NEWS 1

Developed a new material for manufacturing biomimetic nanosensors

   

Spanish researchers have developed a biomimetic material can be modeled at the nanoscale, which increases its sensitivity, selectivity and speed of detection of chemicals. The manufacturing method has been developed patent protected.

Topographic image taken with an atomic force microscope of a motif developed biomimetic polymeric material, fabricated by electron beam lithography. / UPM

Scientists at the University of Madrid (UPM) and the Complutense University (UCM), in the framework of the Campus of International Excellence Campus Moncloa (Moncloa CEI), have developed a biomimetic materials with commercial potential.

The material is capable of being modeled at the nano scale, which increases its sensitivity, selectivity and speed detection of chemical substances. 

These new features allow fabricated by electron beam lithography, multiple nano-sized chemical sensors (1 nanometer = 0.000001 mm) on the same substrate, which opens the door to the realization of highly versatile multifunctional biochips.

The new model is composed of a crosslinkable linear polymer whose molecular structure is altered when bombarded with electrons. Thus, it is possible to use an electron beam of a few nanometers thick, like a ultrafine-tipped pen is involved, either to write a pattern on a film of this material attached to a substrate.

After writing (lithography), the film is immersed in a liquid developer which dissolves the film portion irradiated with the beam, leaving the pattern (non-irradiated) intact on the substrate.

Furthermore, the material behaves as a molecular imprinting polymer or MIP (molecularly imprinted polymer), ie is able to recognize a specific molecule or compound after a printing process at the molecular level.

MIPs are synthetic materials with the same functionality as certain biological molecules, such as antigens and antibodies, used as recipients for the detection of molecules, hence the MIPs are considered biomimetic materials.

The main advantages of the MIPs for biological receptors are more resistant to extreme temperatures and chemicals, lower cost and the ability to create synthetic chemical receptors that do not exist in nature.

To date, the methods used to record movies MIPs order to fabricate sensors are based on printing techniques and photolithography.

The printing method has the serious drawback of possible contamination of the surface of MIP films that are in contact with the printing plates, whereas photolithography technique is not suitable for creating nanoscale reasons. The new material can be engraved on the nanoscale without requiring any mold or mask.

Patented Manufacturing

Researchers at the UPM and UCM have fabricated nanoscale patterns of this material on silicon substrates using an electron beam and demonstrated the functionality of the material as MIP. The material is able to recognize the presence of the molecule Rhodamine 123, fluorescent molecule used as a model analyte, with high sensitivity and selectivity over other rhodamines.

The methodology used in the development of this material may be applied to the synthesis of other materials that can be recorded using electron beam and can detect substances of interest in toxicology and biomedicine.

The fabrication of nanoscale structures such as sensor materials created is twofold. On one hand, the interaction of the sensor increases with the medium in which the analyte is to be detected, thus increasing the sensitivity and speed of detection. Furthermore, the small size of the structures to integrate multiple sensing elements on a single chip or substrate, lowering costs and improving the reliability and functionality of the trials.

The manufacturing method has been developed patent protected.

This work was supported by the former Ministry of Science and Innovation within the framework of a project EXPLORE , which has been principal investigator Carlos Angulo Barrios Institute of Optoelectronic Systems and Microtechnology ( ISOM ) of the UPM.

 

 

Vocabulary

Developed: Desarrollo

Framework: Marco

Features: Características

Beam: Haz

Crosslinkable: Entrecruzable

Furthermore: Además

Behaves: Se comporta

Compound: Compuesto

Hence: De ahí

Drawback: Inconveniente

Surface: Superficie

Over: Sobre

Lower: Menor