Simple replica micromolding of biocompatible styrenic elastomers

Citation

Borysiak, Mark D.; Bielawski, Kevin S.; Sniadecki, Nathan J.; Jenkel, Colin F.; Vogt, Bryan D.; & Posner, Jonathan D. (2013). Simple replica micromolding of biocompatible styrenic elastomers. Lab on a chip, 13(14), 2773-2784.

Abstract

In this work, we introduce a simple solvent-assisted micromolding technique for the fabrication of high-fidelity styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS) microfluidic devices with high polystyrene (PS) content (42 wt% PS, SEBS42). SEBS triblock copolymers are styrenic thermoplastic elastomers that exhibit both glassy thermoplastic and elastomeric properties resulting from their respective hard PS and rubbery ethylene/butylene segments. The PS fraction gives SEBS microdevices many of the appealing properties of pure PS devices, while the elastomeric properties simplify fabrication of the devices, similar to PDMS. SEBS42 devices have wettable, stable surfaces (both contact angle and zeta potential) that support cell attachment and proliferation consistent with tissue culture dish substrates, do not adsorb hydrophobic molecules, and have high bond strength to wide range of substrates (glass, PS, SEBS). Furthermore, SEBS42 devices are mechanically robust, thermally stable, as well as exhibit low auto-fluorescence and high transmissivity. We characterize SEBS42 surface properties by contact angle measurements, cell culture studies, zeta potential measurements, and the adsorption of hydrophobic molecules. The PS surface composition of SEBS microdevices cast on different substrates is determined by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). The attractive SEBS42 material properties, coupled with the simple fabrication method, make SEBS42 a quality substrate for microfluidic applications where the properties of PS are desired but the ease of PDMS micromolding is favoured.

Keyword(s)

Animals
Biocompatible Materials
Cattle
Cell Culture Techniques
Culture Media
Elastomers
Endothelial Cells
Equipment Design
Fibroblasts
Humans
Materials Testing
Mice
Microfluidic Analytical Techniques
NIH 3T3 Cells
Polyethylenes
Polystyrenes
Spectrometry, Mass, Secondary Ion
Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared
Wettability

Reference Type

Journal Article

Secondary Title

Lab on a chip

Author(s)

Borysiak, Mark D.
Bielawski, Kevin S.
Sniadecki, Nathan J.
Jenkel, Colin F.
Vogt, Bryan D.
Posner, Jonathan D.

Year Published

2013

Date Published

1374364800

Volume Number

13

Issue Number

14

Pages

2773-2784

ISSN/ISBN

1473-0189

DOI

10.1039/c3lc50426c