Santilli Dear MEMS Electronic Discussion Group, Rob Santilli has been kind enough to share with us the replies he has received to his "Impossible problem" posting. I have consoldated the eleven forwarded messages into this single posting. - W.C. Athas ******** FORWARDED MAIL ------- From: Sabeth.Verpoorte@imt.unine.ch (Sabeth Verpoorte) Date: 10 Dec 97 Originally To: Rob SantilliDear Rob, Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. The type of problem you describe has been encountered by researchers wanting to do capillary electrophoresis with electrochemical detection. In particular, Andrew Ewing at Penn. State has published papers in which he and his coworkers position a carbon fiber electrode (diameter 1 um) in a 2 um or 5 um inner diameter glass capillary. As it happens, a good friend of mine worked in his group, and it seems to me that they used microscopes and micropositioners to insert electrodes into the capillaries. I guess that nm precision is also possible, as there nanopositioners these days. Just how good they are, though, I couldn't tell you. In any case, a good place to start as references go is Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 62, (1990), p. 1872 - ? The authors are T.M. Olefirwicz and A.G. Ewing. Otherwise, the problem could perhaps also be solved using microtechnology, I think. If you're interested in discussing this further, we could do so in the framework of our (IMT's) role as European Competence Centre for Bio-analytical Microsystems. If you didn't receive our leaflet describing this program at Nanotech, and would like more information, let me know. Best regards, Sabeth Verpoorte Rob Santilli wrote: > A researcher into cancer was explaining to me his intracellular > experiments with microtubules which are around 2 microns in > diameter. He wants to test the electrical current across the length > of a microtubule but needs to insert an electrode positionable > within +/- 5nm !! Do you know if anything like this exists?? Can > you help him out?? > > Rob Santilli > > APPLIED MICROENGINEERING LTD > 68 MILTON PARK > ABINGDON, OXON, OX14 4RX, UK > TEL: +44 (0)1235 833 934 > FAX: +44 (O)1235 833 935 > WWW: http://www.aml.co.uk > > +--- MSTNET INFORMATION --- > | To send a message to the MSTNET mailing list use: MSTNET@CARDIFF.AC.UK > | To subscribe or unsubscribe read: http://www.cf.ac.uk/ecad/mstnet.html > +--- MSTNET INFORMATION --- APPLIED MICROENGINEERING LTD 68 MILTON PARK ABINGDON, OXON, OX14 4RX, UK TEL: +44 (0)1235 833 934 FAX: +44 (O)1235 833 935 WWW: http://www.aml.co.uk Return-Path: list-mgr@ISI.EDU Received: from tnt.isi.edu (tnt.isi.edu [128.9.128.128]) by darkstar.isi.edu (8.8.7/8.8.6) with ESMTP id GAA25053 for ; Mon, 22 Dec 1997 06:08:25 -0800 (PST) Received: from imelda.pcug.co.uk (qmailr@Imelda.PCUG.CO.UK [192.68.174.61]) by tnt.isi.edu (8.8.7/8.8.6) with SMTP id GAA06050 for ; Mon, 22 Dec 1997 06:08:23 -0800 (PST) Received: (qmail 12776 invoked from network); 22 Dec 1997 14:08:22 -0000 Received: from helen.pcug.co.uk (mmdf@192.68.174.64) by imelda.pcug.co.uk with SMTP; 22 Dec 1997 14:08:22 -0000 Received: from appliedmic by helen.pcug.co.uk id aa05756; 22 Dec 97 14:08 GMT Received: by win-uk.net!appliedmic; Mon, 22 Dec 1997 13:58:50 X-Mailer: WinNET Mail, v2.60 Message-ID: <1210@appliedmic.win-uk.net> Reply-To: Rob Santilli To: mems@ISI.EDU Date: Mon, 22 Dec 1997 13:58:50 Subject: Re: Impossible problem (fwd) From: santilli@appliedmic.win-uk.net (Rob Santilli) FORWARDED MAIL ------- From: mpf@ai.mit.edu (Michael Frank) Date: 07 Dec 97 Originally To: Rob Santilli Has he tried pushing his electrodes around using scanning probe microscope tips? These have sub-Angstrom precision. -Mike Frank Rob Santilli writes: > > A researcher into cancer was explaining to me his intracellular > experiments with microtubules which are around 2 microns in > diameter. He wants to test the electrical current across the length > of a microtubule but needs to insert an electrode positionable > within +/- 5nm !! Do you know if anything like this exists?? Can > you help him out?? > > Rob Santilli > > APPLIED MICROENGINEERING LTD > 68 MILTON PARK > ABINGDON, OXON, OX14 4RX, UK > TEL: +44 (0)1235 833 934 > FAX: +44 (O)1235 833 935 > WWW: http://www.aml.co.uk > > APPLIED MICROENGINEERING LTD 68 MILTON PARK ABINGDON, OXON, OX14 4RX, UK TEL: +44 (0)1235 833 934 FAX: +44 (O)1235 833 935 WWW: http://www.aml.co.uk Return-Path: list-mgr@ISI.EDU Received: from tnt.isi.edu (tnt.isi.edu [128.9.128.128]) by darkstar.isi.edu (8.8.7/8.8.6) with ESMTP id GAA25051 for ; Mon, 22 Dec 1997 06:08:25 -0800 (PST) Received: from imelda.pcug.co.uk (qmailr@Imelda.PCUG.CO.UK [192.68.174.61]) by tnt.isi.edu (8.8.7/8.8.6) with SMTP id GAA06049 for ; Mon, 22 Dec 1997 06:08:22 -0800 (PST) Received: (qmail 12777 invoked from network); 22 Dec 1997 14:08:22 -0000 Received: from helen.pcug.co.uk (mmdf@192.68.174.64) by imelda.pcug.co.uk with SMTP; 22 Dec 1997 14:08:22 -0000 Received: from appliedmic by helen.pcug.co.uk id aa05743; 22 Dec 97 14:08 GMT Received: by win-uk.net!appliedmic; Mon, 22 Dec 1997 13:58:38 X-Mailer: WinNET Mail, v2.60 Message-ID: <1209@appliedmic.win-uk.net> Reply-To: Rob Santilli To: mems@ISI.EDU Date: Mon, 22 Dec 1997 13:58:38 Subject: RE: Impossible problem (fwd) From: santilli@appliedmic.win-uk.net (Rob Santilli) FORWARDED MAIL ------- From: rthomas@croydon.sri.co.uk ("Robert Thomas") Date: 08 Dec 97 Originally To: Rob Santilli The only people I know with equipment that might do this are the people at Queensgate Instruments (an Imperial College, London spinoff I believe). Queensgate is at Silwood Park, Ascot. The number which I have (could be old) is 01990 872 387. Regards, Robert Thomas SRI Consulting rthomas@croydon.sri.co.uk tel: +44 181 256 1406 fax: +44 181 760 0635 santilli wrote: > >A researcher into cancer was explaining to me his intracellular >experiments with microtubules which are around 2 microns in >diameter. He wants to test the electrical current across the length >of a microtubule but needs to insert an electrode positionable >within +/- 5nm !! Do you know if anything like this exists?? Can >you help him out?? > >Rob Santilli > >APPLIED MICROENGINEERING LTD >68 MILTON PARK >ABINGDON, OXON, OX14 4RX, UK >TEL: +44 (0)1235 833 934 >FAX: +44 (O)1235 833 935 >WWW: http://www.aml.co.uk > > > >RFC822 header >----------------------------------- > >Return-Path: >Received: from darkstar.isi.edu ([128.9.128.127]) by croydon.sri.co.uk > (Netscape Messaging Server 3.0) with ESMTP id AAA18171 > for ; > Fri, 5 Dec 1997 18:30:53 +0000 >Received: (from daemon@localhost) > by darkstar.isi.edu (8.8.7/8.8.6) id HAA25554 > for mems-out-list; Fri, 5 Dec 1997 07:50:20 -0800 (PST) >Received: (from mems@localhost) > by darkstar.isi.edu (8.8.7/8.8.6) id HAA25546; > Fri, 5 Dec 1997 07:50:19 -0800 (PST) >Message-Id: <199712051550.HAA25546@darkstar.isi.edu> >Reply-To: Rob Santilli >Date: Wed, 03 Dec 1997 18:48:15 >Subject: Impossible problem >From: santilli@appliedmic.win-uk.net (Rob Santilli) >To: MEMS@ISI.EDU >X-URL: http://mems.isi.edu/mems.html > APPLIED MICROENGINEERING LTD 68 MILTON PARK ABINGDON, OXON, OX14 4RX, UK TEL: +44 (0)1235 833 934 FAX: +44 (O)1235 833 935 WWW: http://www.aml.co.uk Return-Path: list-mgr@ISI.EDU Received: from tnt.isi.edu (tnt.isi.edu [128.9.128.128]) by darkstar.isi.edu (8.8.7/8.8.6) with ESMTP id GAA25060 for ; Mon, 22 Dec 1997 06:08:27 -0800 (PST) Received: from imelda.pcug.co.uk (qmailr@Imelda.PCUG.CO.UK [192.68.174.61]) by tnt.isi.edu (8.8.7/8.8.6) with SMTP id GAA06054 for ; Mon, 22 Dec 1997 06:08:24 -0800 (PST) Received: (qmail 12771 invoked from network); 22 Dec 1997 14:08:21 -0000 Received: from helen.pcug.co.uk (mmdf@192.68.174.64) by imelda.pcug.co.uk with SMTP; 22 Dec 1997 14:08:21 -0000 Received: from appliedmic by helen.pcug.co.uk id aa05735; 22 Dec 97 14:08 GMT Received: by win-uk.net!appliedmic; Mon, 22 Dec 1997 13:58:27 X-Mailer: WinNET Mail, v2.60 Message-ID: <1208@appliedmic.win-uk.net> Reply-To: Rob Santilli To: mems@ISI.EDU Date: Mon, 22 Dec 1997 13:58:27 Subject: Re: Impossible problem (fwd) From: santilli@appliedmic.win-uk.net (Rob Santilli) FORWARDED MAIL ------- From: msi@ivam.do.eunet.de ("Mikrostruktur-Initiative NRW") Date: 09 Dec 97 Originally To: "Rob Santilli" Hello, we have forwarded your request to Dr. Volker Klocke, c/o Klocke & Kleindiek Nanotechnologie. The "Impossible problem" has already been solved by using the so-called Nanomotor - as far as we know exactly for this kind of task. Should Dr. Klocke not have contacted you meanwhile please let us know so that we can send him a reminder. Best regards, Helge Bohlmann Mikrostruktur-Initiative c/o IVAM NRW e.V. Emil-Figge-Str. 76 44 227 Dortmund Germany Tel.: +49 231 9742 168 Fax: +49 231 9742 150 http://www.ivamnrw.com ---------- > Von: Rob Santilli > An: MEMS@ISI.EDU > Betreff: Impossible problem > Datum: Mittwoch, 3. Dezember 1997 19:48 > > > A researcher into cancer was explaining to me his intracellular > experiments with microtubules which are around 2 microns in > diameter. He wants to test the electrical current across the length > of a microtubule but needs to insert an electrode positionable > within +/- 5nm !! Do you know if anything like this exists?? Can > you help him out?? > > Rob Santilli > > APPLIED MICROENGINEERING LTD > 68 MILTON PARK > ABINGDON, OXON, OX14 4RX, UK > TEL: +44 (0)1235 833 934 > FAX: +44 (O)1235 833 935 > WWW: http://www.aml.co.uk > > APPLIED MICROENGINEERING LTD 68 MILTON PARK ABINGDON, OXON, OX14 4RX, UK TEL: +44 (0)1235 833 934 FAX: +44 (O)1235 833 935 WWW: http://www.aml.co.uk Return-Path: list-mgr@ISI.EDU Received: from tnt.isi.edu (tnt.isi.edu [128.9.128.128]) by darkstar.isi.edu (8.8.7/8.8.6) with ESMTP id GAA25085 for ; Mon, 22 Dec 1997 06:08:47 -0800 (PST) Received: from imelda.pcug.co.uk (qmailr@Imelda.PCUG.CO.UK [192.68.174.61]) by tnt.isi.edu (8.8.7/8.8.6) with SMTP id GAA06074 for ; Mon, 22 Dec 1997 06:08:44 -0800 (PST) Received: (qmail 12793 invoked from network); 22 Dec 1997 14:08:44 -0000 Received: from helen.pcug.co.uk (mmdf@192.68.174.64) by imelda.pcug.co.uk with SMTP; 22 Dec 1997 14:08:44 -0000 Received: from appliedmic by helen.pcug.co.uk id aa05784; 22 Dec 97 14:08 GMT Received: by win-uk.net!appliedmic; Mon, 22 Dec 1997 13:59:50 X-Mailer: WinNET Mail, v2.60 Message-ID: <1213@appliedmic.win-uk.net> Reply-To: Rob Santilli To: mems@ISI.EDU Date: Mon, 22 Dec 1997 13:59:50 Subject: Re: Impossible problem (fwd) From: santilli@appliedmic.win-uk.net (Rob Santilli) FORWARDED MAIL ------- From: alderman@nmrc.ucc.ie ("John Alderman") Date: 05 Dec 97 Originally To: "Rob Santilli" Hi Rob Could make an interesting academic like problem ? Get away with the two electrodes pre deposited / defined on a single probe then manipulate this by say pizo pushers that have this sort of resolution - as used on afm set ups etc. Looks like a special afm tip to be made and there are lots of options for that. In situ electrochemical afm probe kits are now becoming more common and could act as a base station. Wearing an academic / R&D hat could be something for the nmrc to look at if they have got either a long lead time and / or bit of cash for a joint project. Will he just take these idea's and run ? I can talk to him if like. John