Book Description

Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) can be a critical link between the macroworld and the realm of nanobiotechnology. Top-down MEMS methods and devices will likely serve as an important handle for interfacing with the bottom-up techniques and structures that typify nanobiotechnology. This volume focuses on recent advances in the fields of MEMS and BioMEMS, including microfluidics, bioanalysis, packaging, materials and fabrication methods. It is clear from these presentations that top-down semiconductor-based processing remains vital. Indeed, frontiers are expanding within this realm, with new research on materials like poly-SiGe. However, new materials, particularly polymers, and bottom-up methods such as soft lithography and chemical synthesis, are continually gaining in utility and importance. It is also apparent from this volume that microanalytical techniques continue to be advanced, including new ways of separating samples by optical, adhesion-based and dielectrophoretic methods. And sensors, always of interest, are demonstrated here by research into sensors for environmental and material analysis. Capacitance-based sensors for DNA analysis, and magnetic sensors for position sensing, are also highlighted. Finally, systems for direct interfacing with biological systems are addressed, with presentations on neural recording methods, retinal implants, and tissue engineering.