Artificial Cilia: RSC (Nanoscience & Nanotechnology Series)

Natural cilia are tiny hairs on cells which have generated and sensed fluid flow in biological systems for billions of years. Mimicking this action in artificial systems presents interesting opportunities for flow control in lab-on-a-chip devices. Research into this field began almost a decade ago, and this book presents the state-of-the-art in this rapidly developing field of research inspired by nature.

Establishing a link between nature and technology is a major attraction to those entering the field, which encompasses materials, processing, fluid mechanics, fluid-structure interaction, and biomedical applications. Artificial Cilia will appeal to anyone working in these areas and presents beautiful examples of how a biological system can form the successful basis for research and technical applications.

The editors have been pioneers in the field since establishing a major European project on artificial cilia in 2005, and they are joined by leading experts from across the globe in presenting a comprehensive digest of this exciting new technology.

Jaap den Toonder gained his PhD at the Delft University of Technology 1996 on a numerical/theoretical and experimental study of drag reduction in turbulent flows by polymer additives. A year prior to this he joined the Philips Research Laboratories in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, where he started working in the field of the mechanics of solid materials. He has worked on a wide variety of applications, such as ceramic capacitors, optical storage systems, IC low-k materials, RF MEMS, soft electronics, biomedical devices, polymer MEMS, and micro-fluidics. In 2008, he made the move to Philips Applied Technologies where, as Chief Technologist, he leads the R&D program on (micro-) fluidics. He is involved in research programs on molecular diagnostics, lab-on-chip, immersion lithography, and energy applications. Since 2004, Jaap den Toonder combines his work at Philips with a part-time professorship at the Materials Technology group of the University of Technology of Eindhoven (TU/e). Jaap has co-authored more than 50 scientific papers and over 40 patent applications. He currently serves on the editorial board of Lab-on-a-Chip.

Patrick Onck obtained a PhD in applied mathematics from Delft University of Technology in 1998, and followed this with more than a year of postdoctoral research at Harvard University. Between 1998 and 2003 he held a fellowship from the Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. Since 2001 Patrick has worked at the University of Groningen, where he is currently associate professor in applied physics. His current research interests include cell biophysics and microfluidics, incorporating several research themes around artificial cilia. His publication record lists more than 100 scientific articles authored and the co-editorship of three book volumes.

Jaap den Toonder gained his PhD at the Delft University of Technology 1996 on a numerical/theoretical and experimental study of drag reduction in turbulent flows by polymer additives. A year prior to this he joined the Philips Research Laboratories in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, where he started working in the field of the mechanics of solid materials. He has worked on a wide variety of applications, such as ceramic capacitors, optical storage systems, IC low-k materials, RF MEMS, soft electronics, biomedical devices, polymer MEMS, and micro-fluidics. In 2008, he made the move to Philips Applied Technologies where, as Chief Technologist, he leads the R&D program on (micro-) fluidics. He is involved in research programs on molecular diagnostics, lab-on-chip, immersion lithography, and energy applications. Since 2004, Jaap den Toonder combines his work at Philips with a part-time professorship at the Materials Technology group of the University of Technology of Eindhoven (TU/e). Jaap has co-authored more than 50 scientific papers and over 40 patent applications. He currently serves on the editorial board of Lab-on-a-Chip.

Patrick Onck obtained a PhD in applied mathematics from Delft University of Technology in 1998, and followed this with more than a year of postdoctoral research at Harvard University. Between 1998 and 2003 he held a fellowship from the Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. Since 2001 Patrick has worked at the University of Groningen, where he is currently associate professor in applied physics. His current research interests include cell biophysics and microfluidics, incorporating several research themes around artificial cilia. His publication record lists more than 100 scientific articles authored and the co-editorship of three book volumes.