522
F. Gentile et al.
opportunities for discovery and development of applications which enhance research
and the probability for pathfinding mechanisms in life processes. The physics of
drops, where gravity has minor effects, and interfacial forces dominate over volume,
affords a new window through which to observe life processes. It is a probe which
can reveal novel mechanisms that are fundamental to cell processes, disease process,
and the adaptation of living systems to changes in physical forces.
Moreover, SHSs provide an opportunity to better understand interfacial phenomena,
such as the wetting and spreading of immiscible liquids or the spreading of fluid
across a solid surface. Given the sizes of interest, which are small, wetting determines the configuration and location of fluid interfaces, thus greatly influencing, if
not dominating, the behavior of multiphase fluid systems. Phenomena, processes and
procedures that may be investigated in this context include cell culture, formation
and stability of nanoemulsions, transportation phenomena, self-organization phenomena, advancement of analytical devices, protein crystal growth, formation and
organization.
14.6 Conclusion
On account of the intrinsic limitations of conventional bio photonic devices, a novel
procedure was conceived at the forefront of SERS and superhydrophobicity. Silicon
substrates were conveniently patterned to include regular lattices of micro pillars,
while the top of the pillars was further modified to incorporate silver nanograins
assemblies. On account of its micro structure the substrate is superhydrophobic,
while, on account of the silver grains, it reveals superior SERS capabilities. The
micro and nano scales were conveniently combined to yield a family of bio sensors
featuring new functions that can boost the detection of few molecules. The substrates
were correctly designed on the ground of mathematical models, therefore nanotechnologies were employed to fabricate these devices. Different tests with R6G solutions
showed that (i) a diluted solution can be largely concentrated, (ii) the solute can be
conveyed towards the active sites of the device with high precision and very short
times, (iii) few molecules can be detected and recognized. Using this pioneering
procedure, an access is provided to precious information that are otherwise inaccessible with conventional methods. The major application of this technology is the
early detection of cancers or other pathologies, in these regards further investigations
and the integration with assessed biological and proteomic methods are necessary.
Nevertheless, the door to a new frontier for the treatment of cancers is open up.
Acknowledgments This work was funded under European Project SMD FP7-NMP 2800-SMALL2 (proposal no. CP-FP 229375-2), Italian project FIRB ‘Rete Nazionale di Ricerca sulle Nanoscienze
ItalNanoNet’ (cod. RBPR05JH2P-010) and by the EU Commission, the European Social Fund and
the Calabria Region (POR Calabria FSE 2007-2013).
F. Gentile et al.
opportunities for discovery and development of applications which enhance research
and the probability for pathfinding mechanisms in life processes. The physics of
drops, where gravity has minor effects, and interfacial forces dominate over volume,
affords a new window through which to observe life processes. It is a probe which
can reveal novel mechanisms that are fundamental to cell processes, disease process,
and the adaptation of living systems to changes in physical forces.
Moreover, SHSs provide an opportunity to better understand interfacial phenomena,
such as the wetting and spreading of immiscible liquids or the spreading of fluid
across a solid surface. Given the sizes of interest, which are small, wetting determines the configuration and location of fluid interfaces, thus greatly influencing, if
not dominating, the behavior of multiphase fluid systems. Phenomena, processes and
procedures that may be investigated in this context include cell culture, formation
and stability of nanoemulsions, transportation phenomena, self-organization phenomena, advancement of analytical devices, protein crystal growth, formation and
organization.
14.6 Conclusion
On account of the intrinsic limitations of conventional bio photonic devices, a novel
procedure was conceived at the forefront of SERS and superhydrophobicity. Silicon
substrates were conveniently patterned to include regular lattices of micro pillars,
while the top of the pillars was further modified to incorporate silver nanograins
assemblies. On account of its micro structure the substrate is superhydrophobic,
while, on account of the silver grains, it reveals superior SERS capabilities. The
micro and nano scales were conveniently combined to yield a family of bio sensors
featuring new functions that can boost the detection of few molecules. The substrates
were correctly designed on the ground of mathematical models, therefore nanotechnologies were employed to fabricate these devices. Different tests with R6G solutions
showed that (i) a diluted solution can be largely concentrated, (ii) the solute can be
conveyed towards the active sites of the device with high precision and very short
times, (iii) few molecules can be detected and recognized. Using this pioneering
procedure, an access is provided to precious information that are otherwise inaccessible with conventional methods. The major application of this technology is the
early detection of cancers or other pathologies, in these regards further investigations
and the integration with assessed biological and proteomic methods are necessary.
Nevertheless, the door to a new frontier for the treatment of cancers is open up.
Acknowledgments This work was funded under European Project SMD FP7-NMP 2800-SMALL2 (proposal no. CP-FP 229375-2), Italian project FIRB ‘Rete Nazionale di Ricerca sulle Nanoscienze
ItalNanoNet’ (cod. RBPR05JH2P-010) and by the EU Commission, the European Social Fund and
the Calabria Region (POR Calabria FSE 2007-2013).