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"The design and development of chemically modified surfaces for bioanalytical applications is presented. Chemical surface modification is demonstrated to be a method to control surface properties on the molecular level by selecting the appropriate substrate, linking chemistry, and terminal group functionality. These systems utilize spontaneous interactions between individual molecules that allow them to self-assemble into larger, supramolecular constructs with a predictable structure and a high degree of order. Applications investigated in this thesis include: surface patterning, switchable surface wettability, and biological sensor devices that combine surface based molecular recognition, electrochemical detection methods, and microfluidics. A multilayered approach to complex surface patterning is described that combines self-assembly, photolabile protecting groups, and multilayered films. A photolabile protecting group has been incorporated into molecular level films that when cleaved leaves a reactive surface site that can be further functionalized. Surface patterns are created by using a photomask and then further functionalizing the irradiated area through covalent coupling. Fluorophores were attached to the deprotected regions, providing visual evidence of surface patterning. This approach is universal to bind moieties containing free amine groups at defined regions across a surface, allowing for the development of films with complex chemical and physico-chemical properties. Systems with photoswitchable wettability were developed by fabricating multilayered films that include a photoisomerizable moiety, cis-/trans- dicarboxystilbene. When this functionality was incorporated into a multilayered film using non-covalent interactions, irradiation with light of the appropriate wavelength resulted in a conformational change that consequently changed the hydrophobicity of the substrate. Methods were investigated to increase the reversibility of the photoswitching process by creating surface space between the stilbene ligands. Utilizing mixed monolayers for spacing resulted in complete isomerization for one cycle, while the use of SAMs with photolabile groups produced surfaces that underwent isomerization for three complete cycles. A microfluidic device platform for ion sensing applications has been developed. The platform contains components to deliver small volumes of analyte to a surface based microelectrode array and measure changes in analyte concentration electrochemically in an analogous method to that used in conventional electrochemical cells. Crown ether derivatives that bind alkali metal ions have been synthesized and tested as ionophores for a multi-analyte device of this type, and the sensing platform was demonstrated to measure physiological relevant concentrations of potassium ions. Advantages of this design include: high sensitivity (uM to mM), small sample volumes (less than 0.1 mL), multi-analyte capabilities (multiple working electrodes), continuous monitoring (a flow through system), and the ability to be calibrated (the system is reusable). The self-assembled systems described here are platform technologies that can be combined and used in molecular level devices. Current and future work includes: photopatterning of gold and glass substrates for directed cell adhesion and growth, the design and synthesis of selective ion sensors for biological samples, multi-analyte detection in microfluidic devices, and incorporating optical as well as electrochemical transduction methods into sensor devices to allow for greater sensitivity and self-calibration."

<div>A microheater and resistance temperature detector (RTD) are designed and fabricated for various applications. First, a hierarchical manifold microchannel heatsink with an integrated microheater and RTDs is demonstrated. Microfluidic cooling within the embedded heat sink improves heat dissipation, with two-phase operation offering the potential for dissipation of very high heat fluxes while maintaining moderate chip temperatures. To enable multi-chip stacking and other heterogeneous packaging approaches, it is important to densely integrate all fluid flow paths into the device. Therefore, the details of heatsink layouts and fabrication processes are introduced. Characterization of two-phase cooling as well as reliability of the microheater/RTDs are discussed. In addition, another application of microheater for mining particle detection using interdigitated capacitive sensor. While current personal monitoring devices are optimized for monitoring microscale particles, a higher resolution technique is required to detect sub-micron and nanoscale particulate matters (PM) due to smaller volume and mass of the particles. The detection capability of the capacitive sensor for sub-micron and nanoparticles are presented, and an incorporated microheater improved stable capacitive sensor reading under air flow and various humidity. </div><div>This paper also introduces the characterization of nanomaterials such as metallic nanowires (NWs) and single layer graphene. First, the copper nanowire (CuNW)/graphene hybrid networks for transparent conductors (TC) is investigated. Though indium tin oxide (ITO) has been widely used, demands for the next generation of TC is increasing due to a limited supply of indium. Thus, the optical and electrical properties of CuNW/graphene hybrid network are compared with other transparent conductive materials including ITO. Secondly, silver nanowire (AgNW) growth technique using electrodeposition is introduced. A vertically aligned branched AgNW arrays is made using a porous anodic alumina template and the optical properties of the structure are discussed.</div><div><br></div>

Several sensor technologies have been developed and experimented over the last few decades to cater various needs of medical diagnostics. Among these, fiber optic sensors, in particular, Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) based sensors have attracted considerable attention due to their inherent advantages such electrical passiveness, immunity to Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI), chemical inertness, etc. The present research work focuses on design, development and validation of FBG sensor based devices for measurement of certain healthcare parameters in the context of foot function/gait cycle, cardiac and breathing activity, nostril dominance, hand grip/wrist angle force function, etc. The experimental work presented here emphasizes on the effectiveness and competitiveness of the FBG devices developed, in comparison with standard tools such as Accelerometer, Load cell, Electronic Stethoscope, Electromyogram and Dynamometer. In the field of human balance, stability and geriatrics, two independent FBG devices namely, Fiber Bragg Grating based Stability Assessment Device (FBGSAD) and Optical Sensor Ground Reaction Force measurement Platform (OSGRFP) have been designed, developed and experimented for postural stability assessment and gait analysis respectively. The result of these studies have significant implications in understanding of the mechanism of plantar strain distribution, identifying issues in gait cycles, detecting foot function discrepancies, identifying individuals who are susceptible to falls and to qualify subjects for balance and stability. In the field of ergonomic assessment, Fiber Braggs Grating based Hand Grip Device (FBGHGD) is designed and developed for the measurement of hand grip force which helps in the understanding of several important biomechanical aspects such as neuromuscular system function, overall upper-limb strength, vertebral fracture, skeletal muscle function, prediction of disability, incapacity, mortality and bone mass density (forearm, skeletal sites, spine, hip etc.). Further as an extension of this work, the FBGHGD is used for measurement of force generated by the wrist in different positions of the flexion and extension which relates to the wrist muscle activity and its enactment. In the field of cardiac activity monitoring, a novel, in-vivo, non-invasive and portable device named Fiber Bragg Grating based Heart Beat Device (FBGHBD) is developed for the simultaneous measurement of respiratory and cardiac activities. The work involves designing FBGHBD, validating its performance against traditional diagnostic systems like electronic stethoscope, exploration of its clinical relevance and the usage of FBGHBD in studies involving normal persons and patients with myocardial infarction. The unique design of FBGHBD provides critical information such as nascent morphology of cardiac and breathing activity, heart rate variability, heart beat rhythm, etc., which can assist in early clinical diagnosis of many conditions associated to heart and lung malfunctioning. Further, the scope of this work extends towards evaluating several signal processing algorithms and demonstrating a suitable signal processing architecture for real-time extraction of heart beat and respiratory rates along with its nascent morphologies for critical health care application. In the area of breath monitoring, a Nostril Pressure and Temperature Device (NPTD) is designed and developed which aims at simultaneous, accurate and real-time measurement of nostril air flow pressure and temperature to aid in clinical diagnosis of nasal dysfunction and associated nose disorders. The results of NPTD can offer certain vital features like breathing pattern, respiratory rate, changes in individual nostril temperature/pressure, nostrils dominance, body core temperature etc., which can assist in early clinical diagnosis of breathing problems associated with heart, brain and lung malfunctioning. Since the research work in this thesis involve experiments engaging human subjects, necessary approvals from the ethical committee is obtained before the experiments and required ethical procedures are followed during all the experimental trials.