title: Magnetically actuated nanorod arrays as biomimetic cilia.
abstract: We present a procedure for producing high-aspect-ratio cantilevered micro- and nanorod arrays of a PDMS-ferrofluid composite material. The rods have been produced with diameters ranging from 200 nm to 1 mum and aspect ratios as high as 125. We demonstrate actuation of these superparamagnetic rod arrays with an externally applied magnetic field from a permanent magnet and compare this actuation with a theoretical energy-minimization model. The structures produced by these methods may be useful in microfluidics, photonic, and sensing applications.
authors.affiliation: The Virtual Lung Project, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Shields
authors.forename: R Lloyd
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Washburn
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Falvo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Superfine
mesh_terms: D002923:Cilia; D018716:Molecular Mimicry; D043942:Nanotubes