This volume of Advances in Chemical Engineering presents the latest developments in microsystems and devices for biochemical processes. - Updates and informs the reader on the latest research findings using original reviews - Written by leading industry experts and scholars - Reviews and analyzes developments in the field

In daily life, we are accustomed to working with length scales of feet or meters, but the building blocks from which our bodies are constructed are many orders of magnitude smaller. The technologies that are being developed to intervene at these minute scales have the potential to improve human health and significantly enrich our lives. Revolutionary micro/nano technology platforms have led to dramatic advances in sample preparation, analysis and cell culture. From the 1990s through to the very beginning of the twenty-first century, the focus was on the development of manufacturing technologies. Through elegant design and sophisticated fabrication, the micro- to nano-scale manipulation of fluids and particles has become routine. Since then, it has become possible to control molecular interactions at device surfaces, and optical manipulation, imaging and sensing techniques can also be incorporated. Micro/nano technology platforms are already being used to study and direct biological processes at the cellular and sub-cellular level, and to detect disease with greater sensitivity and specificity. The challenges and excitement in the near future will be in engineering these sophisticated, multifunctional devices to seamlessly interface with complex biological systems. Providing a clear guide that moves from molecules through devices to systems, this book reviews fundamental aspects of microfluidic devices, including fabrication, surface property control, pressure-driven and electrokinetic flow, and functions such as fluid mixing, particle sorting and molecular separations. The integration of optical and plasmonic imaging, optoelectronic tweezers for single particle manipulation, and optical and electrical signal transduction methods for biosensing are shown to provide extraordinary capabilities for bioanalytical and biomedical applications. These represent key areas of research that will lead to the next generation of micro/nano-based systems. Anyone working in this fast-changing field will benefit from this comprehensive review of the latest thinking, while researchers will find much to inspire and direct their work.

This is the first compendium on silicon/glass microsystems made by deep wet etching and the first book with a detailed description of bonding techniques used in microsystem technology. Technological results presented in the book have been tested experimentally by the author and his team, and can be utilized in day-to-day laboratory practice. Special attention has been paid to the highest level of accessibility of the book by students.

This book contains a selection of papers presented at the 12th Italian Conference on Sensors and Microsystems. It provides a unique perspective on the research and development of sensors, microsystems and related technologies in Italy. The scientific values of the papers also offers an invaluable source to analysts intending to survey the Italian situation about sensors and microsystems. In an interdisciplinary approach, many aspects of the disciplines are covered, ranging from materials science, chemistry, applied physics, electronic engineering and biotechnologies.

Microfluidic Devices for Biomedical Applications, Second Edition provides updated coverage on the fundamentals of microfluidics, while also exploring a wide range of medical applications. Chapters review materials and methods, microfluidic actuation mechanisms, recent research on droplet microfluidics, applications in drug discovery and controlled-delivery, including micro needles, consider applications of microfluidic devices in cellular analysis and manipulation, tissue engineering and their role in developing tissue scaffolds, and cover the applications of microfluidic devices in diagnostic sensing, including genetic analysis, low-cost bioassays, viral detection, and radio chemical synthesis. This book is an essential reference for medical device manufacturers, scientists and researchers concerned with microfluidics in the field of biomedical applications and life-science industries. - Discusses the fundamentals of microfluidics or lab-on-a-chip (LOC) and explores a wide range of medical applications - Considers materials and methods for microfabrication, microfluidic actuation mechanisms and digital microfluidic technologies - Details applications of microfluidic devices in cellular analysis and manipulation, tissue engineering and its role in developing tissue scaffolds, and stem cell engineering

“Microsystems and Nanotechnology” presents the latest science and engineering research and achievements in the fields of microsystems and nanotechnology, bringing together contributions by authoritative experts from the United States, Germany, Great Britain, Japan and China to discuss the latest advances in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology and micro/nanotechnology. The book is divided into five parts – the fundamentals of microsystems and nanotechnology, microsystems technology, nanotechnology, application issues, and the developments and prospects – and is a valuable reference for students, teachers and engineers working with the involved technologies. Professor Zhaoying Zhou is a professor at the Department of Precision Instruments & Mechanology , Tsinghua University , and the Chairman of the MEMS & NEMS Society of China. Dr. Zhonglin Wang is the Director of the Center for Nanostructure Characterization, Georgia Tech, USA. Dr. Liwei Lin is a Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California at Berkeley, USA.