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Robinson, Nathaniel DORCID iD iconorcid.org/0000-0002-2773-5096
Alternative names
Publications (10 of 58) Show all publications
Bengtsson, K., Christoffersson, J., Mandenius, C.-F. & Robinson, N. D. (2018). A clip-on electroosmotic pump for oscillating flow in microfluidic cell culture devices. Microfluidics and Nanofluidics, 22(3), Article ID 27.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>A clip-on electroosmotic pump for oscillating flow in microfluidic cell culture devices
2018 (English)In: Microfluidics and Nanofluidics, ISSN 1613-4982, E-ISSN 1613-4990, Vol. 22, no 3, article id 27Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Recent advances in microfluidic devices put a high demand on small, robust and reliable pumps suitable for high-throughput applications. Here we demonstrate a compact, low-cost, directly attachable (clip-on) electroosmotic pump that couples with standard Luer connectors on a microfluidic device. The pump is easy to make and consists of a porous polycarbonate membrane and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) electrodes. The soft electrode and membrane materials make it possible to incorporate the pump into a standard syringe filter holder, which in turn can be attached to commercial chips. The pump is less than half the size of the microscope slide used for many commercial lab-on-a-chip devices, meaning that these pumps can be used to control fluid flow in individual reactors in highly parallelized chemistry and biology experiments. Flow rates at various electric current and device dimensions are reported. We demonstrate the feasibility and safety of the pump for biological experiments by exposing endothelial cells to oscillating shear stress (up to 5 dyn/cm2) and by controlling the movement of both micro- and macroparticles, generating steady or oscillatory flow rates up to ± 400 μL/min.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Springer Berlin/Heidelberg, 2018
National Category
Other Medical Biotechnology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-145301 (URN)10.1007/s10404-018-2046-4 (DOI)000427527600005 ()
Note

Funding agencies: Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsradet) [2015-03298]

Available from: 2018-02-21 Created: 2018-02-21 Last updated: 2019-01-22Bibliographically approved
Khaldi, A., Falk, D., Bengtsson, K., Maziz, A., Filippini, D., Robinson, N. D. & Jager, E. W. H. (2018). Patterning highly conducting conjugated polymer electrodes for soft and flexible microelectrochemical devices. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 10(17), 14978-14985
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Patterning highly conducting conjugated polymer electrodes for soft and flexible microelectrochemical devices
Show others...
2018 (English)In: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, ISSN 1944-8244, E-ISSN 1944-8252, Vol. 10, no 17, p. 14978-14985Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

There is a need for soft actuators in various biomedical applications in order to manipulate delicate objects such as cells and tissues. Soft actuators are able to adapt to any shape and limit the stress applied to delicate objects. Conjugated polymer actuators, especially in the so-called trilayer configuration, are interesting candidates for driving such micromanipulators. However, challenges involved in patterning the electrodes in a trilayer with individual contact have prevented further development of soft micromanipulators based on conjugated polymer actuators. To allow such patterning, two printing-based patterning techniques have been developed. First an oxidant layer is printed using either syringe-based printing or micro-contact printing, followed by vapor phase polymerization of the conjugated polymer. Sub-millimeter patterns with electronic conductivities of 800 Scm-1 are obtained. Next, laser ablation is used to cleanly cut the final device structures including the printed patterns, resulting in fingers with individually controllable digits and miniaturized hands. The methods presented in this paper will enable integration of patterned electrically active conjugated polymer layers in many types of complex 3-D structures.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
American Chemical Society (ACS), 2018
Keywords
Vapor phase polymerization, Printing, soft Lithography, Conjugated Polymers actuators, patterning, microfabrication
National Category
Chemical Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-146132 (URN)10.1021/acsami.8b01059 (DOI)000431723400081 ()29557639 (PubMedID)
Note

Funding agencies:This study was financially supported by Linköping University, COST Action MP1003 ESNAM (European Scientific Network for Artificial Muscles), the Swedish Research Council (VR – 2010-6672, 2014-3079, 2015-03298), the Knut & Alice Wallenberg Stiftelse (LiU-2010-00318 & LiU-2012- 01361), and the EU FP7 Marie Curie action IEF (625923 POLYACT)

Available from: 2018-03-28 Created: 2018-03-28 Last updated: 2019-10-08Bibliographically approved
Nilsson, S. & Robinson, N. D. (2016). On the anodic deposition of poly-L-lysine on indium tin oxide. Electrochimica Acta, 196, 629-633
Open this publication in new window or tab >>On the anodic deposition of poly-L-lysine on indium tin oxide
2016 (English)In: Electrochimica Acta, ISSN 0013-4686, E-ISSN 1873-3859, Vol. 196, p. 629-633Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

We provide and discuss electrochemical quartz microbalance measurements confirming previouslyreported observations that poly-L-lysine films deposited from solution under anodic conditions grow at a constant deposition rate for extended periods of time. Compared to our previous results using Pt, we find that indium tin oxide (ITO) offers an effective surface for film growth where water oxidation is sufficiently suppressed to allow uniform films to be deposited. The fact that the previous results on ITO have been reproduced is positive for the study of polyelectrolyte film creation, and has implications for the use of these films to increase the biocompatibility of hard conducting materials used as electrodes.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Pergamon Press, 2016
National Category
Chemical Sciences Chemical Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-119362 (URN)10.1016/j.electacta.2016.02.177 (DOI)000372877400069 ()
Note

Vid tiden för disputation förelåg publikationen som manuskript

Funding agencies:  Swedish Research Council [2007-3983, 2008-7537]; Linkoping University

Available from: 2015-06-15 Created: 2015-06-15 Last updated: 2017-12-04Bibliographically approved
Nilsson, S., Erlandsson, P. & Robinson, N. D. (2015). Electroosmotic Pumps with Frits Synthesized from Potassium Silicate. PLOS ONE, 10(12), e0144065
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Electroosmotic Pumps with Frits Synthesized from Potassium Silicate
2015 (English)In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 10, no 12, p. e0144065-Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Electroosmotic pumps employing silica frits synthesized from potassium silicate as a stationary phase show strong electroosmotic flow velocity and resistance to pressure-driven flow. We characterize these pumps and measure an electroosmotic mobility of 2.5x10(-8) m(2)/V s and hydrodynamic resistance per unit length of 70 x10(17) Pa s/m(4) with a standard deviation of less than 2% even when varying the amount of water used in the potassium silicate mixture. Furthermore, we demonstrate the simple integration of these pumps into a proofof- concept PDMS lab-on-a-chip device fabricated from a 3D-printed template.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Public Library of Science, 2015
National Category
Physical Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-123756 (URN)10.1371/journal.pone.0144065 (DOI)000365926300154 ()26629907 (PubMedID)
Note

Funding Agencies|Vetenskapsradet [2007-3983, 2008-7537, 2011-6404]

Available from: 2016-01-11 Created: 2016-01-11 Last updated: 2021-06-14Bibliographically approved
Nilsson, S., Erlandsson, P. G. & Robinson, N. D. (2015). Electroosmotic pumps with potassium silicate frits.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Electroosmotic pumps with potassium silicate frits
2015 (English)Manuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Electroosmotic pumps employing potassium silicate as a stationary phase show strong electroosmotic flow velocity and resistance to pressure-driven   flow. We characterize these pumps and demonstrate their simple integration into proof-of-concept PDMS lab-on-a-chip devices fabricated from 3D-printed templates.

National Category
Chemical Sciences Chemical Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-119363 (URN)
Available from: 2015-06-15 Created: 2015-06-15 Last updated: 2015-06-15Bibliographically approved
Bengtsson, K., Mindemark, J., Brandell, D. & Robinson, N. D. (2015). Plasticized polyethylene glycol as sacrificial support and template material for syringe-based 3D-printing.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Plasticized polyethylene glycol as sacrificial support and template material for syringe-based 3D-printing
2015 (English)Manuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Syringe-based 3D-printing is a powerful additive manufacturing method for fabricating short runs (small volumes) of components from multiple materials with a wide range of viscosities. However, objects that are hollow or not in complete contact with the printer’s stage are difficult to fabricate. Using a sacrificial template as a supporting layer enables bottom-up construction of complex structures. Template materials based on polyethylene glycol (PEG) plasticized with organic carbonates to tune their rheological (shear-thinning) and thermal (crystallization) properties have been evaluated, including results from rheometry, differential scanning calorimetry, dissolution rate, chemical compatibility with  polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), and general functionality in a syringe-based 3D-printer. A family of such blends yields material that is easily printed, is stable over time, is soluble in water, and can support other materials and larger structures without collapsing. These mixtures are proposed for use with other extrudable or mouldable materials to enable 3D-printed devices with complex unsupported geometries.

Keywords
3D-Printing, polyethylene glycol, organic carbonates, sacrificial template, extrusion
National Category
Physical Sciences Physical Chemistry
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-121250 (URN)
Available from: 2015-09-10 Created: 2015-09-10 Last updated: 2015-09-10Bibliographically approved
Bengtsson, K., Nilsson, S. & Robinson, N. D. (2014). Conducting Polymer Electrodes for Gel Electrophoresis. PLOS ONE, 9(2), 0089416
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Conducting Polymer Electrodes for Gel Electrophoresis
2014 (English)In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 9, no 2, p. 0089416-Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

In nearly all cases, electrophoresis in gels is driven via the electrolysis of water at the electrodes, where the process consumes water and produces electrochemical by-products. We have previously demonstrated that p-conjugated polymers such as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) can be placed between traditional metal electrodes and an electrolyte to mitigate electrolysis in liquid (capillary electroosmosis/electrophoresis) systems. In this report, we extend our previous result to gel electrophoresis, and show that electrodes containing PEDOT can be used with a commercial polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis system with minimal impact to the resulting gel image or the ionic transport measured during a separation.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Public Library of Science, 2014
National Category
Engineering and Technology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-105901 (URN)10.1371/journal.pone.0089416 (DOI)000331711900141 ()
Available from: 2014-04-14 Created: 2014-04-12 Last updated: 2021-06-14Bibliographically approved
Bergström, G., Nilsson, K., Mandenius, C.-F. & Robinson, N. D. (2014). Macroporous microcarriers for introducing cells into a microfluidic chip. Lab on a Chip, 14(18), 3502-3504
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Macroporous microcarriers for introducing cells into a microfluidic chip
2014 (English)In: Lab on a Chip, ISSN 1473-0197, E-ISSN 1473-0189, Vol. 14, no 18, p. 3502-3504Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Macroporous gelatin beads (CultiSpher™ microcarriers) provide a convenient method for rapidly and reliably introducing cells cultured ex situ into a microfluidic device, where the spheres create a 3D environment for continued cell proliferation. We demonstrate the usefulness of this technique with a proof-of-concept viability analysis of cardiac cells after treatment with doxorubicin. © 2014 the Partner Organisations.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Royal Society of Chemistry, 2014
National Category
Biological Sciences Physical Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-109971 (URN)10.1039/c4lc00693c (DOI)000340474300008 ()25068539 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-84905837163 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Swedish Research Council, 2008-7537 2011-6404
Note

Acknowledgements

The primary embryonic cardiomyocytes were provided byJordi Altimiras, Department of Physics, Chemistry andBiology, Linköping University. The authors thank the SwedishResearch Council (Vetenskapsrådet) for fundingviagrants 2008-7537 and 2011-6404

Available from: 2014-08-29 Created: 2014-08-29 Last updated: 2019-01-22Bibliographically approved
Nilsson, S., Björefors, F. & Robinson, N. D. (2013). Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance study of polyelectrolyte film growth under anodic conditions. Applied Surface Science, 280, 783-790
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance study of polyelectrolyte film growth under anodic conditions
2013 (English)In: Applied Surface Science, ISSN 0169-4332, E-ISSN 1873-5584, Vol. 280, p. 783-790Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Coating hard materials such as Pt with soft polymers like poly-l-lysine is a well-established technique for increasing electrode biocompatibility. We have combined quartz crystal microgravimetry with dissipation with electrochemistry (EQCM-D) to study the deposition of PLL onto Pt electrodes under anodic potentials. Our results confirm the change in film growth over time previously reported by others. However, the dissipation data suggest that, after the short initial phase of the process, the rigidity of the film increases with time, rather than decreasing, as previously proposed. In addition to these results, we discuss how gas evolution from water electrolysis and Pt etching in electrolytes containing Cl affect EQCM-D measurements, how to recognize these effects, and how to reduce them. Despite the challenges of using Pt as an anode in this system, we demonstrate that the various electrochemical processes can be understood and that PLL coatings can be successfully electrodeposited.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2013
Keywords
Quartz crystal microgravimetry, QCM, Electrochemistry, Poly-L-lysine, Platinum electrode, Film growth
National Category
Engineering and Technology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-95934 (URN)10.1016/j.apsusc.2013.05.062 (DOI)000321045700117 ()
Note

Funding Agencies|Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsradet)|325-2008-7537621-2007-3983|Bo Liedberg and the Molecular Physics Group at Linkoping University for access to equipment||Carl Trygger Foundation and The Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research||

Available from: 2013-08-19 Created: 2013-08-12 Last updated: 2017-12-06
Sun, B., Tehrani, P., Robinson, N. D. & Brandell, D. (2013). Tailoring the conductivity of PEO-based electrolytes for temperature-sensitive printed electronics. Journal of Materials Science, 48(17), 5756-5767
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Tailoring the conductivity of PEO-based electrolytes for temperature-sensitive printed electronics
2013 (English)In: Journal of Materials Science, ISSN 0022-2461, E-ISSN 1573-4803, Vol. 48, no 17, p. 5756-5767Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

This study reports an approach to tailoring the temperature-sensitive conductivity behavior of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based polymer electrolytes to match a concrete hardening model, for use in temperature-sensitive organic electronics. Plasticized PEO/MX (M = Li, Na; X = TFSI, Tf) polymer electrolytes were designed to fit a specific temperature-sensitive behavior of the ionic conductivity within a temperature range of 20-60 A degrees C. Polymer electrolytes with varying concentrations of plasticizing solvents (propylene carbonate and ethylene carbonate; PC and EC) and short-chain polyether homologs such as poly(ethylene glycol)-dimethyl ether were produced. Some of the investigated electrolytes displayed useful and stable temperature-sensitive conductivity for applications in process monitoring or quality control of temperature-sensitive products; the best being either a 40:60 PEO:PEGDME blend by w/w containing NaCF3SO3 at a Na:O ratio 1:10 and with 10 wt% PC or PEO with LiTFSI or NaTFSI at a salt:O ratio 1:25 and 30 wt% PC. Analysis of variance indicates the adequacy of temperature-sensitive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) electrochromic monitoring devices based on these electrolytes relative to a standard model for the concrete hardening process.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Springer Verlag (Germany), 2013
National Category
Engineering and Technology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-95933 (URN)10.1007/s10853-013-7368-8 (DOI)000321271100007 ()
Note

Funding Agencies|Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsradet)|325-2008-7537621-2007-3983|Norrkopings Kommun through a grant as part of the "Forskning och Framtid" program at Linkoping University||Carl Trygger Foundation||

Available from: 2013-08-19 Created: 2013-08-12 Last updated: 2017-12-06
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Identifiers
ORCID iD: ORCID iD iconorcid.org/0000-0002-2773-5096

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