Microsystem Technology In Chemistry And Life Sciences

"WHAT DOES NOT NEED TO BE BIG, WILL BE SMALL", a word by an engineer at a recent conference on chips technology. This sentence is particularly true for chemistry. Microfabrication technology emerged from microelectronics into areas like mechanics and now chemistry and biology. The engineering of micron and submicron sized features on the surface of silicon, glass and polymers opens a whole new world. Micromotors smaller than human hair have been fabricated and they work fine. It is the declared goal of the authors to bring these different worlds together in this volume. Authors have been carefully chosen to guarantee for the quality of the contents. An engineer, a chemist or a biologist will find new impulses from the various chapters in this book.

With contributions by numerous experts

Written by an interdisciplinary team of chemists, biologists and engineers from one of the leading European centers for microsystem research, MIC in Lyngby, Denmark, this book introduces and discusses the different aspects of (bio)chemical microsystem development. Unlike other, far more voluminous and theoretical books on this topic, this is a concise, practical handbook, focusing on analytical applications in chemistry and the lfie sciences. Topics includes: microfluidicssilicon micromachiningglass and polymer micromachiningpackaginganalytical chemistry Illustrated with examples taken mainly from ongoing research projects at the Micro- an Nanotechnology Center (MIC).

"WHAT DOES NOT NEED TO BE BIG, WILL BE SMALL", a word by an engineer at a recent conference on chips technology. This sentence is particularly true for chemistry. Microfabrication technology emerged from microelectronics into areas like mechanics and now chemistry and biology. The engineering of micron and submicron sized features on the surface of silicon, glass and polymers opens a whole new world. Micromotors smaller than human hair have been fabricated and they work fine. It is the declared goal of the authors to bring these different worlds together in this volume. Authors have been carefully chosen to guarantee for the quality of the contents. An engineer, a chemist or a biologist will find new impulses from the various chapters in this book.

"WHAT DOES NOT NEED TO BE BIG, WILL BE SMALL", a word by an engineer at a recent conference on chips technology. This sentence is particularly true for chemistry. Microfabrication technology emerged from microelectronics into areas like mechanics and now chemistry and biology. The engineering of micron and submicron sized features on the surface of silicon, glass and polymers opens a whole new world. Micromotors smaller than human hair have been fabricated and they work fine. It is the declared goal of the authors to bring these different worlds together in this volume. Authors have been carefully chosen to guarantee for the quality of the contents. An engineer, a chemist or a biologist will find new impulses from the various chapters in this book.

This concise introduction to microsystems technology includes the latest trends in this emerging scientific discipline. Completely revised, this edition has expanded chapters on silicium and LIGA technology as well as new topics.

Over half a century after the discovery of the piezoresistive effect, microsystem technology has experienced considerable developments. Expanding the opportunities of microelectronics to non-electronic systems, its number of application fields continues to increase. Microsensors are one of the most important fields, used in medical applications and micromechanics. Microfluidic systems are also a significant area, most commonly used in ink-jet printer heads. This textbook focuses on the essentials of microsystems technology, providing a knowledgeable grounding and a clear path through this well-established scientific dicipline. With a methodical, student-orientated approach, Introduction to Microsystem Technology covers the following: microsystem materials (including silicon, polymers and thin films), and the scaling effects of going micro; fabrication techniques based on different material properties, descriptions of their limitations and functional and shape elements produced by these techniques; sensors and actuators based on elements such as mechanical, fluidic, and thermal (yaw rate sensor components are described); the influence of technology parameters on microsystem properties, asking, for example, when is the function of a microsystem device robust and safe? The book presents problems at the end of each chapter so that you may test your understanding of the key concepts (full solutions for these are given on an accompanying website). Practical examples are included also, as well as case studies that enable a better understanding of the technology as a whole. With its extensive treatment on the fundamentals of microsystem technology, this book also serves as a compendium for engineers and technicians working with microsystem technology.

Microreaction technology is the logically consistent application of microsystem techniques in chemical reaction and process engineering. Miniaturization in this field is the strategy of success and requires the development of small, inexpensive, independent and versatile chemical reaction units. Microreaction technology is at present regarded as one of the fastest evolving and most promising disciplines in chemical engineering, combinatorial synthesis and analysis, pharmaceutical drug development and molecular biotechnology. A broad range of microstructurable materials is a prerequisite for microreaction technology and the development of microreactors goes hand in hand with the availability of a number of modem, versatile microfabrication technologies. Today, it is possible to manufacture tbree dimensional microstructures, almost without any restrictions with regard to design and choice of suitable materials, for various chemical applications -just in time to support the development of functional units for microreactors, e. g. micromixers, micro heat exchangers, micro extractors, units for phase transfer, reaction cham bers, intelligent fluidic control elements and microanalysis systems. The advantages of microreactors, e. g. the use of novel process routes, the re duction of reaction byproducts, the improvement of 'time to market', the high flexibility for all applications requiring modular solutions, have had a strong im pact on concepts of sustainable development. Many of the leading companies and research institutes in the world have recognized the tremendous possibilities of microreactor concepts and of their economic potential, and have thus initiated worldwide research and development activities.

Emphasizing their emerging capabilities, this volume provides a strong foundation for an understanding of how micro- and nanotechnologies used in biomedical research have evolved from concepts to working platforms. Volume editor Christopher Love has assembled here a highly interdisciplinary group of authors with backgrounds ranging from chemical engineering right up to materials science to reflect how the intersection of ideas from biology with engineering disciplines has spurred on innovations. In fact, a number of the basic technologies described are reaching the market to advance the discovery and development of biopharmaceuticals. The first part of the book focuses on microsystems for single-cell analysis, examining tools and techniques used to isolate cells from a range of biological samples, while the second part is dedicated to tiny technologies for modulating biological systems at the scale of individual cells, tissues or whole organisms. New tools are described which have a great potential for (pre)clinical development of interventions in a range of illnesses, such as cancer and neurological diseases. Besides describing the promising applications, the authors also highlight the ongoing challenges and opportunities in the field.