{"title":"Dual-functional Cu<sub>2</sub>O/g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> heterojunctions: a high-performance SERS sensor and photocatalytic self-cleaning system for water pollution detection and remediation.","authors":"Shuo Yang, Kaiyue Li, Ping Huang, Keyan Liu, Wenhui Li, Yuquan Zhuo, Ziwen Yang, Donglai Han","doi":"10.1038/s41378-024-00846-7","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41378-024-00846-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study introduces a multifunctional device based on Cu<sub>2</sub>O/g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> monitoring and purification p-n heterojunctions (MPHs), seamlessly integrating surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection with photocatalytic degradation capabilities. The SERS and photocatalytic performances of the Cu<sub>2</sub>O in various morphologies, g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> nanosheets (NSs) and Cu<sub>2</sub>O/g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> MPHs with different g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> mass ratios were systematically evaluated, with a particular emphasis on the Cu<sub>2</sub>O/g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>-0.2 MPH, where g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> constituted 20% of the total mass. Multiple optical and electrochemical tests revealed that the Cu<sub>2</sub>O/g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>-0.2 MPH effectively enhances charge separation and reduces charge transfer resistance. The Cu<sub>2</sub>O/g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>-0.2 SERS sensor exhibited a relative standard deviation (RSD) below 15% and achieved an enhancement factor (EF) of 2.43 × 10<sup>6</sup> for 4-ATP detection, demonstrating its high sensitivity and consistency. Additionally, it demonstrated a 98.3% degradation efficiency for methyl orange (MO) under visible light within 90 min. Remarkably, even after 216 days, its photocatalytic efficiency remained at 93.7%, and it retained an 84.0% efficiency after four cycles. XRD and SEM analyses before and after cycling, as well as after 216 days, confirmed the structural and morphological stability of the composite, demonstrating its cyclic and long-term stability. The excellent performance of the Cu<sub>2</sub>O/g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> MPH is attributed to its Z-type mechanism, as verified by radical trapping experiments. The evaluation of the self-cleaning performance of the Cu<sub>2</sub>O/g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>-0.2 SERS sensor demonstrated that its Z-scheme structure not only provides excellent self-cleaning capability but also enables the detection of both individual and mixed pollutants, while significantly enhancing the SERS signal response through an effective charge transfer enhancement mechanism.</p>","PeriodicalId":18560,"journal":{"name":"Microsystems & Nanoengineering","volume":"10 1","pages":"198"},"PeriodicalIF":7.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142864881","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Fandi Jean, Muhammad Umair Khan, Anas Alazzam, Baker Mohammad
{"title":"Advancement in piezoelectric nanogenerators for acoustic energy harvesting.","authors":"Fandi Jean, Muhammad Umair Khan, Anas Alazzam, Baker Mohammad","doi":"10.1038/s41378-024-00811-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41378-024-00811-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The demand for sustainable energy sources to power small electronics like IoT devices has led to exploring innovative solutions like acoustic energy harvesting using piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs). Acoustic energy harvesting leverages ambient noise, converting it into electrical energy through the piezoelectric effect, where certain materials generate an electric charge in response to mechanical stress or vibrations. This review paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the advancements in PENG technology, emphasizing their role in acoustic energy harvesting. We begin by discussing the essential principles of piezoelectricity and the design considerations for nanogenerators to optimize energy capture from sound waves. The discussion includes a detailed examination of various piezoelectric materials, such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), lead zirconate titanate (PZT), and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires, which are known for their superior piezoelectric properties. A critical aspect of this review is the exploration of innovative structural designs and resonance devices that enhance the efficiency of PENGs. We delve into the mechanisms and benefits of using Helmholtz resonators, quarter-wavelength tubes, and cantilever beams, which are instrumental in amplifying acoustic signals and improving energy conversion rates. Each device's design parameters and operational principles are scrutinized to highlight their contributions to the field. The review addresses practical applications of PENGs in various domains. Environmental monitoring systems, wearable electronics, and medical devices stand to benefit significantly from the continuous and sustainable power supplied by PENGs. These applications can reduce reliance on batteries and minimize maintenance by harnessing ambient acoustic energy, leading to more efficient and longer-lasting operations. Despite the promising potential of PENGs, several challenges remain, including material degradation, efficiency limitations, and integrating these devices into existing technological frameworks. This paper discusses these obstacles in detail and proposes potential solutions to enhance the longevity and performance of PENG systems. Innovations in material science and engineering are crucial to overcoming these hurdles and realizing the full potential of acoustic energy harvesting.</p>","PeriodicalId":18560,"journal":{"name":"Microsystems & Nanoengineering","volume":"10 1","pages":"197"},"PeriodicalIF":7.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142846980","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Chronic wound management: a liquid diode-based smart bandage with ultrasensitive pH sensing ability.","authors":"Xueqi Wang, Jing Cheng, Han Wang","doi":"10.1038/s41378-024-00801-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41378-024-00801-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chronic wounds, which require prolonged healing periods, pose significant impacts on individuals with diabetes, vascular diseases, and high blood pressure. Simultaneous drainage and monitoring of wound exudate are vital for advanced wound management. However, recently reported smart dressings either lack integration of wound cleaning and monitoring functions or fail to achieve dynamic in situ monitoring of wound status, which hinders their ability to meet the demands of wound care. In this study, a smart bandage is introduced, which integrates a biocompatible liquid diode membrane with an ultrasensitive 3D polyaniline mesh (M-PANI)-based pH biosensor. The smart bandage allows for unidirectional drainage of wound exudate while dynamically sensing the wound pH environment. Specifically, the proposed smart bandage effectively cleans excessive wound exudate while providing real-time information on the wound status during the drainage process. The M-PANI-based pH biosensor demonstrates a high sensitivity of 61.5 mV/pH and a wide pH detection range from 4.0 to 10.0, encompassing the pH range of normal and infected wounds. Moreover, the sensing module exhibits excellent stability after 48 hours of dynamic testing and 28 days of storage, with only a 4.8% decline in the detected signal, and high repeatability with a device-to-device relative standard deviation (RSD) of 3.1%. To evaluate the practicality of this smart bandage, simulated skin and rats have been employed, and the results indicate the immense potential of this smart bandage for clinical applications. In conclusion, the present smart bandage demonstrates considerable promise for wound exudate cleaning and monitoring in advanced wound care and offers a promising method for home-based wound management.</p>","PeriodicalId":18560,"journal":{"name":"Microsystems & Nanoengineering","volume":"10 1","pages":"193"},"PeriodicalIF":7.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142829304","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yang Xi, Yunpeng Zhang, Zhiqaing Tian, Tianjian Liu, Can Sheng, Bo Zhao, Zhaofu Zhang, Shizhao Wang, Sheng Liu
{"title":"The impact of sidewall copper grain condition on thermo-mechanical behaviors of TSVs during the annealing process.","authors":"Yang Xi, Yunpeng Zhang, Zhiqaing Tian, Tianjian Liu, Can Sheng, Bo Zhao, Zhaofu Zhang, Shizhao Wang, Sheng Liu","doi":"10.1038/s41378-024-00830-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41378-024-00830-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>With the drastic reduction of the TSV diameter leading to a critical dimension comparable to the Cu-filled grain size, the grain condition strongly influences the thermo-mechanical behavior of the TSV. In this work, the TSV-Cu cross-section with different grain sizes is characterized by EBSD, confirming that the sidewall grain size (0.638-1.580 μm) is smaller compared to other regions (1.022-2.134 μm). A finite element model (FEM) considering copper grains is constructed by using Voronoi diagrams to investigate the effect of sidewall grain size as well as area on the thermo-mechanical behavior during annealing. The material parameters in the FEM are optimized through nanoindentation inversion and considering the mechanical property anisotropy of copper grains. The yield strength σ<sub>y</sub> and hardening exponent n of TSV-Cu are 74.6 MPa and 0.514. The simulation results indicate that the protrusion of TSV-Cu after annealing tends to increase initially and then decrease with smaller sidewall grain size and area. The maximum increase in protrusion caused by the two variables can reach 6.74% and 14.6%, respectively, relative to the average grain condition. Additionally, the simulation results were validated by quantifying grain boundaries in TSV-Cu samples with varying grain sizes.</p>","PeriodicalId":18560,"journal":{"name":"Microsystems & Nanoengineering","volume":"10 1","pages":"194"},"PeriodicalIF":7.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142837713","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Microfluidic impedance flow cytometer leveraging virtual constriction microchannel and its application in leukocyte differential.","authors":"Minruihong Wang, Jie Zhang, Xiao Chen, Yimin Li, Xukun Huang, Junbo Wang, Yueying Li, Xiaoye Huo, Jian Chen","doi":"10.1038/s41378-024-00833-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41378-024-00833-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Microfluidic impedance flow cytometry has been widely used in leukocyte differential and counting, but it faces a bottleneck due to the trade-off between impedance detection throughput and sensitivity. In this study, a microfluidic impedance flow cytometer based on a virtual constriction microchannel was reported, in which the virtual constriction microchannel was constructed by crossflow of conductive sample and insulated sheath fluids with underneath micro-electrodes for impedance measurements. Compared to conventional mechanical constriction microchannels, this virtual counterpart could effectively avoid direct physical contact between cells and the microchannel walls to maintain high throughputs, and significantly reduce the volume of the impedance detection region for sensitivity improvements. Using the developed microfluidic impedance flow cytometer, impedance pulses of three leukemia cell lines, K562, Jurkat, and HL-60, were detected, achieving a 99.8% differentiation accuracy through the use of a recurrent neural network. Furthermore, impedance pulses of four white blood cell subpopulations (neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes) from three donors were detected, achieving a classification accuracy of ≥99.2%. A classification network model was established based on purified white blood cell and applied to impedance pulses of two white blood cell mixtures, resulting in proportional distributions of four leukocyte subpopulations within theoretical ranges. These results indicated that the developed microfluidic impedance flow cytometer based on the virtual constriction microchannel could achieve both high detection throughput and high sensitivity, showing great potentials for clinical diagnostics and blood analysis.</p>","PeriodicalId":18560,"journal":{"name":"Microsystems & Nanoengineering","volume":"10 1","pages":"192"},"PeriodicalIF":7.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142829386","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A microgripper based on electrothermal Al-SiO<sub>2</sub> bimorphs.","authors":"Hengzhang Yang, Yao Lu, Yingtao Ding, Ziyue Zhang, Anrun Ren, Haopu Wang, Xiaoyi Wang, Jiafang Li, Shuailong Zhang, Huikai Xie","doi":"10.1038/s41378-024-00821-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41378-024-00821-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Microgrippers are essential for assembly and manipulation at the micro- and nano-scales, facilitating important applications in microelectronics, MEMS, and biomedical engineering. To guarantee the safe handling of delicate materials and micro-objects, a microgripper needs to be designed to operate with exceptional precision, rapid response, user-friendly operation, strong reliability, and low power consumption. In this study, we develop an electrothermal actuated microgripper with Al-SiO<sub>2</sub> bimorphs as the primary structural element. The fabricated microgripper naturally adopts a closed state due to process-induced residual stresses. The thermal expansion mismatch between Al and SiO<sub>2</sub> allows for an easy transition of the microgripper between open and closed states by temperature control. Experimental data reveal that the microgripper can achieve impressive deformability, bending over 100 degrees at just 5 V, and responding within 10 ms. Its capability to handle micro-objects is verified using polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) microbeads and its gripping strength is quantitatively assessed. It is demonstrated that the microgripper holding a microbead with a diameter of 400 μm and a weight of 0.1 mg can withstand an average acceleration of 35 g during vibration test and over 1600 g in impact tests, highlighting its exceptional grasping performance. Additionally, the \"pick-and-place\" task for handling and positioning solder beads (0.25 mg for each bead) with diameters of 400 μm on a bulk silicon inductor chip has been successfully completed. This unique microgripper is anticipated to be highly beneficial for various micro-assembly and micromanipulation applications, particularly in the field of electronic packaging.</p>","PeriodicalId":18560,"journal":{"name":"Microsystems & Nanoengineering","volume":"10 1","pages":"195"},"PeriodicalIF":7.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142837706","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Self-template manufacturing of on-skin electrodes with 3D multi-channel structure for standard 3-limb-lead ECG suit.","authors":"Wentao Wang, Longsheng Lu, Huan Ma, Zehong Li, Xiaoyu Lu, Yingxi Xie","doi":"10.1038/s41378-024-00838-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41378-024-00838-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Wearable electrocardiogram (ECG) devices are the mainstream technology in the diagnosis of various cardiovascular diseases, in which soft, flexible, permeable electrodes are the key link in human-machine interface to capture bioelectrical signals. Herein, we propose a self-template strategy to fabricate silver-coated fiber/silicone (AgCF-S) electrodes. With a simple dissolving-curing-redissolving process, the polyvinyl acetate shell around the AgCF core is in-situ removed to form a three-dimensional (3D) multi-channel structure. The conductive fibers overlap each other and pass through the silicon substrate in a network state, so that the electrode can be bent to 180° or stretched to 30%. The 3D multi-channels in AgCF-S adhesive is further coupled with a Kirigami-design structure of flexible substrate, to maintain high flexibility without sacrificing air-permeability, enabling an excellent water evaporation rate of 1.8 μg/mm<sup>2</sup>/min, and non-allergenic adhere on pigskin after 24 h. Combined with the self-developed standard 3-limb-lead ECG suit, multi-lead signals with high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and low variance (σ<sup>2</sup>), can be transmitted in real-time via Bluetooth and displayed in the client. Typical heart diseases such as coronary, arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, etc., are detected by our ECG equipment, revealing a huge promise in future medical electronics.</p>","PeriodicalId":18560,"journal":{"name":"Microsystems & Nanoengineering","volume":"10 1","pages":"196"},"PeriodicalIF":7.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142837710","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Michiel Gidts, Wei-Fan Hsu, Maria Recaman Payo, Shaswat Kushwaha, Frederik Ceyssens, Dominiek Reynaerts, Jean-Pierre Locquet, Michael Kraft, Chen Wang
{"title":"Study on the piezoresistivity of Cr-doped V<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> thin film for MEMS sensor applications.","authors":"Michiel Gidts, Wei-Fan Hsu, Maria Recaman Payo, Shaswat Kushwaha, Frederik Ceyssens, Dominiek Reynaerts, Jean-Pierre Locquet, Michael Kraft, Chen Wang","doi":"10.1038/s41378-024-00807-0","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41378-024-00807-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cr-doped V<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> thin film shows a huge resistivity change with controlled epitaxial strain at room temperature as a result of a gradual Mott metal-insulator phase transition with strain. This novel piezoresistive transduction principle makes Cr-doped V<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> thin film an appealing piezoresistive material. To investigate the piezoresistivity of Cr-doped V<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> thin film for implementation in MEMS sensor applications, the resistance change of differently orientated Cr-doped V<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> thin film piezoresistors with external strain change was measured. With a longitudinal gauge factor of 222 and a transversal gauge factor of 217 at room temperature, isotropic piezoresistivity coefficients were discovered. This results in a significant orientation-independent resistance change with stress for Cr-doped V<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> thin film piezoresistors, potentially useful for new sensor applications. To demonstrate the integration of this new piezoresistive material in sensor applications, a micromachined pressure sensor with Cr-doped V<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> thin film piezoresistors was designed, fabricated and characterized. At 20 °C, a sensitivity, offset, temperature coefficient of sensitivity and temperature coefficient of offset of 21.81 mV/V/bar, -25.73 mV/V, -0.076 mV/V/bar/°C and 0.182 mV/V/°C, respectively, were measured. This work paves the way for further research on this promising piezoresistive transduction principle for use in MEMS sensor applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":18560,"journal":{"name":"Microsystems & Nanoengineering","volume":"10 1","pages":"189"},"PeriodicalIF":7.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11645411/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142822097","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Root-inspired, template-confined additive printing for fabricating high-robust conformal electronics.","authors":"Guifang Liu, Xiangming Li, Yangfan Qiu, Chuanhang Zeng, Xinkai Zhu, Chao Wang, Xiaoliang Chen, Chunhui Wang, Hongmiao Tian, Jinyou Shao","doi":"10.1038/s41378-024-00840-z","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41378-024-00840-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Conformal electronic devices on freeform surface play a critical role in the emerging smart robotics, smart skins, and integrated sensing systems. However, their functional structures such as circuits tend to tear-off, break, or crack under mechanical or thermal influence when in service, thus limiting the application reliability of conformal electronics. Herein, inspired by the tree root system, template-confined additive (TCA) printing technology was presented for reliable fabrication of robust circuits. TCA printing technology involves the penetration of adhesive into the functional material, thereby enhancing the mechanical robustness of the circuits, allowing them to maintain their electrical performance despite the presence of external damaging factors such as scratching, abrasion, folding, and high temperatures. For example, herein, the circuits could withstand mechanical abrasion at temperatures as high as 350 °C without compromising electrical properties. Benefiting from the confines of template, the printed circuits achieved resolutions of up to 300 nm, suitable for various materials such as P(VDF-TrFE), MWCNTs, and AgNPs, which enabled the multi-material self-aligned fabrication. Furthermore, the versatility of TCA printing was presented by fabricating circuits on arbitrary substrates, and realizing various devices, such as conformal temperature/humidity sensing system and epidermal ultra-thin energy storage system. These applications present the significant potential of TCA printing in fabricating intelligent devices.</p>","PeriodicalId":18560,"journal":{"name":"Microsystems & Nanoengineering","volume":"10 1","pages":"191"},"PeriodicalIF":7.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142823823","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Fabrication and in vivo testing of a sub-mm duckbill valve for hydrocephalus treatment.","authors":"Yuna Jung, Daniel Gulick, Jennifer Blain Christen","doi":"10.1038/s41378-024-00829-8","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41378-024-00829-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hydrocephalus is characterized by the accumulation of excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the cranium due to an imbalance between production and absorption of CSF. The standard treatment involves the implantation of a shunt to divert excess CSF into the peritoneal cavity, but these shunts exhibit high failure rates over time. In pursuit of improved reliability and performance, this study proposes a miniaturized valve designed to mimic the natural one-way valve function of the arachnoid granulations and thereby replace the shunts. A benchtop testing setup was employed to characterize the behavior of the fabricated valve. Additionally, an animal study was conducted to assess the valve's in vivo performance. This involved the injection of saline into the lateral ventricle to elevate intracranial pressure (ICP), followed by the drainage of the saline through the valve inserted into the cisterna magna (CM) to reduce pressure. Our prototype features a silicone duckbill valve design combined with a silicone tube as an inlet. Through benchtop testing, the valve exhibited unidirectional flow with negligible reverse leakage, revealing that critical parameters such as the width of the fluid channel (W) and bill length (L) could be controlled to optimize valve performance. Notably, the valve configuration with W= 0.8mm and L < 0.5mm achieved the lowest cracking pressure (2.22 ± 0.07 mmHg) and outflow resistance (22.00 ± 0.70 mmHg/mL/min) within the low cracking pressure range of conventional shunts. Our observations of the in vivo test demonstrated that when untreated states, pressure differences from baseline to peak exceeded 20 mmHg due to the absence of drainage, resulting in sustained pressure elevation. Conversely, upon treating states by removing the clamp, pressure differences from baseline to peak remained below 5 mmHg, indicating effective drainage of injected saline through the valve. These promising results highlight the potential of the miniaturized duckbill valve as an alternative for ICP management in hydrocephalus, offering improved control and reliability compared to conventional shunting systems. Further research is required to evaluate the valve's performance as a chronic implant.</p>","PeriodicalId":18560,"journal":{"name":"Microsystems & Nanoengineering","volume":"10 1","pages":"190"},"PeriodicalIF":7.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142823822","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}