Surface modification of SU-8 for enhanced cell attachment and proliferation within microfluidic chips

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Microfluidics
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Microfluidic devices fabricated using micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) enable controlled cell environments.
• SU-8 polymer is widely used in MEMS but lacks inherent biological compatibility for tissue engineering.
• Effective cell growth and tissue development require an appropriate extracellular matrix (ECM) mimic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate surface treatment methods for enhancing the biological compatibility of SU-8 micro-channels.
• To determine the most effective surface modification technique for promoting cell proliferation in microfluidic systems.

Main Methods:

• Investigated three surface treatment techniques: plasma, chemical reaction (sulfuric acid), and deposition (gelatin).
• Assessed cell proliferation on treated and untreated SU-8 surfaces using Alamar Blue dye and a microplate reader over 14 days.

Main Results:

• Plasma treatment significantly enhanced cell proliferation on SU-8 surfaces compared to untreated controls (p < 0.00001).
• Gelatin and sulfuric acid treatments also showed potential for improving biological properties, though less effectively than plasma treatment.
• Each treatment method presents unique advantages and disadvantages depending on the specific application.

Conclusions:

• Plasma treatment is the most effective method for enhancing SU-8's biological properties for microfluidic applications.
• Surface modification of SU-8 is crucial for developing functional tissue arrays in microfluidic devices.
• Further research can optimize these treatments for advanced tissue engineering constructs.