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

3D打印的新技术目前正在改变研究和工业。纳米级的光刻也是如此，这是发现新研究领域的关键。基于这种新的光刻方法，我们可以设计开创性的三维纳米电子电路或三维集成纳米生物电子混合电路。在初步工作中，我们能够证明在这样的3D支架中培养细胞是可能的，而不会危及它们的生存能力，正如我们通过在3D支架中跟踪这些小鼠神经元的动作电位所显示的那样。因此，我们能够向3D蜂窝网络的研究迈出第一步。到目前为止，这只有2D版本才有可能。事实上，我们的方法从根本上是开创性的，因为所有传统的电子电路都是以2D方式设计和操作的。相比之下，大脑中的细胞网络本质上是3D的。正是这种三维性和细胞的互连，使得大脑中的数据处理速度达到了令人难以置信的水平。这与细胞间动作电位的传播速度相当缓慢形成了鲜明对比。因此，我们正在为3D纳米打印机申请资金，以专门从事这一主题的工作。结合我们在细胞培养和表征(也包括干细胞)和原子层沉积(ALD)方面的现有专业知识，我们获得了解决生物物理学领域基本问题的基本技术。这一阵容中缺失的元素是一台3D纳米打印机，可以选择烧蚀材料。

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.