Surface Functionalization and Patterning Techniques to Design Interfaces for Biomedical and Biosensor Applications

Abstract

Abstract Summary: In this paper, we present a review of our research activity related to the use of plasma deposition and etching technologies for the production of functional polymers (protein affinity and anti‐fouling) and their application to the fabrication chemical contrasts at micro and sub micron scale. Plasma deposition processes of acrylic acid (ppAA) and PEO‐like films to obtain functionalized surfaces are illustrated, together with optical lithography and colloidal lithography techniques used for micro and nanoscale patterning. In particular, microstructure based upon a combination of pulsed plasma polymerized acrylic acid (with carboxyl retention up to 15%) and cell repulsive PEO‐like character (CO content higher than 70%) have been realized and characterized by XPS and TOF‐SIMS. Furthermore, colloidal lithography is used for fabrication of sub‐micron (100 nm diameter) ppAA functionalized nanostructures and protein adsorption and cell growth experiments are described, demonstrating the reliability of plasma polymers for micro and nanobiotechnology applications. L929 cells growth on micropatterned PEO‐like surfaces (left), PPAA nanostructures after O 2 plasma etching (right). magnified image L929 cells growth on micropatterned PEO‐like surfaces (left), PPAA nanostructures after O 2 plasma etching (right).