Non-coding DNA comprises the majority of an organism's DNA and has the potential to store massive amounts of
information. We hypothesize that information can be stored into non-coding DNA using a noisy mechanism comprised
of thermally sensitive liposomes as sensors and measuring transport state variable information through DNA release and
binding in response to stimuli. To test our hypothesis, we performed experiments that demonstrated the in situ, de novo
synthesis of information-encoding DNA using natural biomaterials. Our results were compared to a lumped-parameter
model designed to simulate the experiments. We found promising correlation between the DNA sequences generated by
the simulations and those generated experimentally, suggesting that the in situ, de novo synthesized DNA does store
recoverable information by the mechanism proposed.
KEYWORDS: Mechanical sensors, Thin films, Temperature metrology, Microfluidics, Data analysis, Analog electronics, Convection, Acquisition tracking and pointing, Particles, Nanostructures
A new generation of inertial measurement technology is being developed enabling a 10-micron particle to be "aware" of
its geospatial location and respond to this information. The proposed approach combines an inertially-sensitive nano-structure
or nano fluid/structure system with a nano-sized chemical reactor that functions as an analog computer. By
using chemistry to perform the necessary computational steps in our device, it is possible to overcome traditional
limitations on device size. The proposed nanodevice utilizes mechanical sensing and chemical recording to record the
time history of various state variables. Using a micro-track containing regions of different temperatures and thermally-sensitive
liposomes (TSL), a range of accelerations can be recorded and the position determined. Through careful
design, TSL can be developed that have unique transition temperatures and each class of TSL will contain a unique
DNA sequence that serves as an identifier. Acceleration can be detected through buoyancy-driven convection. As the
liposomes travel to regions of warmer temperature, they will release their contents at the recording site, thus
documenting the acceleration. This paper will present the initial proof-of-concept experimental results achieved from
chemical recording of the state variable temperature. The experiment focuses on the liposome release of the DNA due to
temperature variations and subsequent binding and recording of the time history. These results prove the feasibility of
this method of sensing and recording of the history of state variables.
KEYWORDS: Chemical analysis, Convection, Temperature metrology, Thin films, Mechanical sensors, Particles, Analog electronics, Microfluidics, Acquisition tracking and pointing, Polymers
A new generation of inertial measurement technology is being developed enabling a 10-micron particle to be "aware" of
its geospatial location and respond to this information. The proposed approach combines an inertially-sensitive nanostructure
or nano fluid/structure system with a nano-sized chemical reactor that functions as an analog computer. Originally, a cantilever-controlled valve used to control a first order chemical reaction was proposed. The feasibility of this concept was evaluated, resulting in a device with significant size reductions, comparable gain, and lower bandwidth than current accelerometers. New concepts with additional refinements have been investigated. Buoyancy-driven
convection coupled with a chemical recording technique is explored as a possible alternative. Using a micro-track containing regions of different temperatures and thermosensitive liposomes (TSL), a range of accelerations can be recorded and the position determined. Through careful design, TSL can be developed that have unique transition
temperatures and each class of TSL will contain a unique DNA sequence that serves as an identifier. Acceleration can be detected through buoyancy-driven convection. As the liposomes travel to regions of warmer temperature, they will release their contents at the recording site, thus documenting the acceleration. This paper will outline the concept and present the feasibility.
A new generation of inertial measurement technology is being developed, enabling a 10-micron particle that is "aware" of its geospatial location and responds to this information. The proposed approach combines an inertially-sensitive nano-structure or nano-fluid/structure system with a micro- or nano- sized chemical reactor that functions as an analog computer. Like conventional MEMS IMUs, this device would use a structural or fluid-structures system that deforms in response to inertial forces. However, the device would replace the electronics computational equipment of a conventional MEMS IMU with a chemical reactor that both integrates the sensed accelerations to derive velocity and position and records these measurements. Originally, a cantilever-controlled valve used to control a first order chemical reaction was proposed. The feasibility of this concept was evaluated with the result of a device with significant size reductions with a comparable gain but lower bandwidth comparable to current accelerometers. New concepts with additional refinements have been investigated. Buoyancy-driven convection coupled with a chemical recording technique is explored as a possible alternative. Using a micro-track containing regions of different temperatures or concentrations of specific chemical units, a range of accelerations can be recorded and the position determined. The result is a device that offers improvement over the original concept.
KEYWORDS: Diffusion, Chemistry, Mechanical sensors, Data analysis, Analog electronics, Chemical analysis, Reliability, Acquisition tracking and pointing, Microelectromechanical systems, Electronic components
Traditional micro-fabricated inertial measurement devices like MEMS accelerometers, gyroscopes, and IMUs consist of
two principle components: (1) a micromechanical structure that responds to inertial forces and deforms in a way that can
be measured electronically by, for example, changing the height of a gap, and, thus, its capacitance; (2) an analog or
digital computing device that integrates the electronically sensed acceleration to yield velocity and position, and then
records this information for later use. These two components must be replicated in some fashion in a "nano" version of
the same devices, specifically a nano-IMU is considered. The proposed approach combines an inertially-sensitive nanostructure
or nano fluid/structure system with a micro- or nano- sized chemical reactor that functions as an analog
computer. This paper will outline the feasibility of using a cantilever-based acceleration-sensing valve to feed reactants
into a first order chemical reaction. The proposed approach to the development of a nano-IMU would allow the benefits
of existing MEMS IMU technology to be applied to an even broader array of applications by enabling the development
of a new class of geospatially-sensitive drugs and materials and has application in a variety of military, intelligence, and
commercial activities.
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