Welcome
Research Training Group 'Hydrogel-based microsystems' (DFG-GRK 1865)
A6: Structure of enzymatic reaction cascades in/at hydrogels in microfluidic processes
A7: Complex bisensitive hydrogel systems
A8: Modelling of hydrogel layer systems
A9: Representation of hydrogel building blocks with defined swelling behavior
B1: Plasmonic fluid sensor with hydrogel transducer
B2: Hydrogel-based bioaffinity sensor for the detection of biomolecules
B3: Hydrogel-based sensor switch with switching hysteresis
B4: Modelling and simulation of a force-compensated piezoresistive hydrogel-based chemosensor
B5: Microchemomechanical fluidic devices
B6: Hydrogel-based cascades of sample preparation
B7: Force compensated piezoresistive pH sensors on hydrogel basis
About Hydrogels
Hydrogels are cross-linked polymers, which can absorb and release a high amount of water. The process of absorption and release is accompanied by a considerable volume increase or volume depletion. Regarding this, hydrogels have two noticeable features:
a) Their swelling properties depend on physical properties (for example temperature, electrical potential and magnetic field), chemical properties (for example the pH-value) as well as on structure and design of the polymer and
b) The swelling process is reversible.
Due to these characteristics, hydrogels can be used both for sensoric and actuatoric applications, the more so as it has been proven that they can be integrated into microsystems. Once integrated, hydrogel-based sensors offer cost-efficient solutions with a great functional potential. In the last few years, multiple research activities focused on stimuli-responsive hydrogels, especially on their synthesis and their physico-chemical properties. On the basis of this results, the aim of the research training group 'Hydrogel-based Microystems' is to further investigate the utilization of hydrogels as sensors and actuators in microsystems and thus to form the scientific foundation for future applications in the microsystems technology.
To reach this goal, various deficiencies, which so far have impeded or even prevented the practical usage of hydrogels in technical applications, have to be solved. On the one hand, the aim is to to develop and experimentally as well as numerically investigate special materials and procedures that focus on the requirements of such applications (relevant functionality, high sensitivity, selectivity and long-term stability, short operating time). On the other hand, these materials and procedures shall be used to study selected microsystems as for example long-term stable pH sensors, biochemical sensors, powerless sensor switches, chemical transistors and microfluidic synthesis processors.
Combining aspects of microsystems technology, of structure and flow mechanics as well as of chemistry, the research program has a strong focus on interdisciplinary. Therefore, researchers, who are scientifically and interdisciplinary educated in all of these subdisciplines are needed to fulfill the tasks described above. The research training group with its interdisciplinary research, qualification and support concept offers the ideal conditions to reach our objective target.