Michael Weigel-Jech

Automated nanorobotic handling of bio- and nano-materials

Automated handling on the nanoscale is a crucial challenge for commercialization of bio- and nano-technologies. This paper describes current implementations towards two fields of application: Micro-nano integration for NEMS prototyping, and biosensor development. (1) The integration of nanomaterials into micro-systems can improve the properties of such systems and enable novel innovative solutions. Using nanorobotic systems operating inside the vacuum chamber of a scanning electron microscope is a promising approach. Nanorobotic strategies for the microgripper-based handling with focus on automation are presented. A fully automated handling sequence demonstrates the micro-nano integration of prototypic nanotube-enhanced atomic force microscope probes. (2) Nanorobotic systems employing an atomic force microscope are a promising approach for the handling of nanoscopic biomaterials. Methods for the handling of DNA to design bio-nano chips and to solve packaging problems on the nanoscale are presented. Additionally, an AFM-based approach for the structuring of biomaterials is presented.

Robotic workstation for AFM-based nanomanipulation inside an SEM

Combining the SEM as a visual sensor with the force control of an AFM promises to provide a unique tool for automated robotic nanomanipulations. This article presents the development of a nanorobotic workstation that can use AFM capabilities for robotic nanomanipulations inside an SEM. The hardware architecture for the AFM setup inside the SEM is described in detail. The AFM capabilities are demonstrated by in-situ acquired AFM and SEM images of identical sample locations. Initial AFM-based manipulation experiments on manipulating a graphene sheet and on pushing nanosized polymer beads are presented. The integration of the system with haptic feedback for teleoperation and into a robotic automation and visual control framework is discussed.

Automated handling of bio-nanowires for nanopackaging

The integration of biomaterials into micro/nano-sensors or micro/nano-systems is expected to improve the properties of such systems or even lead to the development of novel innovative systems. A key problem to be solved beforehand is the development and realization of proper preparation, handling and manipulation methods with respect to an industrial usage. To enable such a usage, the methods have to be automatable, robust to environmental changes as well as feasible in a scanning electron microscope (SEM). According to these points, the target of the presented efforts is to develop these methods for a future design of nanoelectronic parts and to solve packaging problems at the nanoscale. As a consequence, the paper presents a novel concept for the usage of biomaterials, such as DNA and wood fibers/fibrils, for the packaging at the nanoscale. Novel methods for the DNA-handling with an atomic force microscope (AFM) at dry conditions, which can also be used in the vacuum chamber of a SEM will be presented as well as wood fibers/fibrils manipulation methods in the SEM.

DNA as template for nanobonding and novel nanoelectronic components

The importance of nanoelectronics for the future is well-recognized. Next-generation nanoelectronic technologies, for the usage in intelligent implants, intelligent drugs or even ICs for the coupling of destroyed nerves, are sensitive to dimensional change. Therefore, an appropriate packaging is essential to the success or failure of these technologies. In this paper current work to use DNA as a template for bonding at the nanoscale and for novel nanoelectronic components is presented. Moreover, a method is presented, which enables the handling and manipulation of DNA at dry conditions, thus enabling the feasible usage for industrial purposes as well as for science. For this the necessary steps, starting with the immobilization and choice of useable nanowires, followed by the extraction and separation of these wires, the coarse positioning, the immobilization onto the target substrates as well as a proper fine tuning at the target are presented.

Biomaterials as bonding wires for integrated circuit nanopackaging

Todays miniaturization of integrated circuits for MEMS and NEMS systems depends strongly on the limitations of integrated circuit packaging. The integration of biomaterials as nano bonding wires may result in an improvement of the properties of such systems up to the development of novel innovative systems. That implies that currently missing methods and techniques have to be developed to enable an industrial feasible handling, manipulating and characterizing of such biomaterials. So the main objectives have to be the development methods which are fully automatable, fast, reliable, robust to environmental changes as well as useable at a dry environment of clean room facilities or the vacuum environment of SEM chambers. According to this, the target of the presented efforts is to develop such methods for a usage of biomaterials to solve packaging problems at the nanoscale. This paper presents a novel concept and first experimental results of the handling of cellulose fibers as well as DNA wires, for an automatable handling and characterization of such bio nano bonding wires. Methods for the handling and characterization of cellulose fibers in the SEM will be presented as well as DNA-handling methods with an AFM at dry conditions, which can also be used in the vacuum chamber.

AFM as a robot for automated nanohandling

Besides its ability of high resolution imaging, the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) has been recognized as a valuable instrument for manipulation at the nanoscale within the last years. Promising applications of such AFM-based nanorobotic manipulation are e.g. the characterization of nanoentities such as CNTs and DNA or the prototypical fabrication of nanoscale components, devices, and systems based on such nanoobjects. One major problem that arises when the AFM is used as a robot for nanomanipulation is often the relativly low throughput induced by the sequential character of the AFM. Automation has proven to be a suitable means to increase the throughput of such AFM-based nanomanipulations and to achieve more reliable results. This paper discusses the usage of the AFM as a robot for na-nohandling in general and presents our latest results on automated nanomanipulation. The handling of CNTs on HOPG substrate as an example of the manipulation of single nanoentities and our strategies for automated nanohandling are dealt with. Moreover, the feasibility of AFM-based nanostructuring for the development of components for biosensors and the combination of an AFM with an SEM are demonstrated.

Nanohandling of Biomaterials

Currently, there is an increasing interest in handling, understanding, and integrating biological systems important for biomedicine, process industry, pharmacy, and biomaterial research. Besides this interest, the demand for adequate, nondestructive, automatable, and fully controllable handling, manipulation, and characterization techniques increases as well. Thanks to the advancements in micro- and nanofabrication and in the robotics area, several approaches and techniques offer us the ability to set up robotic systems, which are able to handle biomaterials down to the nanoscale. In this chapter, some of the most applicable techniques for a robotic and automated use are shown, including advantages and disadvantages as well as current applications and the necessary biological backgrounds for the most common biomaterials a researcher will handle today. So the state of the art for the nanohandling of biomaterials, applicable in current robotic systems and possibly applicable in future robotic systems, is shown as well as our own work on this special field of research.

Towards high density biosensors for mobile diagnostics

Research studies in medicine, genetics and process monitoring technology generally go together with advances in nano-engineering. Furthermore, advances in engineering, control and automation on the nano scale first enable so far impossible studies in molecular and cellular biology. This fruitful interaction leads to the design and development of new setups and methods, which push the boundaries for possible experiments in the area of handling and manipulation of biomaterials. In our paper the latest work on two areas of this research focus is shown. 1) Within the last years, the AFM was used for the handling and manipulation of biomaterials. However, the automation to use the AFM for industrial processes needs a robust and accurate automation. In this paper we also present the latest work on the automation of AFM based methods. 2) In the future, mobile diagnostics will become more and more important. To enable robust, fast and precise systems, new methods for the design and structuring of the necessary bio-components are needed. For this, a possible approach to structure bio-components from several nm up to a few μm is presented in this paper as well. 3) First simulations and principles for the design of a new signal acquisition unit are shown, to set up diagnostic systems without complex optical setups or fluorescence dyes.

Towards automated handling of biomaterials for nano-biosensor fabrication

The integration of biomaterials into micro-systems or sensors can improve the properties of such systems or even lead to the development of novel innovative systems. A key problem is the development and realization of handling and manipulation methods as enabling technology for their micro-nano-integration. In this paper, novel methods for the manipulation and handling of DNA to design nanoelectric parts and to solve packaging issues at the nanoscale are presented. Concerning DNA handling, first results of a movement for the fine tuning of the DNA position and for movement of complete strands are presented. Furthermore, an AFM-based technique for the structuring of biosensor biocomponents (e.g. antibody-antigene assays) for automated and mobile diagnostic systems usable in medicine and research is presented. For the optimization of methods to handle long nanoscopic objects, the current state of our research to develop the new lateral vibration AFM mode is presented.

Advanced Atomic Force Microscope based System for Manipulating at the Nanoscale

Abstract Efficient and reliable handling and characterization of objects at the nanoscale is highly important for various types of application ranging from prototypical fabrication of nanoelectronical circuits to the investigation of mechanical or electrical properties of biological objects like bacteria. Theoretically, the atomic force microscope (AFM) constitutes an adequate instrument for performing such manipulations and characterizations. However, complex and automated tasks are dificult or even impossible to perform solely using the AFM. To compensate for the drawbacks of AFM-based manipulation, several advanced techniques are being developed. Current research work on some key components for the development of a modular and versatile AFM-based nanorobotic setup is presented here. This includes a flexible thermal drift measuring technique, the integration of an AFM to the vacuum chamber of a scanning electron microscope to provide additional visual feedback, and a novel manipulation mode using lateral cantilever vibrations and oscillations. Finally first experiments on handling DNA are presented.