Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA.
Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA.
Biosensors (Basel). 2024 Apr 18;14(4):199. doi: 10.3390/bios14040199.
Rapid surface charge mapping of a solid surface remains a challenge. In this study, we present a novel microchip based on liquid crystals for assessing the surface charge distribution of a planar or soft surface. This chip enables rapid measurements of the local surface charge distribution of a charged surface. The chip consists of a micropillar array fabricated on a transparent indium tin oxide substrate, while the liquid crystal is used to fill in the gaps between the micropillar structures. When an object is placed on top of the chip, the local surface charge (or zeta potential) influences the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules, resulting in changes in the magnitude of transmitted light. By measuring the intensity of the transmitted light, the distribution of the surface charge can be accurately quantified. We calibrated the chip in a three-electrode configuration and demonstrated the validity of the chip for rapid surface charge mapping using a borosilicate glass slide. This chip offers noninvasive, rapid mapping of surface charges on charged surfaces, with no need for physical or chemical modifications, and has broad potential applications in biomedical research and advanced material design.
快速获取固体表面的表面电荷分布仍然是一个挑战。在本研究中，我们提出了一种基于液晶的新型微芯片，用于评估平面或软表面的表面电荷分布。该芯片能够快速测量带电表面的局部表面电荷分布。该芯片由在透明铟锡氧化物衬底上制造的微柱阵列组成，而液晶则用于填充微柱结构之间的间隙。当物体放置在芯片顶部时，局部表面电荷（或 zeta 电位）会影响液晶分子的取向，导致透过光的强度发生变化。通过测量透过光的强度，可以准确地量化表面电荷的分布。我们在三电极配置中对芯片进行了校准，并使用硼硅酸盐玻璃片演示了该芯片在快速表面电荷映射方面的有效性。该芯片提供了对带电表面上表面电荷的非侵入性、快速映射，无需进行物理或化学修饰，在生物医学研究和先进材料设计中有广泛的应用潜力。
