Gene synthesis is an important tool in molecular biology. However, the current
bench-top method of gene synthesis is a costly, time-intensive and reagent-consuming
process. Lab-on-chip technology has many benefits over current bench top methods.
Microchips consume smaller reagent volumes, are reusable and less expensive to make.
This thesis explores the...
A system to reversibly extract Pb²⁺ ions from aqueous solutions using spiropyran functionalized nanofibers was proposed. Spiropyrans are photochromic compounds which undergo a conformational change that alters their physical properties and makes Pb²⁺ binding possible upon irradiation with UV light (365 nm). Irradiation with green light (525 nm) reverses this...
A system of Photoactuated Droplet Microfluidics (PDM), in which a droplet of
fluid is moved by way of the manipulation of the wettability of a spiropyran
functionalized surface via irradiation with ultraviolet and visible light, was proposed. The
photochromic behaviors of several species of spiropyran were studied and a procedure...