J4 ›› 2013, Vol. 10 ›› Issue (1): 65-76.doi: 10.1016/S1672-6529(13)60200-0

• 论文 • 上一篇    下一篇

Tomas Maul, Andrzej Bargiela, Yuying Yan, Nan Gao, Alexander Foss   

  • 收稿日期:2012-08-28 修回日期:2012-10-28 出版日期:2013-01-10 发布日期:2013-01-10
  • 作者简介:Tomas Maul, Andrzej Bargiela, Yuying Yan, Nan Gao, Alexander Foss

Simulation Modelling Study of Self-Assembled Nanoparticle Coatings for Retinal Implants

Tomas Maul, Andrzej Bargiela, Yuying Yan, Nan Gao, Alexander Foss   

  1. 1. School of Computer Science, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Jalan Broga, 43500 Semenyih, Malaysia
    2. School of Computer Science, University of Nottingham, Jubilee Campus, Wollaton Road, Nottingham NG8 1BB, UK
    3. Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
    4. Department of Ophthalmology, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
  • Received:2012-08-28 Revised:2012-10-28 Online:2013-01-10 Published:2013-01-10
  • Contact: Tomas Maul E-mail:Tomas.Maul@nottingham.edu.my
  • About author:Tomas Maul, Andrzej Bargiela, Yuying Yan, Nan Gao, Alexander Foss

Abstract:

The electrode resolution of current retinal prostheses is still far from matching the densities of retinal neurons. Decreasing electrode diameter increases impedance levels thus deterring effective stimulation of neurons. One solution is to increase the surface roughness of electrodes, which can be done via nanoparticle coatings. This paper explores a Lattice Gas Model of the drying-mediated self-assembly of nanoparticle mixtures. The model includes representations for different types of nanoparti-cles, solvent, vapour, substrate and the energetic relationships between these elements. The dynamical aspect of the model is determined by energy minimization, stochastic fluctuations and physical constraints. The model attempts to unravel the rela-tionships between different experimental conditions (e.g. evaporation rate, substrate characteristics and solvent viscosity) and the surface roughness of resulting assemblies. Some of the main results include the facts that the assemblies formed by nanoparticles of different sizes can boost roughness in specific circumstances and that the optimized assemblies can exhibit walled or stalagmite structures. This study provides a set of simulation modelling experiments that if confirmed in the laboratory may result in new and useful materials.

Key words: nanoparticle assemblies, simulation modelling, Lattice Gas Models, retinal prostheses