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Selective detection of explosive compounds is critical for national defense and homeland security. In this paper we describe the fabrication and demonstration of a chemical sensor capable of detecting nitroaromatic explosives in air. The device has the unique features of nano-scale dimensions, simple and inexpensive fabrication, and low power consumption. It consists of a nano-patterned conductive metal line placed on top of a patterned responsive polymer, poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP). Due to polymer-solvent interactions, P4VP swells when it encounters the target analyte, producing a large stress. Detection takes place by monitoring the change in device resistance as the metal nano line deforms or fractures when P4VP swells and transfers mechanical stress. The sensors would be ideal for discreet, wide-scale deployment over large areas. It is also important to note that device sensitivity can be readily enhanced by scaling down the feature size of the metal line or adjusting the material properties of both the metal and polymer. The fabrication process is readily transferrable to a variety of organic and metal materials, improving the versatility of the sensors. The resulting devices may provide new ways to detect security threats and complement existing complex methods to increase the probability of detection and to reduce false alarms. The same approach may also be applicable outside the military/security domain, for example, for pollution monitoring, for factory safety and operational monitoring, or for food quality inspection; all these applications are contingent upon finding the appropriate polymers for the respective analytes. Copyright © 2010 by ASME.

Selective detection of explosive compounds is critical for national defense and homeland security. In this paper we describe the fabrication and demonstration of a chemical sensor capable of detecting nitroaromatic explosives in air. The device has the unique features of nano-scale dimensions, simple and inexpensive fabrication, and low power consumption. It consists of a nano-patterned conductive metal line placed on top of a patterned responsive polymer, poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP). Due to polymer-solvent interactions, P4VP swells when it encounters the target analyte, producing a large stress. Detection takes place by monitoring the change in device resistance as the metal nano line deforms or fractures when P4VP swells and transfers mechanical stress. The sensors would be ideal for discreet, wide-scale deployment over large areas. It is also important to note that device sensitivity can be readily enhanced by scaling down the feature size of the metal line or adjusting the material properties of both the metal and polymer. The fabrication process is readily transferrable to a variety of organic and metal materials, improving the versatility of the sensors. The resulting devices may provide new ways to detect security threats and complement existing complex methods to increase the probability of detection and to reduce false alarms. The same approach may also be applicable outside the military/security domain, for example, for pollution monitoring, for factory safety and operational monitoring, or for food quality inspection; all these applications are contingent upon finding the appropriate polymers for the respective analytes. Copyright © 2010 by ASME.

This paper presents in vitro microvascular network formation within 3D gel scaffolds made from different concentrations of type-I collagen, fibrin, or a mixture of collagen and fibrin, using a simple microfluidic platform. Initially, microvascular network formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells was examined using live time-lapse confocal microscopy every 90 min from 3 h to 12 h after seeding within three different concentrations of collagen gel scaffolds. Among the three collagen gel concentrations, the number of skeletons was consistently the highest at 3.0 mg/mL, followed by those of collagen gel scaffolds at 2.5 mg/mL and 2.0 mg/mL. Results demonstrated that concentration of collagen gel scaffolds, which influences matrix stiffness and ligand density, may affect microvascular network formation during the early stages of vasculogenesis. In addition, the maturation of microvascular networks in monoculture under different gel compositions within gel scaffolds (2.5 mg/mL) was examined for 7 days using live confocal microscopy. It was confirmed that pure fibrin gel scaffolds are preferable to collagen gel or collagen/fibrin combinations, significantly reducing matrix retractions during maturation of microvascular networks for 7 days. Finally, early steps in the maturation process of microvascular networks for 14 days were characterized by demonstrating sequential steps of branching, expanding, remodeling, pruning, and clear delineation of lumens within fibrin gel scaffolds. Our findings demonstrate an in vitro model for generating mature microvascular networks within 3D microfluidic fibrin gel scaffolds (2.5 mg/mL), and furthermore suggest the importance of gel concentration and composition in promoting the maturation of microvascular networks., Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology