To reduce unwanted variation in the passage speed of DNA through solid-state nanopores, we demonstrate nanoscale preconfinement translocating molecules using an ultrathin nanoporous silicon nitride membrane separated from a single sensing nanopore by cavity. We present comprehensive experimental and simulation results demonstrating that presence integrated nanofilter within distances pore eliminates dependence molecular time distributions on size, revealing global minimum coefficient time....

Abstract Selective cellular transmigration across the microvascular endothelium regulates innate and adaptive immune responses, stem cell localization, cancer metastasis. Integration of traditional microporous membranes into microfluidic vascular models permits rapid assay events but suffers from poor reproduction permeable basement membrane. Current in these systems have large nonporous regions between micropores that inhibit communication nutrient exchange on basolateral surface reducing...

The biological impact of microplastics in human food and water sources is largely unknown, drinking are not exempt from microplastic contamination. Here, we demonstrate a streamlined approach for capturing, quantifying, identifying water. We present an analytical workflow termed Silicon Nanomembrane Analysis Pipeline (SNAP) that takes advantage novel silicon nitride nanomembranes which enable significant “concentration factor," consolidating suspended particles into planarized observation...

The biological impact of microplastics in human food and water sources is largely unknown, drinking are not exempt from microplastic contamination. Here, we demonstrate a streamlined approach for capturing, quantifying, identifying water. We present an analytical workflow termed Silicon Nanomembrane Analysis Pipeline (SNAP) that takes advantage novel silicon nitride nanomembranes which enable significant “concentration factor," consolidating suspended particles into planarized observation...

Pollution by microplastics (MPs) is a growing problem that now well-recognized, as concerning levels of MPs have been found in drinking water, food, and even human tissues. Given the evolving understanding their toxicological effects on health, are an area concern requiring further study. Consequently, there need for greater performance characteristics common MP analytical methods where possible, standardizing reporting practices. Here, we report our work comparing filtration imaging...

Elucidating the kinetics of DNA passage through a solid-state nanopore is fertile field research, and mechanisms for controlling capture, passage, trapping biopolymers are likely to find numerous technological applications. Here we present nanofiltered device which forms an entropic cage following first nanopore, translocated DNA, permitting recapture subsequent reanalysis investigation under confinement. We characterize properties this nanodevice by driving individual polymers into...

Nanoscale preconfinement of DNA has been shown to reduce the variation passage times through solid-state nanopores. Preconfinement previously achieved by forming a femtoliter-sized cavity capped with highly porous layer nanoporous silicon nitride (NPN). This was formed sealing NPN nanofilter membrane against substrate chip using water vapor delamination. Ultimately, this method fabrication cannot keep consistent spacing between filter and nanopore due thermal fluctuations wrinkles in...

Silicon nanomembrane technologies (NPN, pnc-Si, and others) have been used commercially as electron microscopy (EM) substrates, filters with nanometer-resolution size cut-offs. Combined EM, these materials provide a platform for catching or suspending nanoscale-size structures analysis. Usefully, the itself can be manufactured to achieve variety of nanopore topographies. The size, shapes, surfaces nanopores will influence transport, fouling, sieving, electrical behavior. Electron tomography...

To better understand the origin of microplastics in municipal drinking water, we evaluated 50 mL water samples from different stages City Rochester’s production and transport route, Hemlock Lake to University Rochester. We directly filtered using silicon nitride nanomembrane filters with precisely patterned slit-shaped pores, capturing many smallest particulates (<20 µm) that could be absorbed by human body. employed machine learning algorithms quantify shapes quantity debris at process,...

Low loss shallow etched rib waveguides are systematically analyzed and used to realize compact ring resonators (~100 micron radius) with intrinsic Q-factors of Q~500,000. These high-Q rings directly enable large tunable delays.

Abstract Plastics and their breakdown products, specifically microplastics, are ubiquitously present in the environment from a variety of sources. Analysis air samples has also revealed presence fragmented, spherical, fibrous plastic particles wide range sizes submicrometer scale up to tens micrometers length diameter. However, few studies have addressed health consequences associated with exposures airborne whether they can enter respiratory tract, where will deposit, how polymer chemistry...

Abstract Humans spend 70-90% of their time indoors, however, there is a significant lack knowledge regarding human exposure to microplastic particles and fibers (MPs) within the indoor environment. Fibers make up more than 90% household settled dust worldwide have been found in air. Studies identified MPs larger 50 micrometers dust, but these are unlikely be respirable little information available smaller airborne particles. It evident that humans inhaling as they excised diseased healthy...

A new take on membranes for vascular modeling. In article 1804111, James L. McGrath, Thomas R. Gaborski, and co-workers lithographically fabricate dual-scale (nano- micro-porous) from ultrathin (100 nm) silicon nitride nanomembranes to support human endothelial cell culture modeling at the lab bench. Micropores provide transmigration routes studying immune, cancer, stem egress through wall.