CH – TechConnect Briefs

An electrostimulation cell device with patterned TiO2: Nb thin films as bio-electrodes

Jobin M., Pellodi C., Sandu C., Benvenutti G., Sandoz A., Stoppini L., hepia / HES-SO University of Applied Sciences of Western Switzerland, CH

We present a cellular test device based on Nb:TiO2 (niobium dooped titania) transparent conductive oxide (TCO) as bio-electrodes. The device is intended to easily provide electrical stimuli to a given cell tissue and to monitor [...]

Dielectric properties of SiO2/PMMA nanocomposites for energy storage

Jobin M., hepia / HES-SO University of Applied Sciences of Western Switzerland, CH

We have made a SiO2:PMMA hybrid nanocomposite based on 150nm spherical silica nanoparticles synthetized by sol-gel method. A molecule containing a methacrylate group (TPM), was chemically grafted to the silica surface to improve the electrical [...]

Sensing Solution for Airborne Carbon Nanotube Exposure in Workplaces Based on Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Bieri R., Borek-Donten J., Celikkol Zijlstra B., Cattaneo S., Bürgi T., Stat Peel, CH

Today’s advances in man-made nanomaterials pose new and unprecedented health risks, arising especially from airborne, inhalable fiber-shaped nanomaterials, like carbon nanotubes (CNTs). In vivo studies indicate that inhalation of CNTs can cause adverse pulmonary effects [...]

SU8-graphene: a new photo-patternable conductive polymer composite

Majidian M., Grimaldi C., Baibarac M., Baltog I., Forró L., Magrez A., EPFL, CH

SU8 epoxy is a photo-resist with great intrinsic properties such as high thermal stability, chemical and mechanical robustness along with high sensitivity to UV. Having eight reactive epoxy sites in each monomer molecule, a high [...]

Analytical sensing platforms with inkjet printed electrodes

Lesch A., Jović M., Gumy F., Girault H.H., EPFL Valais Wallis, CH

Medical diagnostics for the determination and monitoring of the health condition of patients, sportsmen but also normal persons represents an important market with increasing opportunities for sensor platform development, production and applications. For instance, amperometric [...]

Synthesis of Nanostructured Calcium Silicate Hydrates

Kumar A., Scrivener K., Bowen P., LTP, EPFL, Switzerland, CH

Cementitious material contribute to about 5-8% of total world Carbon emission per year. Calcium Silicate Hydrates (C-S-H) is the main product of hydrated Portland cements. A better understanding of its kinetics, growth mechanism and atomic [...]

Analytical Strategies for a systematic Characterization of Nanoparticle Release from commercial Spray Products for Exposure Quantification and Risk Assessment

Losert S., Hungerbühler K., Lattuada M., Ulrich A., EMPA, CH

The characterization of nanoparticle release from consumer spray products is challenging. Therefore, we developed different analytical methods to determine quantity, morphology, size and elemental distribution for engineered nanoparticles in the original spray suspension and the [...]

Cytotoxicity and biointeractions of nanosilver in macrophages

Pratsinis A., Pratsinis S.E., Hervella P., Leroux J.-C., Pratsinis A., Pratsinis S.E., Sotiriou G.A., ETH Zürich, CH

Silver nanoparticles (nanosilver) are broadly used today in textiles, food packaging, household devices and bioapplications, prompting a better understanding of their toxicity and biological interactions. Here, nanosilver of well-defined size (5.7 to 20.4 nm) supported [...]

Rapid Evaluation of Bacterial Antibiotic Resistance

Longo G., Alonso-Sarduy L., Pekkanen J., Dietler G., Kasas S., Ecole Polytechnique Federale Lausanne, CH

Antibiotics represent one of mankind’s most important medical inventions, yet antibiotic resistance has emerged as a significant health-care problem due to the extensive use and misuse of antibiotics in human and veterinary medicine. Suppressing the [...]

Aerosol manufacturing of plasmonic biosensors with silica coated nanosilver

Sotiriou G.A., Blattmann C.O., Pratsinis S.E., ETH Zürich, CH

Development of biosensors for medical applications is an on-going research field of great importance. In particular localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) biosensors show a high potential to detect analytes at low concentrations in biological fluids. [...]