Micropatterning: Candy-like mixture can print patterns on microscopic objects

A sugar mixture resembling hard candy, studded with tiny metal discs or rings, has been used to attach patterns to microscopic objects. This method of creating textures on small objects can be useful for biomedical robots and flexible electronics.

To add functionality to tiny robots and tiny electronic circuits, researchers often decorate their surfaces with patterns of even smaller objects, such as magnets. These components are often made on a flat, clean surface and then stamped onto a larger object.

However, if the receiving object is not smooth, it becomes difficult to apply them accurately in this manner. Gary Zabow at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Colorado. He figured out how to use sugar and corn syrup to add micropatterns to even the most irregular and jagged objects.

He first arranged micron-sized discs and rings of silver or platinum in patterns such as arrays or letters, then poured a warm mixture of sugar and corn syrup over them. to prevent the pattern from being disturbed. The ingredients packed into the mixture as it solidified into something resembling hard candy. Like candy, it spread out and enveloped the object beneath it. Finally, when the sugar mixture was dissolved in water, only the ingredients stuck in it remained on the surface of the object.

Zabow tested the method on a variety of objects, from micron-sized metal cubes and glass beads, to pollen grains, individual hairs, and red blood cells. He says that because sugar is non-toxic, the method could be used in biomedical sciences to create microrobots and nanoparticles to enter the human body.

Yoo Chun-jang The Pennsylvania State University PhD says the method works better than many existing techniques for patterning very small objects. This could be suitable for making flexible electronics that can be integrated into living tissue and wearables, among many other applications, he says.

This kind of micropatterning is still in its infancy, and Zabow hopes other researchers will try it out. “I hope others will think of something I haven’t thought of trying yet. It seems pretty easy to experiment further. Jolly Rancher Just drink his candy and it works ’ he says.