Abstract: The invention provides porous particles that produce a predetermined optical response and that may be manipulated magnetically. A preferred particle of the invention has a porous structure that produces a predetermined optical response and magnetic material adhered to the particle. Another preferred particle is amphiphilic. The optical response provided by a particle of the invention enables particles of the invention to be used in sensing, labeling, signaling, display and many other applications. The magnetic nature of the present magnetic particles permits the particles themselves to be manipulated, e.g., vibrated, moved and re-oriented. The porous particles can also be used to control, move, and/or deliver small volumes of liquids and solids associated with the particles.

Abstract: A porous titanium dioxide film having photonic properties is made by etching a titanium substrate in an electrolyte solution in the presence of an electric field. The electrolyte solution can be an organic electrolyte solution. Etching involves providing an electrolyte solution in contact with a pair of electrodes and passing an electric current through the electrolyte solution. The titanium substrate can be one of the pair of electrodes. The current has a wave profile selected from a group consisting of a periodic square profile, a sine wave, a linear profile, or a quintic profile, and is provided either parallel of perpendicular to a plane of the substrate.

Abstract: The invention includes sensors and sensing methods for determining cell morphology and/or chemical composition of an analyte. A porous substrate exhibiting a first optical signal is exposed to a target analyte and subsequently monitored for changes in the optical signal. More specifically, a photonic or porous substrate having a well-defined and highly tunable reflectivity or transmission spectrum, such as porous silicon (Si), porous alumina, porous Ge, porous GaAs, porous SiO2 and porous polymer, is used for example. A porous or photonic substrate is exposed to an analyte, such as a cell or other macromolecule, and changes in the scattered light are observed over time to determine cell morphology and/or chemical composition of the analyte using the substrate.

Abstract: A foraminous microstructure or film that has photonic or plasmonic properties is made by forming a structure or film composed of at least two constituent materials so that the compositional ratio of the constituent materials varies in a depth direction of the structure, and then removing one of the materials from the structure.

Abstract: A method of generating three-dimensional nanostructures that includes providing a silicon substrate, creating a porous silicon template from the silicon substrate, wherein the template is created to have a predetermined configuration, depositing a predetermined material on the porous silicon template, and removing the porous silicon template from the deposited material to leave a freestanding nanostructure.

Abstract: A minimally invasive controlled drug delivery system for delivering a particular drug or drugs to a particular location of the eye, the system including a porous film template having pores configured and dimensioned to at least partially receive at least one drug therein, and wherein the template is dimensioned to be delivered into or onto the eye.

Abstract: The invention provides porous particles that produce a predetermined optical response and that may be manipulated magnetically. A preferred particle of the invention has a porous structure that produces a predetermined optical response and magnetic material adhered to the particle. Another preferred particle is amphiphilic. The optical response provided by a particle of the invention enables particles of the invention to be used in sensing, labeling, signaling, display and many other applications. The magnetic nature of the present magnetic particles permits the particles themselves to be manipulated, e.g., vibrated, moved and re-oriented. The porous particles can also be used to control, move, and/or deliver small volumes of liquids and solids associated with the particles.

Abstract: The invention includes sensors and sensing methods for determining cell morphology and/or chemical composition of an analyte. A porous substrate exhibiting a first optical signal is exposed to a target analyte and subsequently monitored for changes in the optical signal. More specifically, a photonic or porous substrate having a well-defined and highly tunable reflectivity or transmission spectrum, such as porous silicon (Si), porous alumina, porous Ge, porous GaAs, porous SiO2 and porous polymer, is used for example. A porous or photonic substrate is exposed to an analyte, such as a cell or other macromolecule, and changes in the scattered light are observed over time to determine cell morphology and/or chemical composition of the analyte using the substrate.

Abstract: A method for forming photonic particles, where the method includes the steps of preparing a porous photonic material layer, patterning a soluble polymer on the porous photonic material layer, leaving dividing portions of the material layer untreated, infusing the polymer into the material layer, and removing the dividing portions of the material to obtain the photonic particles.