The dream of perpetual flight without fuel has inspired pilots to take to the skies in solar-powered planes. Vicki Cleave looks at a mission to fly a solar plane through the night — and around the world.
A FLIGHT TO REMEMBER
When the Wright brothers made their maiden fl ight in a powered aircraft on slowly through the air, their ungainly frames buff eted by weather, that they a windswept beach in 1903, it was a short hop, skip and jump into the record challenge our expectations of modern-day fl ight. Yet the pilots who wish to books. More than a century later another single-seater aircraft is on its way fl ySolar Impulse around the world plan on staying aloft for up to fi ve days at to making its own recordbreaking hops, skips and jumps around the globe. a time, and fl ying through the Sun-starved night. Each of Solar Impulse’s wings will cover more distance than Orville Wright’s Th e US$91-million Solar Impulse project is the vision of Bertrand Pic- fi rst fl ight; but the plane’s 80-metre wingspan is not what’s truly impressive card, a Swiss aeronaut already in the record books as one of the pilots of about it. Th e remarkable thing is where it will get its power — and how little the fi rst non-stop round-the-world balloon fl ight in the Breitling Orbiter it will need. Driven solely by energy from the Sun, the plane will be carried 3 in 1999. Piccard, who will also be one of the pilots on Solar Impulse’s trip aloft by solar cells that generate a total of around 9 kilowatts— roughly the around the world, comes from a family of adventurers. His grandfather Au- same power available to the Wright Flyer from its single engine. guste made a record-breaking balloon ascent to 23 kilometres in the 1930s In the Wright era, aircraft were dubbed ‘heavier-than-air machines’, and his father Jacques was one of two people to have reached the Challenger refl ecting the disbelief that they could leave the ground, let alone be suc- Deep in the Mariana Trench, the deepest surveyed point in Earth’s oceans.
A Collection from Nature and Shimadzu 2009 No.3 cessfully piloted. Th e history of manned solar aviation fosters similar Piccard says he fi rst thought of the solar project aft er he stepped out of 01 scepticism (see ‘Solar aviation highs and lows’). Most solar planes move so the Orbiter. “Th e press was saying that my balloon fl ight around the world
Nature Vol.451 (884-886) / 21 February 2008 LGTT REMEMBER TO A FLIGHT weighed less than 31 kilograms without a pilot and its speed over ground ground over speed its and pilot a without kilograms 31 than less weighed His flcells. to solar enough output of power low the on y AeroVironment in Monrovia, built California, from a plane light enough MacCready and slow Paul engineer aeronautical US ago, years 25 than More fl would that vehicle limit of duration.” no with fuel, no with daynight y and have ditched and not made it,” he says. “I thought it would great be to have a would Atlanticwe the on slower been had wind the if and duration, in fuel, in limited “We really were kilograms. 40 just with landed it propane, liquid of tonnes offfour almost taken havingwith fuel: of amounts massive such done.’” been has everything if pity done,” been had ‘it’s and thought I at old years “Ithat time, 41 says. was he a else everything because adventurelast possible the was in 1999 that still was Piccard was not the fi rst to be attracted by the notion of fuel-free fi fuel-free the not of notion was the Piccard by attracted be ight. to rst fl He was disappointedalso that the roundthe-world trip had balloon used Nature Vol.451 (884-886) / 21 February 2008 February 21 / (884-886) Vol.451 Gossamer Penguin Gossamer Nature hours at a time. hours That a time. e aloft 6 stayed than has more for plane solar fl piloted night no before, ights through the hours of darkness. Although unmanned solar aircraft have made André Borschberg, the other pilot and chief executive of the project. “Wemaintainingwith copeor alertness,”sleep are notsurewill how we says endurepilot the will samecramped the position for uptofi days ve time. a at cockpit, which will protect him from temperature extremes of 80 °C to − 60 °C, fi trip,landing the-world swap pilots. way to the along times ve well, the flplane will y per hour kilometres atof on50−100 speeds its round- goes flall to If night. energy the storing for through batteries y from be will which of one-quarter almost pilot, the including kilograms, 2,000 of weight Th bicycle. a than slower was planned e Th ey will need tobe attheir most alert when ying the fl slow-moving craft Th etrip will be a no-frills experience forthe solitary pilot. Inside his snug day and night with no fuel.”— no Piccard with night and day Bertrand fl would that vehicle tohavea great be would it “I thought y Vol.451 ( 884-886 ) / 21 February 2008 February 21 / ) 884-886 ( Vol.451 Solar Solar Impulse team plans to get through the nights with with nights the plans through to get team Solar Impulse Solar SOLAR IMPULSE / EPFL CLAUDIO LEONARDI CLAUDIO EPFL / IMPULSE SOLAR will have a maximum maximum a have will 02 A Collection from Nature and Shimadzu 2009 No.3 03 A Collection from Nature and Shimadzu 2009 No.3 alertness.”Borschberg André — “We are not sure how we will sleep or cope with maintaining André Borschberg (left) and Bertrand Piccard will pilot Solar Impulse on its round-the-world attempt. round-the-world its on Impulse Solar pilot will Piccard Bertrand and (left) Borschberg André down the plane and reducing the amount of power consumed. amount power of the reducing and plane the down slowing altitudes, lower at denser is air The kilometre. 1 just to kilometres altitude from12 of daytime maximum its descend will the plane After dusk, power.for batteries using and altitudes lower to down gliding of mixture a as Zephyr. So Kelleher thinks that weather forecasting will be crucial for crucial be will forecasting weather that thinks Kelleher So Zephyr. as air.”parcels of the into slowly very flies aeroplane the and features, big be to tend sizes gust the because airliner commercial “At kilometres. above about 18 enough, high is big, a like it handles altitude, Zephyr,smaller Kelleher that explains isn’thandling a problem once Zephyr conditions.”fly the weather at, and the forpilot much the on-the-ground As would it that speeds the and altitudes the are issues doable,”agrees.“The he Zephyr project, the record-holder for the longest unmanned solar flight. “It’s flight,” first Piccard. says it’sbut find, our to make could before we doable.” died he sad “I’m very just hard are that conditions meteorological in flown vehicle, crafted elegantly an take will “It was: verdict his and project, the beginning before Cready Mac- with plans his discussed Piccard project’schances. the about upbeat dawn will look sweeter than the last, as pilot and plane run low on energy. longerbatteriesthe mightsufficientnot be any more,” Borschberg.says Each turbulence. “If we have headwinds at night, the night gets longer. If the night is overnightcrucial ingthe atdescentmercyofwindstheplane and be the will Wright the like Flyer.rather — that of an Airbus A380, he expects than bigger slightly wingspan a having despite And have,” Borschberg. says you that gust any follows it but aircraft, transport largest the of size the is aircraft turbulence.“This or winds strong can’t handle craft the speed, slow andweather. ofweight its the light be Because will challenge biggest But the Handle with care with Handle Because it will be manned, manned, be will it Because the of director Kelleher, technical Chris by echoed is MacCready’s view are — themselves pilots them of many — experts solar-aviation Fellow Whenoff,taking the best the pilotweather can choose window, but dur- Solar Impulse Solar Solar Solar Impulse won’t be able to fly as high high as fly to able be won’t to flya bitlike a hang glider Earlier solar planes also faced turbulent weather — with mixed results. results. mixed with Penguin — Gossamer weather turbulent faced also planes solar Earlier of Mexico,”of moreflexible.” be to learned we “So Piccard. says there was land because a Arizona, in big Phoenix, thunderstorm on the Gulf to had we Miami, to Hawaii from simulations made we “When diversions. unplanned more means systems weather bad Avoiding OK.” be will days five next the that certainty absolute the with off take just and cannot Piccard, we “that says expected,” than longer be could flight the that learned tions,”Borschberg. says data. meteorological “You can have this aircraft basically flying in real condi- introduce to them allows and aircraft the of performance the mimics that simulator a used researchers The May. last since flights virtual conducting happens.” what exactly plan always cannot you because it’slanding difficult more For off. take to when decide you because most important of aspects mission planning. “At take-off it’snot toodifficult, tropical worst is going one to ofbe prediction the that weather.weather agrees Borschberg the avoiding hopefully while daylight to exposure plane’s the maximizes which Cancer, of the Tropic follow will path flight planned lower,” come and weather says. he the predict to possible it’s conditions stable “With mission. the achieving giant giant Solar Challenger “it was fairly turbulent actually, there were lots of clouds in the sky”. However, that worked at has AeroVironment who recalls Curtin, 1980s, the Bob since But clouds. puffy white with day sunny a on 1981 in Channel English the wing’ structure was designed to flex into a curved shape when flying, and flying, when shape curved a into flex to designed was structure wing’ ‘flying huge Its flight. final its on well so turbulence handle didn’t NASA, Fair-weather flyer Fair-weather hy ae ert oe aube esn fo te simulations.“We the from lessons valuable some learnt have They the systems, weather-prediction To its test The conditions? stable on count to able be team the will often how But h utaih umne Hlo cat bit y eoiomn and AeroVironment by built craft, Helios unmanned ultralight The SOLAR IMPULSE / STÉPHANE GROS Solar Impulse Solar handled more like a small, light aircraft compared with the the comparedwith aircraft light small, a more like handled ’ssuccessor, . Nature Vol.451 (884-886) / 21 February 2008 February 21 / (884-886) Vol.451 Solar Challenger Solar Solar Impulse Solar , completed its flight across across flight its completed , team has been been has team carefully. “We’re very interested in in interested “We’recarefully. very round-the-world mission slated for 2011 if all goes well. well. goes all if for2011 slated mission round-the-world the with 2009−10, during plane full-size the build to plans team the design, overall the into back fed been have prototype the from learned lessons the Once are. flights overnight feasible how of idea better a give should year, smaller a build to started this later has for scheduled prototype, 61-metre team the with Test prototype. flights the needs, it funding the of thirds two- and place, in sponsors major four of three has project the that Now building design, cockpit. this the incorporate to however,need the was choosing for reason main the that says Piccard wind. the by around knocked get will craft the oscillate, than rather so structure, wing Helios, Unlike Ocean. Pacific the over up broke structure uncontrollably,the and oscillating started wing curved the 2003, in record flight longer a set to attempt an during But tres. kilome- 29 above altitudes at flew it craft long-endurance and high-altitude of NASA’s As part turbulence. moderate handle to able was build to mission reduce energy consumption,”says energy reduce Borschberg. have you so to given, is technology “The science. than rather engineering of kilogram. per watt hours 200 reach would batteries lithium rechargeable of density storage energy the that predicted correctly also The team without shattering. wings of the surface upper into grated the 130 just inte- At be can they that 22%. enough flexible are cells around solar the thick, provide micrometres now they — 20% of efficiencies have breakthroughs. anyon technological plan didn’tbut time, years 3−4 in available be to likely were that improvements technology the predicted 2003 in done study feasibility A design. final the Testingtimes When When team multinational the weather, the of nature unpredictable the Given Thedesignis now frozenso with the these technologies, ischallenge one would cells solar For the study that instance, mono predicted crystalline Nature Solar Impulse Solar Solar Impulse Solar Vol.451 (884-886) / 21 February 2008 February 21 / (884-886) Vol.451 is perhaps wisely sticking to known technologies for technologies known to sticking wisely perhaps is Paul MacCready of AeroVironment in Monrovia, California, Albatross human-powered the of version smaller a — left) below, Mojave Desert. the in catapult by I Sunrise trolled con- remotely his launched Flight Astro of Boucher Robert when 1974, 4 November on was flight solar-powered recorded first The unmanned solar planes for satellite replacements and reconnais- and replacements satellite for planes solar unmanned about 2,600 watts and the craft reached an altitude of 4.4 kilometres. Despitemetres,solarcellsprovidedwingspansmalljustits14its of centre), crossed the English Channel, covering 262 kilometres, in 1981. of 22 metres. Its solar panels provided just 541 watts of power. Penguin finally gets airborne, its progress will be watched be will progress its airborne, gets finally The firstThe manned solar aircraft was AeroVironment went on to collaborate with NASA to design design to NASA with collaborate to on went AeroVironment GossamerPenguin Solar Impulse Solar flew a distance of more than 3 kilometres and had a wingspan , which crossed the English Channel in 1979. Designedby 1979.EnglishChannelin thecrossedwhich , Solar Impulse Solar Solar aviation highs and lows and highs aviation Solar ’s design follows a classic rigid- classic a follows ’sdesign ’ssuccessor, ,” says Kelleher, who, as a as who, Kelleher, ,” says Solar ChallengerSolar GossamerPenguin (picturedbelow, (pictured Gossamer Gossamer energy efficiency and low weight, he sees sees he weight, for low quest and its efficiency In energy plane. the fly to chance a love would himself, pilot stunt Vicki Cleave is a senior editor for for editor senior a is Cleave Vicki to 300 carry passengers. Thissolo pilot is gambling he won’tbealone forever. line,” aircraftlateryears crossingthe 35 Atlantic Piccard,notesable were yet in 1927. “Lindbergh was alone because the rest of the payload had to be gaso- Lindbergh’scrossingAtlanticCharles solo of example the cited MacCready and Piccard both missions, such pursue they why asked When sumption. con- energy about thinking their change to others inspire will him, before board.”humanon doesn’t have it a to that, do you if sense and make perpetually, fly something make to you’retrying says,“because vehicle,” he unmanned an in probably is future real improve.“The technologies battery daysand range the short nights restricting — of craft the lower to latitudes. long requires technology current that is flight solar-powered of limitation around 181 kilograms— much bigger than the 30-kilogram Zephyr. Another this project, says Curtin, is that the payload of the Global is Observer large — time. a at week a for fly will and engine, combustion internal an by be fuelled will liquid hydrogen in relayObserver Global and observation. communications for aircraft highaltitude unmanned Global an its project, to Observer applied being is flight low-powered about learned firm the everything that says He crash. Helios the since hold on been has research solar company’s the although planes, solar-powered for future a sees also effectively,” muchmorecost can’t them do or well, so do says. Kelleher it to butsatellites, replace it may able be to do many of that the jobs satellites “We information. relay to way don’t cheaper a provide expect could Zephyr of Because the cost of transmitting data from to Earth satellites, for example, industry. communications the for technology satellite to alternative an as planes solar unmanned in interested more is company his possible”. But Piccard is optimistic that his dreams of fuel-free flight, like flight, like MacCready’sfuel-freedreamsoptimisticofPiccard histhat is and cells solar as power solar to return a out rule doesn’t Curtin But on solar not and hydrogen for go to decided company the reason The of development nowat business vice-president AeroVironment,Curtin, — Bob Curtin Bob — vehicle.” unmanned an in probably is future real “The in 2007 by Zephyr, a plane from the British defence company company defence British Q the from plane a Zephyr, by 2007 in Impulse Solar on working team the of part is Raymond hours. 48 for aloft stayed SoLong, plane, solar remote-controlled Cocconi’s Alan 2005, 1990. In in months two almost over stages 21 in States United the crossed Raymond Eric which in plane, solar-powered and glider a 2003. in Ocean Pacific the over brokeup Helios and flight above29 sustained forkilometres more than 40 minutes. world-record 2001 in kilometres 29.5 of aircraft official powered for altitude non-rocket an reached prototype Helios’s wingspan. 75-metre a and motors 14 with wing’ ‘flying ultralight an right), below, (pictured Helios launched they Together, missions. sance inetiQ, which flew for 54 hours. hours. 54 for flew which inetiQ, Cocconi’s record for the longest unmanned flight was broken was flight unmanned longest the for record Cocconi’s include exploits Civilian , and Cocconi is a key adviser. key a is Cocconi and , Nature Materials Nature Solar Impulse Solar Sunseeker
, a manned combination of combination manned a , as “the art of the the of art “the as . V.C. 04 A Collection from Nature and Shimadzu 2009 No.3 B. RHINE/NASA; J. READER / TIME LIFE PICTURES / GETTY IMAGES; N. GALANTE / PMRF / NASA 05 measurement, control, and analysisfor nanotechnology capabilities by applying advanced Shimadzu provides powerful support A Collection from Nature and Shimadzu 2009 No.3 throughput and separation accuracy for energy, environmental, and medical applications e application of MEMS to measure and analyze on a nanoliter to picoliter scale, increasing analytical instrument meter = 10 technologyto forexercising controlfull oversubstances nanometeratthe nano-(1 its product portfolio into the nanotechnology eld. e ments,termmedical systems, “nanotechnology”aircra refers equipment, and industrial equipment, is expanding ShimadzuCorporation, whose core businesses are analytical and measuring instru- measuring instrumentsmeasuring and analytical future to them applying andnanoliters to picolitersfrom ranging (microelectromechanical MEMS systems) technology in applies the R&D of laboratory μTAS for the handling liquids Laboratory,of in Research nitesimal volume According to Hiroaki Nakanishi, General R&D Manager of Shimadzu’s instruments Technology of analytical component future critical a produce to MEMS Applying MultiNAmicrochip electrophoresis system,quicklywhichcan simplyand perform techniques are to form used minute micron-level ow channels or grooves. video camera is the only camera capable of observing the trajectory of inkjet droplets. millionsecond.framesaorderper Shimadzu’softhe lming of HPV-2high-speed insize andare discharged athigh speed, their observation requires ultra-high-speed inkjetaspectoftechnology droplet is control. inkjetAsdroplets picolitersfew area important electronics. organic One phosphors, display materials, and plasma seal not only for printers, but also for LCD television colour lters, printed circuit boards, of surfaces the substances. of state chemical the analyzing for (XPS) spectrometersphotoelectron X-ray and instruments, measurement photoluminescence distribution, chirality assessing for spectrophotometerscomponents, absorption(UV) gas evolved measuring for meters) for assessing CNT purity, gas chromatograph mass spectrometers (GCMS) materials. (thermogravi- instrumentsanalysis thermal includeinstruments ese nanotech carbon-based other(CNTs), nanotubesand Fullerenes,carbon of ment electronic materials, fuel cell materials, and pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. is used in nanoparticle research in a number of elds, including semiconductors and nanoparticlesusingShimadzu’s unique“ developed an instrument (the IG-1000) capable of measuring the diameter of single probe, making minute possible measurement a usingof even surfaceslocal properties sample of samples. scanning Shimadzu by has imagesalso three-dimensional of observation atomic-level perform can which (SPM), microscope probe ning scan- the nanolevelis the atmaterial handlingfor instrument an exampleof One devices. and materials these evaluate to applications and instruments providing In addition, the scope of application of inkjet devices is broadening: they are used assess- the support that o instruments also analytical variousShimadzu ers contributedShimadzuhasdevelopment the nanotechnologyto the of byeld A part of the technologyalreadythepracticallyhasbeenof MCE-202part appliedthe A in
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Following formation of the channel, and 100 micrometers deep that has a length of 8.56 metersmicrometersof8.56 andlength 100 thata has deep a three-inch silicon substrate along, minute thin tube 50to 200micrometers wide this project, Shimadzu produced a column by using MEMS technology to form on In companies. other e several joint with a ort in analysis environmental on-site for chromatographysystem gas micro the developed has Shimadzu Agency, ogy Technol-and Science Japan the of project national a Analysis, andMeasurement conductivity thermal in the of substance. the outlet leads to devices such as a thermal conductivity detector that uses di erences enter a narrow tube called a column, where it is separated into its components. e separation column. a into e gas is introduced through an inlet and passes gas through a carrier ow meter to a with together components various of consisting gas μTAS a channelling this by components gas using analyzeschromatography Gas technology. columns chromatography gas prototyping also is Shimadzu analytical devices usinganalytical devices MEMS microuidics. of commercialization full-scale the in engaging by industries new of creation the to contribute and issues healthcare and environmental, energy, with grappling activities R&D support to aims medical companyelds. and e environment, energy, the on focuses also which Shimadzu, of instruments measurement and Nakanishianticipates that microMEMS good a be will uidics fort analytical the 100 experiments under di erent conditions. experimental conductsimultaneously to possible it make con will that cells dishes Petri10 ne micro MEMS-based of production the samples, cell low-quantity 1,000 are there if instance,For reagents. of quantities biological small using performed small, be can experiments very are dishes Petri If MEMS. using dishes Petri ultra-small prototypedcompanyhas the stimuli, outside to responseTocations. cell examine Shimadzu is also prototyping MEMS-based analytical devices for feasible bio-related appli- also are dishes Petri Micro for innext-generation use instruments. devices ofdevelopment chromatography the chromatographyliquid through and move ahead with commercialization. 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(Figure 2) (Figure . . longer e the 06 A Collection from Nature and Shimadzu 2009 No.3 rom stents and catheters, artificial hips, hearts, and knees for older patients, can be debilitating if not fatal. to orthopedic screws and contact lenses, scientists and Griesser aims to cover devices with an antibacterial coating that will engineers are building devices to replace body parts that are prevent the bacteria from latching on in the first place. He starts with F worn, injured, or just need repair. The devices make possible extracts from the native Australian plant, Eremophila. Molecules in the new medical procedures, improve lifestyles, and save lives. But problems extract of Eremophila, which was used by aboriginal Australians as topical of chemistry arising at a device’s surface often undo any benefits its physi- medicine, covalently bind to the material surface. cal structure achieves. The antibacterial activity of the extracts was borne out in in vitro Physics based on discoveries made more than 100 years ago is offer- studies. But how can you tell if the same happens on a medical device? “A ing solutions. In 1905, Albert Einstein startled scientists by explaining surface is different from a solution, and often the reactions are incomplete. how light, in discrete quanta that we now know as photons, could be used It is important to confirm that the reaction has occurred on a surface,” to eject photoelectrons from the surface of a material. His Nobel-prize says Griesser winning work paved the way for Kai Siegbahn who, in 1981, earned his He correlates XPS data about the top 10 nanometres of the material own Nobel Prize for using the photoelectric effect to study the chemistry with the observed biological response. “XPS gives us confidence about of material surfaces. The technique, which examines the emitted pho- how many bioactive molecules are on a surface and how they are reacting. toelectrons to gain knowledge about the material’s outer layers, became It also shows which intended reactions don’t work,” he says. known as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). He has enjoyed dramatic improvements since he started using the High resolution XPS has since taken off. The instrument at the XPS SHIMADZU/Kratos Axis UltraDLD four years ago. Previous devices were forefront, offering great resolution and broad applications, is the Axis non-monochromatic. Stray radiation would break bonds, especially the UltraDLD produced by Manchester, UK-based Kratos Analytical Ltd. Kratos sensitive bromine-carbon bonds, in samples. “The sample would degrade Analytical was incorporated in 1956 and developed the first XPS instru- while we‘re trying to measure it, it would degrade too fast to get good data ment in 1969. In 1989, it was purchased by Kyoto, Japan-based Shimadzu in useful form,” he says. “Previously the data looked second-rate.” Corporation, a multibillion dollar enterprise with manufacturing bases in The highly sensitive electron collection optics of the Axis UltraDLD six countries and more than 7000 employess worldwide. The relationship changed everything. “This is not just an improvement, this is a quantum has given Kratos Analytical a strong, international foundation to carry out jump. It made life so much easier,” he says. its highly innovative work. The SHIMADZU/Kratos Axis UltraDLD, a prime Antibacterial coatings in the US alone will be worth an estimated US$250 example of this collaborative power, is taking XPS into new areas of biology million in 2012, and Griesser is now gearing up for pre-clinical trials. and bringing implantable medical devices to higher performance levels. Biochemical compatibility, Keeping bacteria at bay DNA microarrays, and beyond The University of South Australia’s Hans Griesser is training XPS on the David Castner, a chemical engineer at the University of Washington, has problem of microbial infections. had similar success with the SHIMADZU/Kratos Axis UltraDLD Bacteria often attach to the surfaces of implanted medical devices The ultimate question for Castner is how biomaterials, such as those and form a film against which antibiotics and the immune response are used to make vascular grafts and hip implants, and biomolecules interact. ineffective. The device can break down. Replacement surgeries, especially The body typically recognizes implants as foreign materials, “walling
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy at the forefront of biomedical science With the SHIMADZU / Kratos Axis UltraDLD,
A Collection from Nature and Shimadzu 2009 No.3 scientists are shining the light of a 100-year-old discovery 07 on cutting-edge biomaterials surfaces. them off” and diminishing their functionality, he says. “We want to make a surface that the body looks at and says, ‘Oh, I can interact normally with that.’” The task is even more challenging because ideally the device’s surface chemistry should change during the healing process. For example, polyurethanes have physical properties that are great for an artificial heart, but their surface chemistry often contributes to the formation of blood clots. So the idea is to retain the desirable bulk mechanical properties of the device but change the outer few atomic layers. As candidate materials emerge, the question remains: Do these materials really have the right surface properties? DLD Castner tests them by using the Axis Ultra David Castner with the SHIMADZU/Kratos Axis UltraDLD at the University of Washington to understand what elements are present at the surface of the candidate materials and how those elements are arranged. UltraDLD that makes it possible. It “gives a new level of detail that we didn’t The most exciting application during his 4 years of using the instru- have previously, and that’s crucial if you want to use microarrays in the ment, however, has been his effort to improve DNA microarrays. These clinic,” he says. small chips with thousands of DNA microspots can reveal, for example, Both Castner and Griesser share their SHIMADZU/Kratos Axis UltraDLD how genes are expressed. Until now, microarrays have been qualitative— with colleagues in fields such as catalysis, paint adhesion, lubrication, and if something lights up more, there’s probably more gene expression, he even forensics and mineral science. “It’s a real workhorse,” says Castner. explains. “We haven’t been able to use the microarray to reliably quantify It is also adaptable. For example, one group at Griesser’s institute has gene expression,” he adds. attached a vacuum chamber to cleave minerals and insert them directly DNA microarrays are also handicapped by their use of fluorescence into the XPS chamber. The group can thus study sulfide minerals, a very tagging, a costly procedure requiring a chemical reaction. The chemical important commercial product in Australia, which would otherwise reaction may affect the molecule’s ability to bind, thereby making some oxidise immediately in air. The Axis UltraDLD “is running more than 15 DNA that is present appear with less frequency or even be absent. hours a day,” says Griesser. “It’s done everything it was expected to do.” Castner is using XPS for “label-free” DNA detection, which would The number of new materials with promising application is rising avoid tagging and offer precise quantitative data about reaction levels. dramatically. So is the demand for detailed biochemical information “The overall goal is to decrease the variability of microarrays, allowing about them. “XPS citations in the scientific literature are increasing at precise quantification of detected DNA,” he says. a rapid rate,” says Castner. Both XPS and the SHIMADZU/Kratos Axis It is the high resolution offered by the SHIMADZU/Kratos Axis UltraDLD look to have bright futures.
Hans J. Griesser David G. Castner Professor of Surface Director, and Deputy Director, National ESCA Ian Wark Research Institute, & Surface Analysis Center University of South Australia for Biomedical Problems and Professor, Department of Bioengineering & Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle A Collection from Nature and Shimadzu 2009 No.3
08 The SHIMADZU/Kratos Axis UltraDLD at the University of South Australia Shimadzu Europa aiming to spur growth With new products opening up new markets, the future looks bright for this precision equipment manufacturer, despite the dim economy
Another recent product introduc- tion with huge potential, this time from the medical division, is the Safi re (Shimadzu Advanced Flat Imaging Receptor) FPD direct-conversion imaging system, which converts X-rays directly into electronic data, making it more effi cient and precise than indirect conversion systems. “Safire’s flat panel detector technology provides higher quality imaging than conventional X-ray systems, which helps improve dosage efficiency and speed up diagnosis,” says Thomas Nordhoff, senior manager of SEG’s medical systems division. “We’ve already established Safire reference sites in 11 countries. It is going to significantly grow our business throughout Europe.” Aft er celebrating its 40th anniversary last year by chalking up further increases Among the medical division’s most successful products are its mobile in sales, Shimadzu Europa GmbH (SEG) is cautiously optimistic about its X-ray machines, which bring X-ray imaging to the patient, when the patient business prospects in 2009, even though the economic outlook is gloomy. can’t make it to the X-ray room. SEG has long been providing analogue Established in Düsseldorf, Germany in 1968, SEG is a subsidiary of Japan’s models and more recently it introduced digital versions, which boosted Shimadzu Corporation, a leading worldwide manufacturer of scientifi c equipment sales by 20% over 2007 shipments. instruments and medical and industrial equipment. Th e European opera- “Late last year we launched our MobileDaRt Evolution, a next- tion has three major divisions: analytical instruments, medical diagnostic generation mobile digital X-ray system,” says Nordhoff . “In terms of mobile equipment and industrial equipment. It has grown from an initial fi ve-man diagnostics, image quality, and easy integration into hospital computer team into an enterprise servicing more than 60 major European cities. networks, we believe it is more advanced than anything else available. So Th e reason for SEG’s confi dence going forward is the introduction we expect to further increase overall mobile X-ray sales again this year.” of new products and technologies the company believes will help expand Th ough SEG undertakes local modifi cation of systems, product its markets. development is carried out at the parent company’s R&D centres in Japan. “Last year we began off ering a new identifi cation system for micro- Kyoto-based Shimadzu has been making precision equipment since its estab- organisms called AXIMA@SARAMIS,” says Michael Kaul, manager of lishment in 1875. As well as factories in Japan, it has manufacturing plants in SEG’s analytic product and marketing support. Typically, micro-organisms China, the Philippines, the UK and in Portland, Oregon, USA. Revenues in like bacteria, fungi and yeasts are friends of mankind. But some can cause fi scal 2007-2008 surpassed $2.9 billion in current U.S. dollar terms. diseases, making their identifi cation critical in certain industries. While no one in SEG is complacent about the economic downturn, “In high throughput mode our new system can identify a clinical Steinert says, “Given our recent sample in less than a minute,” says Kaul. “Th is greatly reduces hands-on new product launches, we believe time and so dramatically cuts costs.” Th e system can be applied across a that in spite of all the negative wide range of industries and the company placed several systems within news, our situation is diff erent months of its launch. from badly hit industries like Among SEG’s current best-selling analytic products are ultraviolet- the car industry. So we remain visible spectrophotometers, gas chromatography-mass spectrometers and positive, even though we expect TOC analyzers. “It’s the price/performance ratio of these instruments and some tough times ahead.” their leading specifi cations that makes them so well accepted in the market,” says Burkhard Steinert, senior manager of the analytic division. SHIMADZU EUROPA GmbH SEG’s scientifi c instruments business operates via a network of nine Albert-Hahn-Strasse 6-10, 47269 Duisburg, F.R. Germany subsidiaries throughout Europe, with more than 400 employees in sales, Phone: 49 ( 203 ) 7687 - 0 Fax: 49 ( 203 ) 7666 - 25
A Collection from Nature and Shimadzu 2009 No.3 marketing and services. Th e company also uses 13 exclusive distributors to Web: http://eu.shimadzu.de 09 supplement these eff orts. News & Topics from Shimadzu
Large Scale Applications Development and Support Center Opens at Shimadzu’s New Shanghai Branch Shimadzu has established a new Applications Development and Support Center in Shanghai in order to develop and support analytical instrument applications. In addition to offering conventional service support and training, the center was also established to provide and develop precise analytical techniques to meet the various research and development and quality assurance needs customers may have. In addition, the Shanghai Branch has expanded its premises to 4600m2 to accommodate a new Applications Development and Support Center in the same building. This move is intended to reinforce Shimadzu’s operating base in the Chinese market and to enhance future sales-support activities.
Medical Center-Shimadzu’s Renovated Medical IG-1000 Provides Excellent Reproducibility for Equipment Showroom in Kyoto Sub-10 nm Particle Size Measurements in Liquids
The Medical Center features three state-of-the-art digital X-ray diagnostic The IG-1000 Single Nano Particle Size Analyzer uses Shimadzu’s unique, imaging models equipped with a direct-conversion flat-panel detector for revolutionary IG (Induced Grating) method technology to provide excel- angiography, radiography and radiography/fluoroscopy. It has received lent reproducibility with respect to size measurements and size distribution about two thousand visitors in the four months since it reopened on Octo- analyses of sub-10 nm particles in liquids, particles that were difficult to ber 1st. In addition to offering the most up-to-date information on clinical measure with previous systems. The particles are formed into a diffraction applications, it also offers facilities for simulating cardiac catheterization grating and the diffusion speeds when it breaks down are used to measure and developing technology for clinical applications jointly with users. particle sizes in the range of 0.5 nm to 200 nm. The measurements do not require a clean room or other special facilities, and can be performed in a normal environment.
LCMS-2020 Offers Faster and New AA-7000 Spectrophotometer Offers Some of the Best More Sensitive Detection of Drug Detection Levels in the World for Measurements of Impurities and Environmental Pollutants Metallic Concentrations in Solutions The LCMS-2020 Liquid Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer is By utilizing a newly developed 3D optical system, the AA-7000 atomic absorption spectro- five times faster and three times more sensitive than conven- photometer provides high-sensitivity measurements of metallic concentrations in solutions. tional liquid chromatograph mass spectrometers at detecting In addition to offering two to three times the sensitivity of previous models, the AA-7000 also drug impurities and environmental pollutants. In addition to features the added safety of an automatic extinguisher system with a vibration sensor, a world enhancing measurement speed and sensitivity, the new design first for AA instruments. A flame measurement model, furnace measurement model, and a permits easy exchange of the ionization unit between the LC combined full-system model, which are optimal for ppm-level measurements, ppb-level mea- and MS, and reduces the width to just 35 cm, making this sys- surements, or all measurement levels, respectively, are available. With this instrument, tem approximately 23% more compact than previous products. the lower limits of detection for a number of elements are among the best in the world. A Collection from Nature and Shimadzu 2009 No.3
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