IMT-MIT collaboration was among 18 papers published in Nature throughout 2007 that were selected as 'favourites' by the prominent scientists and technologists serving as Nature's manuscript editors
Nature Journal has recognised the collaborative effort between Innovative Micro Technology (IMT) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on the weighing of single cells and single nanoparticles in fluid with sub-femtogram resolution.
Designed by MIT with design for manufacturability by IMT, the advanced function and ultra-high sensitivity of the device were made possible by manufacturing prowess developed by IMT, including vacuum wafer-level packaging.
The device is currently in the process of being commercialised.
Nature summarised the significance of the work: "Tiny particles - molecules included - can be weighed with remarkably high resolution using nanoscale mechanical resonators.
"But not in the presence of fluids, which dampen the vibrations that make the system work.
"This rules out practical applications such as medical diagnostics or environmental monitoring.
"But here is an ingenious way around the problem: 'hide' the fluid inside the resonator.
"A vacuum-packaged resonator holds the solution with particles of interest in microfluidic channels, and weighs single nanoparticles and bacteria at subfemtogram resolution".
The full article can be found under T P Burg et al, Nature 446, 1066-1069 (26 April 2007).
