From Biological Cilia to Artificial Flow Sensors: Biomimetic Soft Polymer Nanosensors with High Sensing Performance

Sci Rep. 2016 Sep 13:6:32955. doi: 10.1038/srep32955.

Abstract

We report the development of a new class of miniature all-polymer flow sensors that closely mimic the intricate morphology of the mechanosensory ciliary bundles in biological hair cells. An artificial ciliary bundle is achieved by fabricating bundled polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) micro-pillars with graded heights and electrospinning polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) piezoelectric nanofiber tip links. The piezoelectric nature of a single nanofiber tip link is confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Rheology and nanoindentation experiments are used to ensure that the viscous properties of the hyaluronic acid (HA)-based hydrogel are close to the biological cupula. A dome-shaped HA hydrogel cupula that encapsulates the artificial hair cell bundle is formed through precision drop-casting and swelling processes. Fluid drag force actuates the hydrogel cupula and deflects the micro-pillar bundle, stretching the nanofibers and generating electric charges. Functioning with principles analogous to the hair bundles, the sensors achieve a sensitivity and threshold detection limit of 300 mV/(m/s) and 8 μm/s, respectively. These self-powered, sensitive, flexible, biocompatibale and miniaturized sensors can find extensive applications in navigation and maneuvering of underwater robots, artificial hearing systems, biomedical and microfluidic devices.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry
  • Biomimetic Materials / chemistry*
  • Biosensing Techniques
  • Cilia / physiology
  • Dimethylpolysiloxanes / chemistry
  • Equipment Design
  • Hair Cells, Auditory / physiology
  • Hydrogels
  • Mechanical Phenomena
  • Mechanotransduction, Cellular / physiology
  • Micro-Electrical-Mechanical Systems / instrumentation*
  • Nanofibers / chemistry*
  • Nanotechnology
  • Polyvinyls / chemistry
  • Rheology / instrumentation

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Dimethylpolysiloxanes
  • Hydrogels
  • Polyvinyls
  • polyvinylidene fluoride