Direct micro-patterning of biodegradable polymers using ultraviolet and femtosecond lasers

Thin films of biodegradable polymeric materials, poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(glycolic acid) (PGA) were micro-patterned using a Ti-sapphire femtosecond pulsed laser and ArF excimer UV laser in ambient conditions. The laser-patterned polymers were characterized using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in attenuated total reflectance mode (FTIR-ATR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In-vitro degradation tests were performed and the laser-patterned samples showed to be within one standard deviation of the control samples. Our results demonstrate that both lasers are excellent tools for micro-patterning biodegradable polymers since the bulk properties of the material can remain intact and because the direct-write method is rapid, flexible, and a chemical-free process.