Bringing nanobots into measurement science

6/27/2015Project1

Microrheometer using nanopropellers

Arijit GhoshElectrical Communication Engineering/ Centre for Nano Science & Engineering,

Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore

Contact: ghosharijit.7@gmail.com

The problem

6/27/2015Project2

Fast mapping of the local mechanical properties of a soft medium having microscale heterogeneities.

Target systems (Industry and laboratory level):

Phase separation or gelation studies

• Food gels and emulsions • Polyphasic Polymers used in polymer industries or proteins used in drug manufacturing or analysis.

Potential uses in disease diagnosis.

Analysis of blood or mucus found in intestinal/ lung/ reproductive tract, Synovial fluids, Extra/Intracellular fluids

Proposed Solution

6/27/2015Project3

Mapping the rheologicalproperties of a complexheterogeneous medium,while the propeller is movedaround.

Rotating Magnetic FieldGeneralized Theory of the

Dynamics(Validated by Experiments)

Product Details

6/27/2015Project4

Analysis Chamber

Actuation system

Imaging system

Image Processing

Small Volume of Test Fluid

Envisaged Rheometer

Rheological properties like Viscosity/ Elasticity/ Compliance

Dimensions: 1’ ×1’ × 1’ Weight : 1 – 2 kgs

Unique Selling Points

6/27/2015Project5

Methods

Features

Bulk Rheology

Passive Rheology

Opticalmicrorheology

Magnetic Tweezers

Our Method

Measurement Time

10 - 100 sec > 100 sec 1-10 sec 1-10 sec < 0.1 sec

Probing heterogeneity

Range of modulus measurement

0.01 - 100 Pa.s 0.001 - 0.1 Pa.s 0.001 - 0.1 Pa.s 0.001 - 1 Pa.s 0.001 - 1 Pa.s

Frequency range of operation

100 Hz 1000 Hz 100 Hz 100 Hz 100 Hz

Sensitivity for quick measurements

Sample volume required

~ 1 ml ~ 1 μl ~ 1 μl ~ 1 μl ~ 1 μl

Rheological Mapping

Technology vis a vis Benefit Mapping

6/27/2015Project6

Small Volume of Test Fluid

Fast and accurate measurements

Microrheologicalmapping

Rheometer based on nanopropellers and video microscopy

Suitable for expensive and rare samples

Suitable for repeated measurements

Suitable for dynamic viscosity mapping

Probing Heterogeneities

Low Cost

Competition Analysis

6/27/2015Project7

Nanopropellerbased rheometry

Bulk Rheometry

Optical Tweezers

Anton Paar, Thermo Scientific, Brookefield, etc.

Passive Rheology

Thorlabs, Mmi, etc.

Beckman Coulter, Malvern etc.

Magnetic Tweezers

Extensively used in research labs,No prominent company

How will we make money ?

6/27/2015Project8

Path to Commercialization:

Proof of Principle Prototype development and searching Investors

We are here

Market Research

Voice of Customer

Commercialization

Who is our customer ? Biopharmaceuticals and bio research labs. Food industries Petroleum industries Polymer industries (e.g. photoresists/paints)/ Companies manufacturing rechargeable batteries. Consumer products industries (FMCG) (Unilever/Procter & Gamble) Disease diagnostics.

Why us ?

6/27/2015Project9

Skills and Expertise:

Pioneering Work

Ambarish Ghosh & Peer FischerRowland Institute at Harvard

Nanoletters 2009

Experimental and Theoretical foundations

Physics/ Physical Chemistry

Physical Review E 2012Arijit Ghosh et. al.(Engineering)

PCCP 2013Arijit Ghosh, Pranay Mandal et. al.

PI: Dr. Ambarish Ghosh

6/27/2015Project10

GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY, WE CAN!!!

Why do we believe that we can make this happen ?

Potential to replace bulk rheometry as well (Anton Paar)

Scope of growth---not only rheology

Clear advantages over existing techniques of microrheology