Abstract: Disclosed herein are micropatterned surfaces, particularly in the shape of micro-brushes having a base and a plurality of elongated elements. The micropatterned surfaces suitably biofunctionalized are particularly useful for activation and expansion of cells. Methods for activation and expansion of cytotoxic lymphocytes with decreased exhaustion potential are also provided, as well as means involving same to treat a patient in need thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nanocomposite elastic mold for thermal nanoimprint, the mold comprising an elastic substrate, to which a plurality of rigid individual nanofeatures are bonded. The bonding of the rigid individual nanofeatures to the elastic substrate is performed by a process which uses a sacrificial substrate and a sacrificial coating.

Abstract: A method for nanoimprinting a pattern on an organic polymer substrate, comprising: (a) preparing a soft operational mold, the operational mold comprising a pattern to be replicated to the substrate; (b) soaking the operational mold in a solvent to produce diffusion of solvent to the mold; (c) removing the operational mold from the solvent, and placing it on a surface of the organic polymer substrate to form a structure, and simultaneously (i) heating the structure to a temperature T<Tg, where Tg is the glass transition temperature of the organic polymer; and (ii) applying controlled pressure in a range of 20-300 psi on the mold to effect a penetration into the surface of the organic polymer substrate, thereby to replicate the pattern of the mold to the surface of the substrate; and (d) separating the operational mold from the patterned substrate.

Abstract: In a first embodiment, the invention relates to a method for nanoimprinting a pattern on a chalcogenide-glass substrate, comprising: (A) preparing a soft operational mold, the operational mold comprising an elastomeric matrix and a reinforcement, wherein the matrix is transparent to IR radiation, and the reinforcement is opaque to IR radiation, and the mold further includes a pattern to be replicated to the substrate; (B) placing the mold on a top surface of a chalcogenide-glass substrate to form a structure, and simultaneously applying (i) IR radiation to heat an area at a top surface of the substrate to a temperature T>Tg, where Tg is the glass transition temperature of chalcogenide-glass, and (ii) applying a controlled pressure on the mold to effect penetration to the top surface of the chalcogenide-glass substrate, thereby to replicate the pattern of the mold to the top surface of the substrate; and (C) separating the operational mold from the patterned substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nanocomposite elastic mold for thermal nanoimprint, the mold comprising an elastic substrate, to which a plurality of rigid individual nanofeatures are bonded. The bonding of the rigid individual nanofeatures to the elastic substrate is performed by a process which uses a sacrificial substrate and a sacrificial coating.

Abstract: This invention relates to photovoltaic devices such as photovoltaic cells and photodetectors. The invention provides processes for fabrication of the devices and methods of use thereof. The invention is further related to controlled growth of nanowire arrays using elongated shapes as guides on the surface.