Abstract: Techniques relate to forming a sorting device. A mesh is formed on top of a substrate. Metal assisted chemical etching is performed to remove substrate material of the substrate at locations of the mesh. Pillars are formed in the substrate by removal of the substrate material. The mesh is removed to leave the pillars in a nanopillar array. The pillars in the nanopillar array are designed with a spacing to sort particles of different sizes such that the particles at or above a predetermined dimension are sorted in a first direction and the particles below the predetermined dimension are sorted in a second direction.

Abstract: The method comprises contacting a silicon substrate with a silver salt and an acid for a time effective to produce spikes having a first end disposed on the silicon substrate and a second end extending away from the silicon substrate. The spikes have a second end diameter of about 10 nm to about 200 nm, a height of about 100 nm to 10 micrometers, and a density of about 10 to 100 per square microns. The nanostructures provide antimicrobial properties and can be transferred to the surface of various materials such as polymers.

Abstract: Techniques for phosphoprotein detection, quantification, and purification using a chip-based pillar array are provided. In one aspect, a method for purifying a protein sample includes: introducing a mixture including the protein sample and an antibody to a nanoDLD array having a plurality of pillars separated by a gap g, wherein the antibody and proteins in the protein sample form antibody-protein complexes having a size that is greater than a size threshold of the nanoDLD array created by the gap g which permits size-based separation of the antibody-protein complexes as the mixture flows through the nanoDLD array; and collecting a purified protein sample containing the antibody-protein complexes from the nanoDLD array. A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device including the nanoDLD array is also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel system, and method to evaluate a prediction of a possibly unknown outcome out of a plurality of predictions of that outcome. The method begins with accessing a particular prediction of an outcome out of a plurality of predictions of that outcome in which the outcome may be unknown. Next, a subsample of the plurality of predictions of the outcome is accessed. The subsample can possibly include the particular prediction. A consensus prediction of the outcome based on the subsample of the plurality of predictions is determined. A proximity of the particular prediction to the consensus prediction is determined Each prediction is ranked out of the plurality of predictions in an order of a closest in proximity to the consensus prediction to a farthest in proximity to the consensus prediction.

Abstract: Techniques relate to forming a sorting device. A mesh is formed on top of a substrate. Metal assisted chemical etching is performed to remove substrate material of the substrate at locations of the mesh. Pillars are formed in the substrate by removal of the substrate material. The mesh is removed to leave the pillars in a nanopillar array. The pillars in the nanopillar array are designed with a spacing to sort particles of different sizes such that the particles at or above a predetermined dimension are sorted in a first direction and the particles below the predetermined dimension are sorted in a second direction.

Abstract: A device for passing a biopolymer molecule includes a nanochannel formed between a surface relief structure, a patterned layer forming sidewalls of the nanochannel and a sealing layer formed over the patterned layer to encapsulate the nanochannel. The surface relief structure includes a three-dimensionally rounded surface that reduces a channel dimension of the nanochannel at a portion of nanochannel and gradually increases the dimension along the nanochannel toward an opening position, which is configured to receive a biopolymer.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for reducing entropy of a polyelectrolyte before the polyelectrolyte moves through a nanopore. A free-standing membrane has the nanopore formed through the membrane. An agarose gel is formed onto either and/or both sides of the nanopore in the membrane. The agarose gel is a porous material. The polyelectrolyte is uncoiled by driving the polyelectrolyte through the porous material of the agarose gel via an electric field. Driving the polyelectrolyte, having been uncoiled and linearized by the agarose gel, into the nanopore is for sequencing.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for reducing entropy of a polyelectrolyte before the polyelectrolyte moves through a nanopore. A free-standing membrane has the nanopore formed through the membrane. An agarose gel is formed onto either and/or both sides of the nanopore in the membrane. The agarose gel is a porous material. The polyelectrolyte is uncoiled by driving the polyelectrolyte through the porous material of the agarose gel via an electric field. Driving the polyelectrolyte, having been uncoiled and linearized by the agarose gel, into the nanopore is for sequencing.

Abstract: Techniques relate to forming a sorting device. A mesh is formed on top of a substrate. Metal assisted chemical etching is performed to remove substrate material of the substrate at locations of the mesh. Pillars are formed in the substrate by removal of the substrate material. The mesh is removed to leave the pillars in a nanopillar array. The pillars in the nanopillar array are designed with a spacing to sort particles of different sizes such that the particles at or above a predetermined dimension are sorted in a first direction and the particles below the predetermined dimension are sorted in a second direction.

Abstract: Techniques relate to forming a sorting device. A mesh is formed on top of a substrate. Metal assisted chemical etching is performed to remove substrate material of the substrate at locations of the mesh. Pillars are formed in the substrate by removal of the substrate material. The mesh is removed to leave the pillars in a nanopillar array. The pillars in the nanopillar array are designed with a spacing to sort particles of different sizes such that the particles at or above a predetermined dimension are sorted in a first direction and the particles below the predetermined dimension are sorted in a second direction.

Abstract: Techniques relate to forming a sorting device. A mesh is formed on top of a substrate. Metal assisted chemical etching is performed to remove substrate material of the substrate at locations of the mesh. Pillars are formed in the substrate by removal of the substrate material. The mesh is removed to leave the pillars in a nanopillar array. The pillars in the nanopillar array are designed with a spacing to sort particles of different sizes such that the particles at or above a predetermined dimension are sorted in a first direction and the particles below the predetermined dimension are sorted in a second direction.

Abstract: A technique includes forming a gradient channel with width and depth gradients. A mask is disposed on top of a substrate. The mask is patterned with at least one elongated channel pattern having different elongated channel pattern widths. A channel is etched in the substrate in a single etching step, the channel having a width gradient and a corresponding depth gradient both simultaneously etched in the single etching step according to the different elongated channel pattern widths in the mask.

Abstract: Techniques for phosphoprotein detection, quantification, and purification using a chip-based pillar array are provided. In one aspect, a method for purifying a protein sample includes: introducing a mixture including the protein sample and an antibody to a nanoDLD array having a plurality of pillars separated by a gap g, wherein the antibody and proteins in the protein sample form antibody-protein complexes having a size that is greater than a size threshold of the nanoDLD array created by the gap g which permits size-based separation of the antibody-protein complexes as the mixture flows through the nanoDLD array; and collecting a purified protein sample containing the antibody-protein complexes from the nanoDLD array. A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device including the nanoDLD array is also provided.

Abstract: A technique for a nanodevice is provided. A reservoir is separated into two parts by a membrane. A nanopore is formed through the membrane, and the nanopore connects the two parts of the reservoir. The nanopore and the two parts of the reservoir are filled with ionic buffer. The membrane includes a graphene layer and insulating layers. The graphene layer is wired to first and second metal pads to form a graphene transistor in which transistor current flowing through the graphene transistor is modulated by charges or dipoles passing through the nanopore.

Abstract: Techniques for phosphoprotein detection, quantification, and purification using a chip-based pillar array are provided. In one aspect, a method for purifying a protein sample includes: introducing a mixture including the protein sample and an antibody to a nanoDLD array having a plurality of pillars separated by a gap g, wherein the antibody and proteins in the protein sample form antibody-protein complexes having a size that is greater than a size threshold of the nanoDLD array created by the gap g which permits size-based separation of the antibody-protein complexes as the mixture flows through the nanoDLD array; and collecting a purified protein sample containing the antibody-protein complexes from the nanoDLD array. A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device including the nanoDLD array is also provided.

Abstract: The method comprises contacting a silicon substrate with a silver salt and an acid for a time effective to produce spikes having a first end disposed on the silicon substrate and a second end extending away from the silicon substrate. The spikes have a second end diameter of about 10 nm to about 200 nm, a height of about 100 nm to 10 micrometers, and a density of about 10 to 100 per square microns. The nanostructures provide antimicrobial properties and can be transferred to the surface of various materials such as polymers.

Abstract: The method comprises contacting a silicon substrate with a silver salt and an acid for a time effective to produce spikes having a first end disposed on the silicon substrate and a second end extending away from the silicon substrate. The spikes have a second end diameter of about 10 nm to about 200 nm, a height of about 100 nm to 10 micrometers, and a density of about 10 to 100 per square microns. The nanostructures provide antimicrobial properties and can be transferred to the surface of various materials such as polymers.

Abstract: A nanodevice includes a reservoir filled with conductive fluid and a membrane separating the reservoir. A nanopore is formed through the membrane having electrode layers separated by insulating layers. A certain electrode layer has a first type of organic coating and a pair of electrode layers has a second type. The first type of organic coating forms a motion control transient bond to a molecule in the nanopore for motion control, and the second type forms first and second transient bonds to different bonding sites of a base of the molecule. When a voltage is applied to the pair of electrode layers a tunneling current is generated by the base in the nanopore, and the tunneling current travels via the first and second transient bonds formed to be measured as a current signature for distinguishing the base. The motion control transient bond is stronger than first and second transient bonds.

Abstract: Techniques for increasing the capture zone in nano and microchannel-based polymer testing structures using concentric arrangements of nanostructures, such as nanopillars are provided. In one aspect, a testing structure for testing polymers is provided that includes a first fluid reservoir and a second fluid reservoir formed in an electrically insulating substrate; at least one channel formed in the insulating substrate that interconnects the first fluid reservoir and the second fluid reservoir; and an arrangement of nanostructures within either the first fluid reservoir or the second fluid reservoir wherein the nanostructures are arranged so as to form multiple concentric circles inside either the first fluid reservoir or the second fluid reservoir with each of the concentric circles being centered at an entry point of the channel. A method of analyzing a polymer using the testing structure is also provided.

Abstract: A technique relates sorting entities. The entities are introduced into a nanopillar array. The entities include a first population and a second population, and the nanopillar array includes nanopillars arranged to have a gap separating one from another. The nanopillars are ordered to have an array angle relative to a fluid flow direction. The entities are sorted through the nanopillar array by transporting the first population of the entities less than a predetermined size in a first direction and by transporting the second population of the entities at least the predetermined size in a second direction different from the first direction. The nanopillar array is configured to employ the gap with a gap size less than 300 nanometers in order to sort the entities having a sub-100 nanometer size.