Kristian Mølhave

Temperature and pressure dependence of resonance in multi-layer microcantilevers

The resonance frequency of the fundamental and four higher order modes of a silicon dioxide microcantilever is measured. The effect on these modes of depositing a 400 nm gold coating is investigated theoretically and experimentally. We derive an analytical solution to the eigenmodes of a multi-layered cantilever and verify its validity by comparison to finite-element analysis as well as the experimentally obtained results. The temperature and pressure dependence of the resonance frequencies is investigated experimentally and found to be in good agreement with theoretical models. An experimentally obtained value for the temperature dependence of Youngs modulus of elasticity for thermally grown SiO2 is presented.

Electro-thermally actuated microgrippers with integrated force-feedback

Microfabricated grippers and tweezers are promising tools for manipulation of micro- and nanoscale objects. As with ordinary macroscale grippers, the ability to sense the forces involved in grabbing would be advantageous for controlling the operation as well as for measuring the mechanical properties of the grabbed object. A simple design is presented for an electro-thermally actuated microfabricated gripper capable of providing a piezoresistive read-out of the gripper deflection, which can be used to measure the forces applied to the grabbed object. Measurements of actuation of test devices are presented and found to be in reasonable agreement with expected values. Finally, piezoresistive measurements of the gripper deflection are demonstrated.

Effect of gold coating on the Q-factor of a resonant cantilever

The resonance frequency and the Q-factor of the fundamental and higher order flexural modes of silicon dioxide microcantilevers have been characterized at different pressures and for different thicknesses of gold coating. We present the experimental results and discuss the effect of the gold film on the performance and sensitivity of the cantilevers when used as mass sensors. An almost linear relationship between the Q-factor and the resonance frequency of the uncoated cantilevers is observed, implying that a higher sensitivity can be attained by actuation at higher order resonant modes. We also find that even a thin gold coating may reduce Q-factors by more than an order of magnitude.

MWCNTs of different physicochemical properties cause similar inflammatory responses, but differences in transcriptional and histological markers of fibrosis in mouse lungs

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are an inhomogeneous group of nanomaterials that vary in lengths, shapes and types of metal contamination, which makes hazard evaluation difficult. Here we present a toxicogenomic analysis of female C57BL/6 mouse lungs following a single intratracheal instillation of 0, 18, 54 or 162 μg/mouse of a small, curled (CNT(Small), 0.8 ± 0.1 μm in length) or large, thick MWCNT (CNT(Large), 4 ± 0.4 μm in length). The two MWCNTs were extensively characterized by SEM and TEM imaging, thermogravimetric analysis, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analysis. Lung tissues were harvested 24h, 3 days and 28 days post-exposure. DNA microarrays were used to analyze gene expression, in parallel with analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, lung histology, DNA damage (comet assay) and the presence of reactive oxygen species (dichlorodihydrofluorescein assay), to profile and characterize related pulmonary endpoints. Overall changes in global transcription following exposure to CNT(Small) or CNT(Large) were similar. Both MWCNTs elicited strong acute phase and inflammatory responses that peaked at day 3, persisted up to 28 days, and were characterized by increased cellular influx in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, interstitial pneumonia and gene expression changes. However, CNT(Large) elicited an earlier onset of inflammation and DNA damage, and induced more fibrosis and a unique fibrotic gene expression signature at day 28, compared to CNT(Small). The results indicate that the extent of change at the molecular level during early response phases following an acute exposure is greater in mice exposed to CNT(Large), which may eventually lead to the different responses observed at day 28.

A carbon nanofibre scanning probe assembled using an electrothermal microgripper

Functional devices can be directly assembled using microgrippers with an in situ electron microscope. Two simple and compact silicon microgripper designs are investigated here. These are operated by electrothermal actuation, and are used to transfer a catalytically grown multi-walled carbon nanofibre from a fixed position on a substrate to the tip of an atomic force microscope cantilever, inside a scanning electron microscope. Scanning of high aspect ratio trenches using the nanofibre supertip shows a significantly better performance than that with standard pyramidal silicon tips. Based on manipulation experiments as well as a simple analysis, we show that shear pulling (lateral movement of the gripper) is far more effective than tensile pulling (vertical movement of gripper) for the mechanical removal of carbon nanotubes from a substrate.

Fibroblasts Cultured on Nanowires Exhibit Low Motility, Impaired Cell Division, and DNA Damage

Nanowires are commonly used as tools for interfacing living cells, acting as biomolecule-delivery vectors or electrodes. It is generally assumed that the small size of the nanowires ensures a minimal cellular perturbation, yet the effects of nanowires on cell migration and proliferation remain largely unknown. Fibroblast behaviour on vertical nanowire arrays is investigated, and it is shown that cell motility and proliferation rate are reduced on nanowires. Fibroblasts cultured on long nanowires exhibit failed cell division, DNA damage, increased ROS content and respiration. Using focused ion beam milling and scanning electron microscopy, highly curved but intact nuclear membranes are observed, showing no direct contact between the nanowires and the DNA. The nanowires possibly induce cellular stress and high respiration rates, which trigger the formation of ROS, which in turn results in DNA damage. These results are important guidelines to the design and interpretation of experiments involving nanowire-based transfection and electrical characterization of living cells.

Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Novel Mechanistic Insight into Murine Biological Responses to Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Lungs and Cultured Lung Epithelial Cells

There is great interest in substituting animal work with in vitro experimentation in human health risk assessment; however, there are only few comparisons of in vitro and in vivo biological responses to engineered nanomaterials. We used high-content genomics tools to compare in vivo pulmonary responses of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) to those in vitro in cultured lung epithelial cells (FE1) at the global transcriptomic level. Primary size, surface area and other properties of MWCNT- XNRI -7 (Mitsui7) were characterized using DLS, SEM and TEM. Mice were exposed via a single intratracheal instillation to 18, 54, or 162 μg of Mitsui7/mouse. FE1 cells were incubated with 12.5, 25 and 100 μg/ml of Mitsui7. Tissue and cell samples were collected at 24 hours post-exposure. DNA microarrays were employed to establish mechanistic differences and similarities between the two models. Microarray results were confirmed using gene-specific RT-qPCR. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was assessed for indications of inflammation in vivo. A strong dose-dependent activation of acute phase and inflammation response was observed in mouse lungs reflective mainly of an inflammatory response as observed in BAL. In vitro, a wide variety of core cellular functions were affected including transcription, cell cycle, and cellular growth and proliferation. Oxidative stress, fibrosis and inflammation processes were altered in both models. Although there were similarities observed between the two models at the pathway-level, the specific genes altered under these pathways were different, suggesting that the underlying mechanisms of responses are different in cells in culture and the lung tissue. Our results suggest that careful consideration should be given in selecting relevant endpoints when substituting animal with in vitro testing.

Constructing, connecting and soldering nanostructures by environmental electron beam deposition

Highly conductive nanoscale deposits with solid gold cores can be made by electron beam deposition in an environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM), suggesting the method to be used for constructing, connecting and soldering nanostructures. This paper presents a feasibility study for such applications. We identify several issues related to contamination and unwanted deposition, relevant for deposition in both vacuum (EBD) and environmental conditions (EEBD). We study relations between scan rate, deposition rate, angle and line width for three-dimensional structures. Furthermore, we measure the conductivity of deposits containing gold cores, and find these structures to be highly conductive, approaching the conductivity of solid gold and capable of carrying high current densities. Finally, we study the use of the technique for soldering nanostructures such as carbon nanotubes. Based on the presented results we are able to estimate limits for the applicability of the method for the various applications, but also demonstrate that it is a versatile and powerful tool for nanotechnology within these limits.

Multimodal Electrothermal Silicon Microgrippers for Nanotube Manipulation

Microgrippers that are able to manipulate nanoobjects reproducibly are key components in 3-D nanomanipulation systems. We present here a monolithic electrothermal microgripper prepared by silicon microfabrication, and demonstrate pick-and-place of an as-grown carbon nanotube from a 2-D array onto a transmission electron microscopy grid, as a first step toward a reliable and precise pick-and-place process for carbon nanotubes.

Nanoparticle Decorated Ultrathin Porous Nanosheets as Hierarchical Co3O4 Nanostructures for Lithium Ion Battery Anode Materials

We report a facile synthesis of a novel cobalt oxide (Co3O4) hierarchical nanostructure, in which crystalline core-amorphous shell Co3O4 nanoparticles with a bimodal size distribution are uniformly dispersed on ultrathin Co3O4 nanosheets. When tested as anode materials for lithium ion batteries, the as-prepared Co3O4 hierarchical electrodes delivered high lithium storage properties comparing to the other Co3O4 nanostructures, including a high reversible capacity of 1053.1 mAhg−1 after 50 cycles at a current density of 0.2 C (1 C = 890 mAg−1), good cycling stability and rate capability.