501 (2005); 10.1063/1.1877820 Micromechanics of actuation of ionic polymer-metal compositesMicrobridge and cantilever electrostatic actuators are fabricated using thin film technology and surface micromachining at low temperatures ͑р100°C͒ on glass substrates. Electrostatic actuation is accomplished by applying a voltage, combining a dc component to a low frequency ac component, between the microstructure and an underlying gate counterelectrode. The movement is optically detected by focusing a laser beam on the top of the structure and monitoring the deviation of the reflected light, which is proportional to the electrostatically induced deflection. The absolute value of the deflection is obtained using a calibrated piezoelectric actuator sample holder. The response of the structure is measured with a precision better than 5 Å. The deflection of the microstructures is studied as a function of the magnitude of the electrostatic load, and of the type ͑bridge or cantilever͒ and geometrical dimensions of the structure. The mechanical movement is analyzed using an electromechanical model and mechanical properties, such as the microstructure boundary conditions and the materials' Young's modulus in the microstructures, are extracted. Nonlinear effects characteristic of electrostatic deflection are observed at high magnitude electrostatic loads. In addition, nonlinear effects due to mechanical stiffening of the microstructures are also observed near the pull-in voltage.

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Phosphorus-doped amorphous-silicon thin-film micromachined mechanical bridge resonators are processed at low temperatures (⩽110 °C) on glass substrates. The microelectromechanical structures are electrostatically actuated, and the resulting deflection is monitored optically. Resonance frequencies in the megahertz range are observed with quality factors up to 5000 when measured in vacuum. The energy dissipation processes in amorphous-silicon thin-film microbridges are discussed. The dominant intrinsic dissipation mechanism is surface loss.

Although, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying Parkinson's disease (PD) are still elusive, it is now known that spreading of alpha-synuclein (aSyn) pathology and neuroinflammation are important players in disease progression. Here, we developed a novel microfluidic cell-culture platform for studying the communication between two different cell populations, a process of critical importance not only in PD but also in many biological processes. The integration of micro-valves in the device enabled us to control fluid routing, cellular microenvironments, and to simulate paracrine signaling. As proof of concept, two sets of experiments were designed to show how this platform can be used to investigate specific molecular mechanisms associated with PD. In one experiment, naïve H4 neuroglioma cells were co-cultured with cells expressing aSyn tagged with GFP (aSyn-GFP), to study the release and spreading of the protein. In our experimental set up, we induced the release of the contents of aSyn-GFP producing cells to the medium and monitored the protein's diffusion. In another experiment, H4 cells were co-cultured with N9 microglial cells to assess the interplay between two cell lines in response to environmental stimuli. Here, we observed an increase in the levels of reactive oxygen species in H4 cells cultured in the presence of activated N9 cells, confirming the cross talk between different cell populations. In summary, the platform developed in this study affords novel opportunities for the study of the molecular mechanisms involved in PD and other neurodegenerative diseases.