Please bear with me as I get this page up and running. The content will continue to be expanded as I pick my way through more of the literature. The deadline for this rough draft snuck up on me kind of quick, and up to this point I primarily focused upon gathering resources, with very little anlysis so far. If anyone would like to contribute your knowledge and expertise to the article during the interim of my reading, you are more than welcome!
My current timeline for developing this project is as follows:
- Pore over the literature collected so far and classify it according to where it will contribute to this page (for ease of use and portability, I will probably do this in an independent file kept on my flash drive).
- Keeping my goals for each heading in mind, begin to further flesh out each area, starting with the introduction and working through to later sections, updating the references in lockstep with the text.
- Upon achieving a satisfactory amount of information to constitute a complete core page, I will then seek to elaborate upon a number of areas and incorporate multimedia sources (links to external pages like Wikipedia for supporting info, extra generated images/schematics/videos, etc., possibly splitting off information onto separate pages if size and content dictate that it is necessary)
- Use this as a foundation for undergraduate research in the area, that may later be usable as a senior project.
- Continue to update this sight with additional information obtained through continuing literature review and (hopefully) my own personal undergraduate research.
Also, note that the filler text I have in each section right now will be commented (i.e. "<!-- xyz -->") and made invisible once the actual composition of this page gets rolling, allowing for the objectives described for each heading to be maintained and updated in the background as a sort of "to-do" list.
An image (right now, I'm thinking one of a Taylor Cone) will be included here once it is generated.
Introduction
Basically this section will be electrospray in a nutshell: it will delve into the history of electrospray, and follow its development as a technological tool in moder day scientific circles. The basics of the apparatus will be described, and a simplistic schematic will be generated to represent the core concepts. A very brief overview of its applications will be provided to demonstrate the value and versatility of this piece of equipment. The section will conclude with an iteration of the aims of this article ... to make electrospray more widely available and raise awareness of its remarkable capabilities.
How it Works
Describe the nitty gritty physics behind the electrospray process. Such a discussion, from what I have read so far, will have to include an introduction to the basics like ion formation, electric potentials, and surface tension, then progress from these to describe the three main steps (Droplet formation, droplet shrinkage, gaseous ion formation) as identified in 1. Depending upon time constraints, etc., this theory section may be expanded to describe phenomena resulting from usage of electrospray, such as microencapsulation and its use in facilitating DNA entry through the cell membrane in gene therapy.
Making Electrospray a Reality
Before proceeding to dive right in to the business of building an electrosprayer, this section will raise considerations that potential electrospray-builders should be made aware of prior to starting i.e. proper work environments, material availabilities, power requirements, cost, etc. Ways of circumventing difficulties in these areas, depending on time, may also be presented, such as the availability of grants/venture capital, alternative energy (photovoltaics, wind, etc.), etc.
The organization of this heading's subsections may also be modified ... if things get to unwieldy, I might use the "===xyz===" headers for each general type of setup, and then include "====xyz====" subheaders in each of those apparatuses for material requirements, tools, construction, operation.
Material Requirements
List necessary components for constructing an electrospray system and alternatives. These will largely depend upon the type of device being constructed and its intended uses. It will also describe the types of reagents, etc. that will commonly be worked with.
Tools
List tools for constructing an electrospray system and alternatives. Again, depending upon the type of system being constructed and modifications users might want to make, actually needs can vary widely. Though the core set is relatively basic, micropipette pullers and other arcane paraphernalia may be desired for those looking for increased experimental flexibility in their setups.
Construction
Describe different ways of making a functional electrospray system. These will include generated blueprints, that will, as mentioned above, vary based upon the type of setup being pursued. Recommendations for maintaining safety and optimizing the final product will be brought forward to help streamline the process and ensure the best possible result.
Operation
Comment upon operating the electrospray apparatus safely, both for the user and the device. Due to high operating voltages and potentially hazardous reagents, certain precautions must be taken on behalf of the operator to ensure that they are properly informed and not harmed. Likewise, the delicate nature of some components and protocols may also require extra care to prevent any damage to the machine or experiments being run.
Working and Innovating with Electrospray
Discuss current uses for electrospray apparatuses, as well as future directions for its functionality. Current areas I plan to focus on include its employment in biotechnology, (nano)fabrication, diagnostics, etc., each of which can be broken down into a number of subcategories.
References
This will provide the sources used to make the article. For now, the sources collected so far can be located on my user page. As I read through them and the information extracted makes its way to this page, I will migrate them here.