Experimental results of chemical recording using thermally sensitive liposomes

Abstract

A new generation of inertial measurement technology is being developed enabling a 10-micron particle to be "aware" of its geospatial location and respond to this information. The proposed approach combines an inertially-sensitive nanostructure or nano fluid/structure system with a nano-sized chemical reactor that functions as an analog computer. By using chemistry to perform the necessary computational steps in our device, it is possible to overcome traditional limitations on device size. The proposed nanodevice utilizes mechanical sensing and chemical recording to record the time history of various state variables. Using a micro-track containing regions of different temperatures and thermallysensitive liposomes (TSL), a range of accelerations can be recorded and the position determined. Through careful design, TSL can be developed that have unique transition temperatures and each class of TSL will contain a unique DNA sequence that serves as an identifier. Acceleration can be detected through buoyancy-driven convection. As the liposomes travel to regions of warmer temperature, they will release their contents at the recording site, thus documenting the acceleration. This paper will present the initial proof-of-concept experimental results achieved from chemical recording of the state variable temperature. The experiment focuses on the liposome release of the DNA due to temperature variations and subsequent binding and recording of the time history. These results prove the feasibility of this method of sensing and recording of the history of state variables.