What is it about?

Standard diagnostic tests are resticted in detecting biomarkers with extremely low abundance. However, it is becoming more and more important to realize early diagnostics even before first symptoms come up, most of all in degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s or Osteoporosis. To address this, micro- and nanostructures need to be realized enabling matter and light interaction, called Plasmonics. These Biosensors allow a massive increase in signal strength and make even low concentrations of biomarkers visible. The focus of this publication lies on two “competing” large scale manufacturing technologies of nanostructures in polymer: Injection Molding and Nanoimprint technology. The discussion shows that both techniques have their individual strengths and technical restrictions for different kind of applications and also gives an outlook of combining those powerful technologies.

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Why is it important?

The publication at hand gives a nice overview of manufacturing technologies for microfluidic and/or plasmonic devices enabling future diagnostic methods. Review summaries of several publications are included, production parameters like cycle times mentioned and discussed showing the state-of-the-art as well as giving an outlook towards future possibilities.

Perspectives

The content of this paper brings together two of my personal worlds - I have been involved in Nanoimprint and Injection Molding projects in course of my PhD and subsequent occupations. Throughout these times, I often observed that those technologies “compete” and different opinions exist: which technology is better to use for which application. However, there is never a general answer. The here presented literature gives an insight on the comparison and capabilities of both technologies along with few examples for biosensing applications and will allow the reader creating his or her own point of view.

Iris Prinz

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Industrial view of plasmonic devices made by nanoimprint or injection molding, Journal of Applied Physics, April 2021, American Institute of Physics,
DOI: 10.1063/5.0039152.
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