Worldwide R&D

Kitamori Laboratory, University of Tokyo; Micro ChemistryGroup, Kanagawa Academy of Science and Technology; et al.
The Kitamori Laboratory has conducted research on integratingchemical and biotechnological systems on microchips on the basis ofapplied spectroscopy techniques. The research is broadly divided
into four categories: extremely basic research on chemical reactions
and the behavior of fluids in microspaces and nanospaces, basic
technology research necessary for integrating chemical andbiotechnological systems on microchips, applied research on thepractical use of integrated microchemical systems, andcommercialization research on problems to be overcome forpractical use of microchip-integrated devices.
Of these four categories, the basic research has been conductedat the initiative of the Kitamori Laboratory and the basic technology
research at the initiative of the Micro Chemistry Group in theKanagawa Academy of Science and Technology (KAST). The appliedresearch has been advanced as a joint research project with privatecompanies. The Institute of Microchemical Technology (IMT), which
we started as a venture company, is responsible for commercialization
research. The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development
Organization (NEDO) also takes part in some areas of appliedresearch and commercialization research. Our group cooperates withall aspects of the research and development. There are no definedboundaries separating the four categories of research, allowing us towork flexibly according to the research topic. Incidentally, the MicroChemistry Group became a permanent laboratory to succeed the fiveyear "Integrated Chemistry Project" that was successfully completedin March. Our research is organized around these four researchgroups, in which some fifty researchers-about twenty students, sevenpermanent researchers including professors, seven postdoctoral
fellows, several technical assistants, IMT employees, and researchers
from private companies-are engaged.
Experiments and simulations conducted in the basic research
surprised researchers by shedding light on unrevealed chemical
phenomena. The findings include the acceleration of chemical
reactions (enzyme reactions, etc.), the formation of vortex
structures near the two-phase (liquid-liquid) flow interface
regardless of low Reynolds number flows, and the appearance ofdisordered flow at the interface. In addition, it was found that water
approaches the properties of ice at normal temperatures in amesospace, which is slightly larger than a nanospace.
The basic technology research provided us with a new methodology
for integrating normal macrochemical processes on microchips, thereby
nearly completing the first step aimed at establishing the principle for"what to do and how to do it." Now, we have begun the second step inwhich more complicated systems, such as a 3D system and the system
consists of liquid and gas phase, are integrated on microchips.
The applied research enabled us to develop a microanalysis
device system. With conventional analysis systems, we had difficultyanalyzing disease markers and environmental pollutants because of
the highly skilled techniques required. However, the new
microanalysis device reduced the analysis time to several tens ofseconds instead of half a day, demonstrating superior performanceand effectiveness on actual samples. For the field ofchemosynthesis, we also developed an innovative chemosynthesis
device capable of reducing reaction time and processing time,
improving efficiency and yield, and controlling an intermediate
reaction through instantaneous heating and cooling. Moreover, wedeveloped a new device for cell culture equipped with a lifesustaining function to supply oxygen and nutrients for amicroculture vessel created on a microchemical chip. The device
provided us with the prospect of developing a device for use in timeconsuming experiments and assays on cells and microorganisms.
In the commercialization research, we developed a massproduction system of microchemical chips, a microchip reader
equipped with highly sensitive sensors and microsystems for
performing diagnoses and health checks and monitoring theenvironment and are close to completing the prototypes. With thechemosynthesis plant, a gel manufacturing plant the size of a smallbuilding was scaled down to the size of shoe cupboard. Despite thedownsizing, the gel manufacturing plant has a production capacity ofthirty tons per year, which exceeds that of a large-scale plant. The
world's first microchemical plant has entered pilot operations
through our joint research partner Tosoh Corporation.
IMT, a university-launched venture company, offers standard
and custom-made microchemical chips and thermal lensmicroscopes capable of highly sensitive sensing and serves to restoreand disseminate university research findings by providing researchmaterials, enabling inexperienced researchers and engineers toengage in research quickly and easily.
Since there are no foreseeable commercial markets for originaltechnologies, small-scale companies are expected to pioneer thedevelopment of new technologies and establish a foundation for creating a
new market before major companies can enter. Hence, it is not an
exaggeration to say that a process resulting in the creation of a newindustry from a university-developed original technology is more anexperiment than a pragmatic approach. We work to develop an industry,
government, and academia relationship in which universities; enterprises;
the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; the Ministry of Education,Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; the Ministry of Agriculture,Forestry and Fisheries; NEDO; the Japan Science and Technology
Corporation (JST); the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science(JSPS); and others continue to provide us with considerable support.
We couldn't produce microchannels and microstructures on a
microchemical chip smaller than a micron with microfabrication
technique. However, we started a new study aimed at constructing ananoscale infrastructure in a micron-size space in order to develop
chemical and biotechnological devices superior in functions andintegration capability. The research is based on a concept called a "Nano
Bio-Physico-Chemical Architecture". We are looking for a breakthroughin chemical and biotechnological fields through the development of new
nanotechnologies, such as nanoscale structures and chemical patterning,
reaction and fluid control systems actively applying interface and surface
properties, and cell control based on these nanostructures.

MICROMACHINE No. 44
MICROMACHINE is published quarterly by Micromachine Center (MMC) to promote the international exchange ofinformation related to micromachines, R&D and other technical topics, and is circulated free of change. Please send
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