Magnetic nanostructured propellers
First Claim
1. A method for making magnetically actuated propellers (MAPs) configured to be moved by magnetic fields, the method comprising:
- providing a vapor source and a substrate in a vacuum chamber;
rotating the substrate about an axis normal to a surface of the substrate at a rotation rate;
directing a vapor flux having a flux rate from the vapor source in a direction toward the surface of the substrate to deposit at least one material on the surface of the substrate, with the surface of the substrate being positioned at an angle theta that is different from zero with respect to the direction from which the vapor flux is directed toward the substrate;
monitoring the flux rate with a deposition-rate monitor to establish a deposition rate;
controlling the deposition rate, the rotation rate, and the angle with a controller;
governing the rotation rate and the angle to promote the growth of structures comprising at least one of a chiral structure, a helical structure, a propeller-like structure, and a screw-like structure; and
releasing the structures from the substrate using a method comprising at least one of sonication, vibration, agitation, dissolution, and etching.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for the fabrication and application of Magnetically Actuated Propellers (MAPs) are described. MAPs are structures with typical feature sizes in the range of 20 nanometers up to 100 microns in one spatial dimension. MAPs are propellers that can be obtained from nano-structured surfaces and that can be produced in large numbers. MAPs are propelled and controlled by magnetic fields. The MAPs are optimized for low Reynolds number propulsion and can be moved in fluids and biological tissues. MAPs are useful for measurements, quantification, imaging and sensing purposes e.g. detecting biomolecules and for the controlled transportation of (drug- and bio-) molecules and the delivery of microscopic and nanoscale objects and/or materials or systems of therapeutic value. The MAPs are formed on a substrate and the released from the substrate using sonication, vibration, agitation, dissolution or etching which allows the MAPs to be produced in large numbers.
12 Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A method for making magnetically actuated propellers (MAPs) configured to be moved by magnetic fields, the method comprising:
-
providing a vapor source and a substrate in a vacuum chamber; rotating the substrate about an axis normal to a surface of the substrate at a rotation rate; directing a vapor flux having a flux rate from the vapor source in a direction toward the surface of the substrate to deposit at least one material on the surface of the substrate, with the surface of the substrate being positioned at an angle theta that is different from zero with respect to the direction from which the vapor flux is directed toward the substrate; monitoring the flux rate with a deposition-rate monitor to establish a deposition rate; controlling the deposition rate, the rotation rate, and the angle with a controller; governing the rotation rate and the angle to promote the growth of structures comprising at least one of a chiral structure, a helical structure, a propeller-like structure, and a screw-like structure; and releasing the structures from the substrate using a method comprising at least one of sonication, vibration, agitation, dissolution, and etching. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. An apparatus for making magnetically actuated propellers (MAPs) configured to be moved by magnetic fields, comprising:
-
a vacuum chamber having at least one vapor source for generating a vapor flux, a substrate holder configured to hold a substrate onto which one or more materials from the at least one vapor source is deposited, and a means for controlling a deposition-rate of the vapor flux directed toward the substrate; a process controller that controls a predetermined incidence angle theta formed by a direction of the vapor flux and a surface normal to the substrate, as well as a direction of rotation and a rotation speed of the substrate about an axis of the substrate during deposition, wherein the process controller is configured to adjust the rotation speed and the incidence angle in response to the deposition rate of the vapor flux, and the vapor flux is adjusted and the at least one source of the vapor flux is changed without breaking vacuum, the process controller being configured to generate commands to vary the incidence angle and the rotation speed during deposition so as to promote a growth of structures of a predetermined shape, and surface morphologies that, once removed from the substrate, permit propulsion of the structures in a medium by a magnetic field, the medium comprising at least one of a fluid, a solution, a tissue, an organ, a gel, biological matter, a cell, a cell culture, a suspension, soil, a plant, an animal, a human, a solid, and a mixture; and separation means for releasing the structures from the substrate, the separation means being configured to use a method comprising at least one of;
sonication, vibration, agitation, dissolution, and etching. - View Dependent Claims (24)
-
Specification