Name:

Monika Czugala

Contact details

Adaptive Sensors Group National Centre for Sensor Research Dublin City University Collins Avenue Dublin 9 Ireland Tel: +353 1700 7604 monika.czugala2@mail.dcu.ie

Qualifications

MSc in “Materials Engineering” (June 2010), Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics West Pomeranian University of Technology, Poland Thesis: “Evaluation of fatigue properties of elastomers for the elements of an artificial heart”

Project Summary

Next generation of autonomus analytical platforms for remote environmental monitoring Research focuses on integration and characterization of novel chemo- and biosensors based on functional materials in analytical platform for environmental application. / Project objectives are integration of stimuli-response actuators developed in a parallel project into a microdevice that includes fluidic manifolds, biomimetic structures with detectors (optical and electrochemical), integral reagent addition and calibration standards, communications and power generation storage and finally demonstration of fully functioning analytical platform. Special attention will be given to the generation and control of liquid flow within the microfluidic manifolds using new materials that exhibit biomimetic behavior. One possibility is to use biomimetic pumping and valving structures based on ionogels with magnetic nanoparticles, and another option is to employ light actuated polymers. These micro-valves are actuated by simply applying localized white light irradiation - when visible light was applied the ionogel rapidly decreased in volume and the valve opened, allowing the solution to pass through the channel. By using different IL components within the gels, it is possible to tune the valve actuation time and independently control liquid flow within the channels of the micro-fluidic device under common illumination conditions, facilitating sequential actuation events.can easily flow through the channel. Design and fabrication of functional prototypes for environmental analytical applications will be undertaken by applying rapid micro fabrication techniques such as laser micromachining and micromilling in order to generate micron resolution fluidic structures such as channels, mixer zones or detection cells. However, the technique that I will specifically focus on is soft lithography, which has become the most common prototyping process in the laboratory environment. What is more, in order to provide appropriate surface attachment, work on the modification of the chemical state of the surface will be provided.

Publications

Conferences: 1. M. Czugala, R. Gorkin, C. Rovira-Borras, J. Ducree, D. Diamond, F. Benito-Lopez, Microfluidic system with a wireless paired detector diode device as an optical sensor for water quality monitoring, Conference on Analytical Sciences Ireland 2011, February 21-22, 2011, Dublin, Ireland. Submitted (POSTER). 2. R. Gorkin, M. Czugala, C. Rovira-Borras, J. Ducree, D. Diamond, F. Benito-Lopez, A Wireless Paired Emitter Detector Diode Device as Optical Sensor for Lab-On-A-Disc Applications, Transducers-2011,The 16th International Conference on Solid-State Sensors, Actuators and Microsystems, June 5-9, 2011, Beijing, China. Submitted (ORAL). 3. M. Czugala, M. El Fray, Modyfication of thermoplastic elastomers with nanometric carbon materials, Conference on Polymer Materials – Pomerania-Plast 2010, June 8-11, 2010, Kolobrzeg, Poland (POSTER). 4. M. Czugala, M. El Fray, Thermoplastic elastomers modified with nanometric carbon, 2nd Nationwide Conference on Engineering in Biomedicine, May 27-29, 2010, Cracow, Poland (ORAL).

Further Information

Funding awarded: Marie Curie Initial Training Network funded by the EC FP7 People Programme