no. 6, march 2012 · toyohashi tech booth at the fair alumni of toyohashi tech. - ms.ho xuan thien...

No. 6, March 2012

Copyright (c) Toyohashi University of Technology, All rights reserved.

FeaturesThe invention and possibilities of the pH microscope

Kazuaki Sawada describes the potential of the pH image sensor system developed by his group.

Kazuaki Sawada is the head of the Toyohashi Tech Venture Business Laboratory (VBL) and inventor of the ‘pH image sensor’."We refer to the equipment housed in the VBL as the ‘LSI Factory’, says Sawada. “The CMOS fabrication line housed in the LSIfactory has been played a central role in the wide range of intelligent sensors and systems developed at Toyohashi Tech. Wecan start with an idea, design and produce masks, and then actually fabricate and test CMOS devices—we do not outsourceany of these stages. The first CMOS chips for the pH image sensor were fabricated here.”

Now, the LSI factory and CMOS fab-line is part of the state of the art infrastructure at the new Electronics- InspiredInterdisciplinary Research Institute (EIIRIS) launched in October 2010.

The pH image sensor is based on CMOS charge transfer technology. The device enables the real time, two dimensionalvisualization of the distribution of hydrogen ions in solutions or living cells placed on the surface of an ion sensitive membranecovering an array of CCDs.

"Conventional pH sensors based on ion sensitive field effect (ISFET) devices monitor changes in current and produce a singleaveraged value of the pH of the sample solution," explains Sawada. "In contrast, the Toyohashi Tech pH image sensor producesa two dimensional image of the pH distribution in real time, which extremely valuable for directly analyzing the physicalproperties of solutions and cells."

Furthermore, the sensitivity of the pH imaging sensor is 100 times greater than ISFET devices and enables the determination ofpH differences of 0.0001 pH. "High sensitivity is possible because in our approach we accumulate charge over well-definedperiods of time," says Sawada. "The charge transfer is repeated many times,, which gives huge improvements in signal to noiseratio."

In 2011 the pH image sensors were composed of 128 x128 pixels, each with a sensing area of 10 x25 micrometers. "We arenow developing pH image sensors with one million pixels, with each pixel being 10 x10 micrometers," says Sawada. "I havealso launched a pH imaging consortium to address issues related to ion image sensing. In the future plans include pH imagingdevices for visualizing the movement and distribution of other ions including as calcium and sodium."

A powerful feature of the Toyohashi Tech pH imaging sensor is that the device enables not only a two dimensional image of thedistribution of the pH but also optical CCD image of the actual sample.

Sawada's group has recently reported on the use of the 'pH microscope' for the real time imaging of acetylcholine (ACh)enzyme reactions-the first such report without the use of fluorescent labels. “We imaged changes in the distribution of Ach whennerve cells are stimulated with KCL,” says Sawada. “Insights in the variation of the concentration of ACh may lead to newmethods for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.”

"My dream is to extend the potential of this technology to produce an electron/ ion interface for monitoring of electricalprocesses in living cells.

Further informationSawada group: http://int.ee.tut.ac.jp/icg/Toyohashi Tech Venture Business Laboratory (VBL): http://www.vbl.tut.ac.jp/ (Japanese only)Electronics-Inspired Interdisciplinary Research Institute (EIIRIS): http://www.eiiris.tut.ac.jp/

References

Hirokazu Nakazawa, Makoto Ishida, and Kazuaki Sawada, “Progressive-Type Fused pH and Optical Image Sensor”, JapaneseJournal of Applied Physics 49 (2010) 04DL04

S. Takenaga, Y. Tamai, K. Okumura, M. Ishida, K. Sawada, "Label-free Acetylcholine image sensor based on charge transfertechnology for biological phenomenon tracking" Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, vol. 51, p.027001 (2012).

Hirokazu Nakazawa, Makoto Ishida, Kazuaki Sawada, “Multimodal bio-image sensor for real-time proton and fluorescenceimaging”, Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 10.1016/j.snb.2011.11.010, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2011.11.010

Experimental set-up for acetylcholine(ACh) enzyme measurements

Changes in the concentration of AChwith KCl stimulation

coder_001タイプライターテキストKazuaki Sawada

No. 6, March 2012

NewsG-COE: Frontiers of Intelligent Sensing Symposium

Toyohashi University of Technology (Toyohashi Tech) commemorated the successful completion of its Global Center ofExcellence Program on Frontiers of Intelligent Sensing by holding the Frontiers of Intelligent Sensing Symposium 2012 onMarch 6, at the huge auditorium at the Center for National University Finance and Management, Tokyo.

In his opening address to the more the 500 members of the audience, Yoshiyuki Sakaki, president of Toyohashi Tech, welcomeddignitaries, invited speakers, and participants to the symposium. “The massive attendance here shows that our outreach and‘visibility’ initiatives have been successful in providing up to date information to academics, industrialists, policy makers, on aglobal scale,” said Sakaki. “We will continue to do our utmost to disseminate information about our university to a world-wideaudience.”

Next, Makoto Ishida, leader of the GCOE-program described the background and achievements of the five year program.

“One of the main outcomes of the 5-year program has been the launch of the Electronics-Inspired Interdisciplinary ResearchInstitute (EIIRIS) in October 2010,” explained Ishida. “EIIRIS will act as a focal point for research and in the future graduateschool education at Toyohashi.”

The highlight of the symposium was a panel chaired by Yoshiyuki Sakaki discussion on the role of universities and industry forthe nurturing highly skilled engineers of the future. The panelist were Yoshimitsu Kobayashi, president of Mitsubishi Holdings;Shiro Hirota Executive Advisor Asahi Kasei; Akira Mimura, Chairman of the Japan Iron & Steel Federation; and HiroyukiWatanabe, Senior Technical Executive, Toyota Motor Corporation.

Further informationEIIRIS: http://www.eiiris.tut.ac.jp/

(From left to right) Yoshiyuki Sakaki(President, Toyohashi Tech) YoshimitsuKobayashi (President & Chief ExecutiveOfficer, Mitsubishi Chemical HoldingsCorporation) Shiro Hiruta (Director,Senior Advisor, Asahi Kasei Corporation)Akio Mimura (Representative Directorand Chairman) Hiroyuki Watanabe(Senior Technical Executive, ToyotaMotor Corporation)

Project Promotion Members


Toyohashi Tech delegation participates in the Japan Education Fair in Vietnam

Toyohashi Tech participated in the Japan Education Fair held in Vietnam last October, which was sponsored by the JapanStudents Service Organization (JASSO). The purpose of this fair was to provide information on the Japanese higher educationsystem in general and to give students wishing to study in Japan, as well as their higher education instructors, the mostaccurate and up to date information on the research and education being carried out in participating Japanese universities,thereby enabling them to choose the most appropriate university for their overseas study so that they are able to realize their fullpotential.

In 2011, JASSO held fairs in Taiwan, Thailand, Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, Canada, and the Netherlands. A total of 60universities including TUT and both other Japanese national and private universities participated in the fair held in Vietnam.

Around 800 high school students and university students wishing to study in Japan visited the Fair held at Melia Hanoi Hotel onOctober 29 and another 700 came to the fair held at the Hotel Equatorial in Ho Chi Min city on October 30th.

At each university booth, various pamphlets introducing the universities and admission guidebooks were displayed anddistributed. Furthermore, individual consultations concerning educational programs and entrance examinations were given tothe visitors.

The participants asked specific questions, such as “What kind of research is conducted?”; “Are there any scholarshipsavailable?”; ”What is student life like/ are there any dormitories?” All of these questions indicated their enthusiasm to study inJapan.

Prior to the Fair, the staff members of TUT visited the Ministry of Education and Training (VIED) for a meeting with the DirectorGeneral, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Vang, and the Director of the Division for Students Affairs, Mr. Nguyen This Hanh, to discuss thecurrent position with regard to Vietnamese students wishing to study abroad.

Toyohashi Tech Booth at the Fair

Alumni of Toyohashi Tech. - Ms.Ho XuanThien Thu, Master program onArchitecture & Civil Engineering fromApril 2008 to March 2010 (back left), Ms.Tong Thi Minh Thu, Twinning Masterprogram on Materials Sciences fromOctober 2010 to September 2011 (nextto Ms.Ho)


Toyohashi Tech international students meet the Toyohashi Chamber ofCommerce and Industry

Toyohashi Tech international students met representatives of the Toyohashi Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Thursday8th March 2012, as part of an international exchange project with the local community

The meeting consisted of eight international students from Toyohashi Tech and members of local international exchangeprojects from neighboring cities, including Toyohashi and Toyokawa, members of the International Exchange Association, andstaff of the Center for International Relations from Toyohashi Tech. The participants discussed ways of enhancing exchange andcooperation between Toyohashi Tech and the local community.

After the meeting the local International Exchange Association and organizations supporting overseas students were invited toan international student’s get-together. A total of 250 participants, including Yoshiyuki Sakaki, president of Toyohashi Tech, and150 international students attended the get-together.

During the gathering, Myanmar students showed “Thingyan,” the traditional dance for Water Festival of New Year, Indonesianstudents played the “Angklung,” traditional percussion instrument made by bamboo, and students from Laos danced traditional“But Sa Lop” together with the people on the floor. The event was an excellent opportunity to promote mutual friendship with thelocal community.


Project for the Promotion and Enhancement of the Afghan Capacity for EffectiveDevelopment (PEACE): Toyohashi Tech welcomes first students fromAfghanistan

The PEACE project enables government officials and university faculty in Afghanistan who are expected to formulate andimplement plans for ‘Infrastructure Development’ and ‘Agriculture and Rural Development’ to study at graduate schools inJapanese universities.

The project is scheduled to accept a maximum of 500 students from Afghanistan for five years starting in 2011. In 2011 theAfghanistan government recommended 47 students from 199 applicants, who arrived in Japan in either September or October.The students have enrolled to study at 21 research institutes in 20 universities in Japan, ranging from the Akita University inTohoku to the Ryukyu University in Okinawa.

Toyohashi University of Technology admitted Mr. Ekleel Abdul Raqib and Mr. Safi WalidAhman to the Department of Architectureand Civil Engineering. They are scheduled to enroll in the master’s course of the department in October 2012. Toyohashi Techwill continue to accept more research students from Afghanistan after this semester.

The Japanese government expects students taking part in this project will acquire expertise in science and technology,creativity, and other skills that will be valuable assets for assuming leading roles in Afghanistan for improving administration, andto serve as a driving force in the reconstruction and development of the country. At the same time, the students can playimportant roles in building friendly relations between Afghanistan and Japan based on their understanding of Japanese cultureand customs.

Message from Ekleel Abdul Raqib

Research student on the PEACE project at the Urban Planning Laboratory, Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering

I was born in Kabul, Afghanistan in 1985, a time when the sound of bullets and explosions echoed around all the cities andsuburbs of my homeland. The great Afghanistan was the ground of hot battle between the invading troops of the Soviet Union.Thousands of Afghan people were martyred and thousands were orphaned and displaced, and most of them immigrated to theother countries. There was no peace and safety in Afghanistan and the country lost all its physical infrastructure and stability.

Due to these dangers my family emigrated to Pakistan when I was just 30 days old. My childhood was spent in very poorconditions. I attended elementary school and then secondary school in Pakistan. Eventually Soviet Union was defeated andoverthrown in 1989 by the brave and unified resistance of Afghans, and after this bloody decade, Afghanistan was burnt in civilwar from the time of the withdrawal of Soviet forces to the start of control by the Taliban in 1994.

The beauty of the country was trashed due to the civil war. When I was ten years old my family decided to return to Afghanistan,and I arrived back to my county 1995. It was the first time that I visited my country, which I found it in a very bad condition, withno road networks, electricity, agriculture, economic, buildings, infrastructure, and so on.

The devastation upset me and I decided to be a civil engineer to reconstruct and change the ruined areas to a beautifulAfghanistan. But at this time, unfortunately this sorrowful country once again came under the hand of a cruel group known bythe name of Taliban; the Taliban will be an unforgettable regime in history of Afghanistan. They did not let females to go toschool, work outside of home or take part in the government. There were no sources of educational information, so the literacylevel dropped with no thought of development. The Taliban also demolished and ruined Afghan culture and historic values of thecountry. In effect Afghanistan was kicked back for more than one century.

But after all this dark time, in 2001 when I graduated from the high school I decided to enroll at a university that the newgovernment had established after the Bonn conference; the sun of peace and security started shining in this country. War-tornpeople with hundreds of hopes and wishes burgeoned and they got together to stand on their feet. When NATO came toAfghanistan we had been through three decade of war and needed for all kinds of help including health, education, construction,and agriculture.

Fortunately the World Bank, UN organizations, USAID, JICA, USA and the other humanitarian countries, and private donorsprovided funds to Afghanistan. I joined the Architecture and Civil Engineering of Kabul Polytechnic University on 2002 andsuccessfully graduated on 2007 and received the certificate of bachelor.

I joined the Ministry of Urban Development Affairs and start working and struggling against construction and rehabilitationproblems of my injured country.

I shared my experience and knowledge with colleagues at the Ministry to realize my dreams of rebuilding my country. I also gotnew experiences from this organization. In during my work I have seen the challenges in urban planning and construction,including rapid population growth, which is the biggest challenge facing urban policy and city level planning. Another issue isnegotiating a path between the burgeoning informality and the rigidity of formal master planning in all the major cities. Thecommitment to Soviet-style urban planning is understandable among those trained in this way. But resolving problems such aslack of ownership among city residents, lack of residential area for immigrants and annual increases in the populationsespecially in Kabul City, where the population has grown from some 0.5 million people in 2001 to an estimated 4 million at theend of 2010, requires greater knowledge and research.

So the window to my dreams has opened when I was selected for the 2011 Project for the Promotion and Enhancement of theAfghan Capacity for Effective Development (PEACE), which is JICA project for cooperation for Afghanistan people. Theobjective of PEACE is to provide students from Afghanistan to take master’s course in urban planning and then return to Afghanistan to rebuild the country. Now I am very close to change my dream to real, which is to prepare comfortable residential

areas for Afghan citizens by successfully completing this course. I will play an active role in the future urban policy of my countryand I hope to see a beautiful Afghanistan

A message from Walid Ahmad SAFI: Research student on the Project for the Promotion and Enhancement of theAfghan Capacity for Effective Development (PEACE).

KonichiwaI’m Walid Ahmad. My family name is Safi.

I am originally from Kunar province, which is located in eastern Afghanistan, but I was born in the capital Kabul in 1988.

My dream is to become a structural engineer in Afghanistan and my enthusiasm to fulfill this desire led to being selected tostudy this field for my bachelor‘s degree at Kabul Polytechnic University, and now a master’s degree at Toyohashi Tech.

At Toyohashi Tech I am using my background in structure design to conduct research on RCC structures and their behavior inearthquakes. My country Afghanistan is landlocked and mountainous, with many wonderful panoramas and naturally sight-seeing places.

My countryman are famous for their hospitality, adhering to traditions, and gallantry against invaders. Afghanistan has more than29 languages, with Pashto and Dari being the official form of communication between people.



Administrative staff members participate in an overseas English languagetraining program

Five members of staff at Toyohashi University Technology have been taking an English studying course since June 2011 with anative speaker for two hours per week. The purpose of the study is not only to improve their English language ability, but alsotheir awareness of international issues to contribute to international operations of the University. The trainees took part in a shortoverseas training course as part of the program. The Toyohashi Tech team visited Virginia Polytechnic Institute and StateUniversity on 23 January 2012, and on 24 January, they visited the Washington Office of the Japan Society for the PromotionScience and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and finally George Mason University on 25 January.

At Virginia Polytechnic, trainees toured the campus, and were surprised to see the wide range of beautiful buildings—both newand old—built using stone mined in Southwestern Virginia. Initially they visited Professor Eric Miller, Director of the Office of theInternational Research, Education and Development (OIRED), to learn about issues related to sending Virginia Tech studentsoverseas. They then heard about support activities for the international Mr. Kim Beisecker, Director of the Cranwell InternationalCenter.

At the Japan Society for the Promotion Science, Washington Office, Ms. Fumiyo Kaneko, Deputy Director of the Society,explained the role of the office. Furthermore, they met Prof. Keiko Ozato, who is conducting research at the National Institute ofHealth in Washington. Professor Ozato hoped that more Japanese students will travel abroad in the future to conduct researchand make connections overseas.

As George Mason University is located near Washington D.C., many university students commute from off-campus housing,although the number of students who decide to live in dormitories is increasing due to the increasing availability of dormitories.The Toyohashi Tech group first visited Ms. Rita Rowand, Global Relations Specialist, and was presented with an outline of theUniversity. This was followed by detailed explanations from staff at the Office of International Programs and Services，theCenter for Global Education (CGE), and the Office of Admissions on programs for the international student support, exchangeevents, overseas study programs, and recruitment of foreign students.

Following the training program, the five staff members from Toyohashi Tech said that they would make even more effort toimprove their English proficiency and their understanding of international perceptions to contribute to the globalization ofToyohashi Tech.

Discussion at the Office of InternationalPrograms and Services at GeorgeMason University

Mr Yogo is giving a presentation aboutToyohashi University of Technology atJSPS Washington Center

National Institute of Health

Mr Yogo, Ms Takemura, Mr Torii, MrTsuzuki and Mr Takatsu from ToyohashiTech visited the Office of theInternational Research, Education andDevelopment at Verginia Tech, and metthe director, Professor Eric Miller. MrSeino, JSPS Washington office kindlysupported for them.

International Affairs Office of Verginia Tech

No. 6, March 2012


Research highlightsHard electronics: Hall effect magnetic field sensors for high temperatures andharmful radiation environments

Toyohashi Tech researchers invent Hall effect magnetic field sensors that are operable at high temperatures and harmfulradiation conditions. The sensors will find applications in space craft and nuclear power stations.

Toyohashi Tech researchers have fabricated Hall effect magnetic field sensors operable at least 400oC and in extreme radiationconditions using gallium nitride-based heterostructures a with two-dimensional electron gas.

Silicon and III-V compound semiconductor Hall effect magnetic field sensors are widely used in the electronics industry formonitoring rotation in equipment such as optical memory disks and for banknote authentication in vending machines. However,the use of Hall sensors for monitoring magnetic fields in outer space and nuclear power stations is more challenging because ofthe large fluctuations in temperature and harmful radiation in these environments.

To resolve these issues, the Toyohashi Tech researchers used AlGaN/GaN two-dimensional electron gas heterostructures tofabricate high sensitivity micro-Hall effect magnetic field sensors that are stable at high temperatures and high fluxes of protonirradiation.

Notably, the AlGaN/GaN micro-Hall sensors were stable up to at least 400 oC, whereas sensors fabricated using the GaAs andInSb degraded from ~120 oC.

Furthermore, the electron mobility and two dimensional electron density of the AlGaN/GaN micro-Hall sensors were only slightlyaffected by a 1x1013 cm-2 proton dose at 380 keV.

The researchers are actively seeking industrial partners to explot the robust properties of the 2DEG-AlGaN/GaN 2DEG Hallsensors for operation at high temperatures and in harsh radiation environments.

A potential application included imaging of ferromagnetic domains at the surface of permanent magnetics. Adarsh Sandhu hasdemonstrated the imaging of magnetic domains in ferromagnetic materials with a AlGaN/GaN micro-Hall sensor in a hightemperature scanning Hall probe microscope (SHPM).

Related publications

1. S. Koide, H. Takahashi, A Abderrahmane, I. Shibasaki, A.Sandhu, High Temperature Hall sensors using AlGaN/GaN HEMTStructures, Institute of Physics Journal of Physics Conference Series (http://iopscience.iop.org/1742-6596). (in press)

2. T. Yamamura, D. Nakamura and A. Sandhu, High sensitivity and quantitative magnetic field measurements at 600℃. J. Appl.Phys. 99, 08B302 (2006)

3. Z. Primadani, H. Osawa, and A. Sandhu, High temperature scanning Hall probe microscopy using AlGaN/GaN twodimensional electron gas micro-Hall probes. J. Appl. Phys. 101, 09K105 (2007).

Optical image image of 5µm2×5µm2

AlGaN/GaN Hall sensor

SHPM images of a bismuth substitutediron garnet thinfilms at 25–100 °C underan external perpendicular magnetic fieldHext　of150 OeEnlarge Image

Temperature dependence of current-related magnetic sensitivity.Enlarge Image

Variation of Hall voltage with magneticfield with drive current for an AlGaN/GaNHall sensor before and after irradiationwith proton fluence of 10 14 cm-2.Enlarge Image

coder_001タイプライターテキストShota Koide

No. 6, March 2012


Research highlightsScientists produce graphene using microorganisms

Chemical reduction of graphene oxide (GO) flakes is widely used for the synthesis of graphene. In this process, the critical stageof reducing GO flakes into graphene requires the exposure of the GO to hydrazine. This reduction process has fundamentallimitations for large scale production; in particular because of the hydrazine vapor is highly toxic.

Here the Graphene Research Group at Toyohashi Tech report on the synthesis of graphene by reducing graphene oxide usingmicroorganisms extracted from a local river.

The method developed by the Toyohashi Tech team was inspired by a recent report showing that graphene oxide behaves as aterminal electron acceptor for bacteria, where the GO is reduced by microbial action in the process of breathing or electrontransport. Notably, the Toyohashi Graphene Research Group method is a hybrid approach, where chemically derived grapheneoxide flakes are reduced by readily available microorganisms extracted from a river bank near the Tempaku Campus ofToyohashi University of Technology, Aichi, Japan. Raman scattering measurements showed that the GO flakes had indeed beenreduced.

The approach offers a low-cost, highly efficient, and environmentally friendly method for the mass production of high qualitygraphene for the electronics industry.

Reference・Y. Tanizawa et al・Microorganism mediated synthesis of reduced graphene oxide films・IOP Journal of Physics: Conference Series (in press)IOP Physics Conference Series (http://iopscience.iop.org/1742-6596)

Electronics-Inspired Interdisciplinary Research Institute (EIIRIS): http://www.eiiris.tut.ac.jp・Electronics-Inspired Interdisciplinary Research Institute (EIIRIS), Toyohashi University of Technology, 1-1 Hibarigaoka,Tempaku-cho, Toyohashi, Aichi 441-8580, Japan.

Preprint of the manuscript available on request:Adarsh Sandhu : [email protected]

Fig.1: Image of reduced GO sheets on aSiO2/Si substrate. (a) Opticalmicroscope image; and (b) highermagnification.Enlarge Image

Fig. 2: Raman spectra of (a) chemicallysynthesized GO sheets, (b) reduced GOsheets after bacterial reduction withoutthe addition of reducing agent and (c)the surface of SiO2.Enlarge Image

coder_001タイプライターテキストYuji Tanizawa

No. 6, March 2012


Research highlightsMultimodal bio-image sensor: Fusion of heterogeneous biochemical information

The use of sensors is important for the quantitative analyses of chemical materials and physical phenomena, with research anddevelopment of biosensors for observing cell function being actively pursued.

Although there are several conventional biosensors that can be used to analyze biological samples from one perspective, theuse of biosensors for multimodal analysis is challenging.

In this study, Hirokazu Nakazawa and colleagues at Toyohashi University of Technology (Toyohashi Tech) have devised amultimodal bio-image sensor that can render images of the two-dimensional distribution of proton concentration (pH) andfluorescence intensity for multimodal analyses of biochemical objects.

A prototype of the image sensor was fabricated at using facilities at Toyohashi Tech’s EIIRIS research complex using a modifiedCMOS fabrication process with a 5 μm design rule. The area of each individual sensor region was 54 μm× 40 μm, with 32 × 32pixels (Fig. 1). The bonding wires and gold electrode pads (except those in the active region) were encapsulated to protect themfrom the liquid environment.

The multimodal bio-image sensor enabled the detection and display of a wide range of wavelengths of light at 5 frames persecond, without the use of optical filters or gratings. The researchers also used the sensor to measure the variation of the pHdistribution with time.

These results demonstrate the potential of this imaging sensor for intra- and extracellular measurements. The multimodalanalysis approach is effective for obtaining biochemical information in real time using multimodal bio-image sensors with highspatial resolution.

Reference:・ Authors: Hirokazu Nakazawa, Makoto Ishida, and Kazuaki Sawada.・ Title of original paper: Multimodal bio-image sensor for real-time proton and fluorescence imaging.・ Journal, volume, pages, and year: Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, in press.・ Digital Object Identifier (DOI): 10.1016/j.snb.2011.11.010・ Affiliations: Integrated Circuit and Sensor System Group, Toyohashi University of Technology.・ Laboratory website: http://int.ee.tut.ac.jp/icg/

coder_001タイプライターテキストFigure caption: Photomicrographof an actual multimodal bio-imagesensor chip.

coder_001タイプライターテキスト

No. 6, March 2012


Research highlightsGraphene: Potential for modelling cell membrane systems

The intriguing properties of graphene—a single atomic-layer of carbon—such as high electron mobility and fluorescencequenching are being exploited for biosensing and analysis of nucleotides, peptides, and proteins.

Graphene could also play an important role in the modelling of cell membranes. For example, the lipid bilayer is the fundamentalstructure of cell membranes, and the structure and dynamic of bilayer membranes govern the transport of materials andinformation in and out of cells.

Ryugo Tero and his colleagues in the Graphene Research Group at Toyohashi University of Technology have established a newprocedure to fabricate artificial planar lipid membranes on graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (r-GO) as ameans of detecting biomolecules such as lipids and proteins on and inside lipid bilayers.

An aqueous solution of GO was prepared by chemical exfoliation and dropped onto a thermally oxidized and cleaned SiO2/Sisubstrate (Fig.1A). The resulting GO/SiO2/Si was incubated in a vesicle suspension of phospholipid(dioleoylphosphatidylcholine: DOPC). Subsequent observation with an atomic force fluorescence microscopy (Fig.1B) andrevealed the presence of two planar DOPC bilayer membranes stacked on GO with the assistance of calcium ion (5 mM), andthat the DOPC bilayers on GO were fluid and continuous with the surrounding DOPC bilayers on the bare SiO2 surfaces (Fig.1C).

Lipid bilayer/monolayer stacking structures were obtained on hydrophobic r-GO, which was produced by reducing GO withhydrazine vapour. Artificial lipid bilayers on graphene and its derivatives could be a new cell membrane model system for theresearche on fundamental processes in cell membrane reactions.

These results will be a part of the presentation in MRS (Material Research Society) Spring Meeting 2012 at San Francisco onApril 12 (Symposium EE: New Functional Nanocarbon Devices).[URL: http://www.mrs.org/s12-program-ee/]

・ Y. Okamoto, K. Tsuzuki, S. Iwasa, R. Ishikawa, A. Sandhu and R. Tero.・ Fabrication of Supported Lipid Bilayer on Graphene Oxide.・ IOP Journal of Physics: Conference Series (in press).

・ K. Tsuzuki, Y. Okamoto, S. Iwasa, R. Ishikawa, A. Sandhu and R. Tero.・ Reduced Graphene Oxide as the Support for Lipid Bilayer Membrane.・ IOP Journal of Physics: Conference Series (in press).

・ Electronics-Inspired Interdisciplinary Research Institute (EIIRIS), Toyohashi University of Technology, 1-1 Hibarigaoka,Tempaku-cho, Toyohashi, Aichi 441-8580, Japan・ http://www.eiiris.tut.ac.jp・ http://www.eiiris.tut.ac.jp/tero/

coder_001タイプライターテキストFig.1. (A) Scanning electronmicroscope image of GO flakesdropped onto a SiO2/Si substrate.(B) Atomic force microscopetopography and (C) structuralmodel of DOPC bilayer membraneson GO/SiO2/Si.

coder_001タイプライターテキスト

No. 6, March 2012


Club ActivitiesToyohashi Tech Kendo Club: You must be frightened to win

Kendo, or ‘way of the sword,’ is the traditional Japanese martial art based on swordsmanship practiced by samurai. Althoughthe sword has been replaced with a bamboo stick, the ferocity with which kendo is practiced makes it as frightening as if realswords were being used.

The Toyohashi Tech Kendo Club has 20 members who meet twice a week and practice for about 2 hours each time. Two of themembers are female, including Minkyoung Gu from Seoul National University of Technology, who is studying productionsystems engineering for one year.

Gu took up the sport for practical reasons. “We study hard at Toyohashi Tech, so kendo is a good way of releasing stress,” saysGu. “When you practice with an opponent, you can shout as loud as you want and use all your strength.” Gu adds that shewould like to continue practicing kendo when she returns to Korea.

Toru Tatsuno, the club’s leader and a senior studying mechanical engineering, has been practicing kendo since elementaryschool. “The way of kendo has no end,” he says. “There is always a new challenge to overcome. It’s that kind of sport.”

Akio Otsuka, a first- year masters student in mechanical engineering, says that for him, “Kendo has strengthened my mind andspirit and I’ve learnt to respect my opponents.” He took kendo up in middle school but didn’t enjoy it. After starting at ToyohashiTech he decided to try it again and achieve first-dan or rank. Now in his third year of practicing the sport, he is second-dan andwants to progress further.

Kendo is practiced using traditional clothes, including a protective helmet with a metal grill to protect the face, and a breastplate.The equipment and clothing can cost around 200,000 yen. Some students own their own, while others borrow everything fromthe university.

The club takes part in various competitions with other universities and with public kendo clubs in the Mikawa region whereToyohashi Tech is located.

All three students say that participating in serious practice bouts and competitions never fails to be a fearful experience. “If youdon’t feel frightened, you will lose,” says Tatsuno. And Otsuka adds, “Yes, it is frightening. But I know my opponent is alsofrightened.”

Members of the Toyohashi Tech KendoClubProf. Atsunori Matsuda, front row center,is the adviser to the Kendo club

coder_001タイプライターテキストOn guard!

No. 6, March 2012


ExcursionsToyohashi Tech International students visit Kyoto

Toyohashi University of Technology organizes an annual trip to scenic spots, historic landmarks, and modern urban areas forinternational students to give a deeper insight into Japanese history, culture, and modern society.

This year 43 international students took part in an overnight trip to Kyoto from 5–6 March 2012.

On the morning of March 5 the students took the Shinkansen from Toyohashi Station for Kyoto, which for some of the studentswas their first experience of traveling on Japan’s high speed bulletin train.

After arrival in Kyoto, the students took a coach tour and visited Nijo Castle and Kiyomizu Temple, the latter being UNESCOWorld Heritage Site of this former capital city of Japan. The students browsed shops and bought souvenirs from the myriad ofsouvenir shops that line both sides of the narrow cobbled path leading to the temple.

Next, the students visited the Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts and experienced Katazome Yuzen at the hands-on corner,where students made colorful handkerchiefs of their own design using dyed cloth.

On the second day the students visited Kinkakuji and they enjoyed making Nama-Yatsuhashi; the second experience oftraditional Kyoto cultural. On this occasion the students first kneaded and flattened dough in the palms of the hands, and thenplaced sweet bean paste on it. Next, they folded the dough diagonally to produce a triangle shaped delicacy. Finally, thestudents tasted their sweet delicacy and compared it with such food in their own countries.

Lastly, the group visited the Toei Kyoto Studio Park and toured a reproduction of a town from the Edo period, which is actuallyused as a studio for shooting films and as a television set.

In spite of the short trip, the students were able to attain a greater understanding between themselves and of Japanese culture.It was an enjoyable and meaningful trip.

No. 6, March 2012


Tech-OverturesTech Overtures: The Toyohashi Tech pH image sensor

The pH image sensor was invented by Kazuaki Sawada of Toyohashi University of Technology (Toyohashi Tech). The deviceenables two dimensional visualization of both the pH and optical imaging of chemical activity of solutions and cell activity.

The CMOS device consists of an array of CCDs covered with functionalized membrane. Changes in the concentration and twodimensional distribution of hydrogen ions are detected by charge accumulation. In addition to monitoring the pH distribution, thedevice also yields optical images of the test sample.

The sensitivity of the pH imaging sensor is 100 times greater than ISFET devices and enables the determination of pHdifferences of 0.0001 pH. "High sensitivity is possible because we accumulate charge over well-defined periods of time," saysSawada. "The charge transfer is repeated many times, which gives huge improvements in signal to noise ratio."

The current pH image sensors consist of 128 x128 pixels, each with a sensing area of 10 x25 micrometers. Sawada and hisgroup are developing pH image sensors with one million pixels, with each pixel being 10 x10 micrometers. "I have also launcheda pH imaging consortium to address issues related to ion image sensing,” says Sawada. “In the future plans include pH imagingdevices for visualizing the movement and distribution of other ions including as calcium and sodium."

Sawada's group has recently reported on the use of the sensor for real time imaging of acetylcholine (ACh) enzyme reactions.“We imaged changes in the distribution of Ach when nerve cells are stimulated with KCL,” says Sawada. “Insights in thevariation of the concentration of ACh may lead to new methods for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.”

Sawada and his group are looking for industrial partners for the development of other application of the pH image sensor.

Further informationSawada group: http://int.ee.tut.ac.jp/icg/Toyohashi Tech Venture Business Laboratory (VBL): http://www.vbl.tut.ac.jp/ (Japanese only)Electronics-Inspired Interdisciplinary Research Institute (EIIRIS): http://www.eiiris.tut.ac.jp/

References1. Hirokazu Nakazawa, Makoto Ishida, and Kazuaki Sawada, “Progressive-Type Fused pH and Optical Image Sensor”,Japanese Journal of Applied Physics 49 (2010) 04DL042. Hirokazu Nakazawa, Makoto Ishida, and Kazuaki Sawada, “Reduction of Interference Between pH and Optical OutputSignals in a Multimodal Bio-Image Sensor”, IEEE Sensors Journal vol 11, pp. 2718- 2722, (2011).3. S. Takenaga, Y. Tamai, K. Okumura, M. Ishida, K. Sawada, "Label-free Acetylcholine image sensor based on charge transfertechnology for biological phenomenon tracking" Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, vol. 51, p.027001, (2012).4. Hirokazu Nakazawa, Makoto Ishida, Kazuaki Sawada, “Multimodal bio-image sensor for real-time proton and fluorescenceimaging”, Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 10.1016/j.snb.2011.11.010 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2011.11.010)

Patent InformationTitle: Cumulative chemical/physical phenomena detecting apparatusNumber: PCT/JP2006/304868Inventor: Kazuaki Sawada

coder_001タイプライターテキストpH image sensor system

coder_001タイプライターテキストThe pH and optical images fromthe pH image sensor

coder_001タイプライターテキストOperation of the pH image sensor

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no. 6, march 2012 · toyohashi tech booth at the fair alumni of toyohashi tech. - ms.ho xuan thien...

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