3D-Nanoprinter for Applications in Bio-Nano-Physics

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

The new technique of 3D-printing is currently transforming research and industry. This is also true for lithography on the nanoscale, which is key to discovering new fields of research. Based on such a novel approach to lithography we can design groundbreaking nano-electronic circuits in three dimensions or integrated nano-bio-electronic hybrid circuits in 3D. In preliminary work we were able to show that culturing of cells in such a 3D-scaffold is possible without jeopardizing their viability, as we have shown by tracing the action potentials of these mouse neurons in a 3D-scaffold. Thus we were able to take the first steps towards the investigation of cellular networks in 3D. So far this has only been possible in 2D. Indeed our approach is fundamentally groundbreaking, since all conventional electronic circuits are designed and operated in a 2D-fashion. In contrast cellular networks in the brain are 3D by nature. It is this 3-dimensionality and the interconnectivity of cells which enables an incredible data processing speed in the brain. This is in stark contrast to the rather slow propagation speed of action potentials between cells. Hence, we are requesting funding for a 3D-nanoprinter to specifically work on this topic. In combination with our existing expertise in cell culturing and characterization (also of stem cells) and in atomic-layer-depostion (ALD) we acquired the essential techniques to tackle thee fundamental questions in the field of biophysics. The missing element in this line-up is a 3D-nanoprinter with the option to ablate material.