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By mimic children ’s soda - up Christian Bible , scientist can now make complex microscopic 3D shapes that model head circuitry and bloodline vessels , researchers say .
These intricate structures , which could resemble bantam flowers and peacocks , may one day help scientist electronically controlliving tissue , the researchers total .
course curved , thin and flexible 3D structures are common in biological science ; example admit thecircuits of brain cellsand networks of vein . Materials scientist John Rogers , at the University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign , and his colleagues want to make similarly complex devices that can wrap up around these biological structures , potentially supporting or improving their routine . [ 5 Crazy Technologies That Are Revolutionizing Biotech ]
" Our focus has been on the brain , heart and skin , " Rogers said .
Devices that mimic the complex complex body part institute in nature are very difficult to cook up on microscopical scales . But now , Rogers and his colleagues have rise a simple strategy for such manufacture that involve monotone 2D structure that pop up into 3D shapes .
" The analogy would be children ’s down - up Holy Scripture , " Rogers tell Live Science .
To fabricate these structures , the scientists fabricate 2D patterns of ribbon on stretch along flexible silicone polymer rubber . In experiments , the ribbons were as small as 100 nanometre wide , or about 1,000 clip fragile than the median human hair , and could be made from a variety of material , includingsiliconand nickel .
The 2D traffic pattern are designed so that there are both hard and weak peak of stickiness between the figure and the silicone rubber they sit on . After the scientists cook up the 2D design , they discharge the tension on the silicone rubber . The washy points of stickiness break off away , " and up start a 3D structure , " subject area co - writer Yonggang Huang , a professor of mechanically skillful engineering at Northwestern University in Evanston , Illinois , said in a statement . " In just one slam , you get your bodily structure . "
The research worker yield more than 40 different geometrical designs , from individual and multiple spiral and rings to spherical baskets , cubical box , Inachis io , flowers , collapsible shelter , tables and sea star . Scientists could even set up traffic pattern with multiple layers , a morsel like multi - floor buildings .
This new pour down - up technique has many advantages , the investigators say . The scheme is fast , cheap and can employ many unlike materials used in electronics today to build a extensive smorgasbord ofmicroscopic structures . Moreover , researchers can build many different structures at one fourth dimension , and incorporate different material into hybrid bodily structure .
" We are excited about the fact that these simple ideas and schemes allow prompt paths to broad and previously inaccessible course of study of three-D micro- and nano - structures in a agency that is compatible with the gamy - performance materials and processing technique available , " Rogers said . " We find that the findings have potential relevancy to a wide stove of microsystems engineering science — biomedical gimmick , optoelectronics , photovoltaics , 3D circuits , sensing element and so on . "
The scientists said their pop - up assembly proficiency has many advantages over3D printers , which make 3D structures by depositing layers of cloth on top of one another . Although 3D printers are increasingly pop , they ferment slowly . In improver , it is difficult for 3D printer to build objects using more than one stuff , and it is most impossible for these printing machine to produce semiconductors or single crystalline metals , the research worker said .
Still , Rogers underscore the team ’s fresh scheme is complementary to 3D impression , and is not an endeavor to replace that proficiency .
The scientist are currently using this dada - up assembly scheme to build electronic scaffolds that can monitor and control the increment of cells in lab experiments , Rogers said . " We are also using these ideas to constitute spiraling , springy alloy interconnect coils and antenna for diffused electronic equipment designed to integrate with the human body , " he said .
The scientist detailed their findings online today ( Jan. 8) in the journal Science .
