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Surface-segregating zwitterionic copolymers to control poly(dimethylsiloxane) surface chemistry
A Aslihan Gokaltun1,2,3,4, Luca Mazzaferro3, Martin L Yarmush1,2,5
1Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit St., Boston, MA, 02114, USA. ousta@mgh.harvard.edu.
Journal of Materials Chemistry. B
|December 5, 2023
Summary
This study introduces a novel zwitterionic copolymer additive for polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidics. This simple blend enhances surface hydrophilicity and prevents molecule adsorption, improving biomicrofluidic device reliability.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Surface Chemistry
Background:
- Microfluidic devices are crucial in biomedicine (e.g., organs-on-chip).
- Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is widely used but its hydrophobic surface causes molecule adsorption, limiting applications.
- Existing surface modification methods are often complex or temporary.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a simple, scalable method to improve PDMS surface properties for biomicrofluidics.
- To create a PDMS material with enhanced hydrophilicity and reduced nonspecific adsorption.
Main Methods:
- Incorporation of a surface-segregating zwitterionic copolymer into PDMS during manufacturing.
- Characterization of surface properties and adsorption of proteins and small molecules.
- Assessment of mechanical and physical properties over time.
Main Results:
- A low concentration (0.025 wt%) of the copolymer significantly reduced PDMS hydrophobicity.
- Nonspecific adsorption of proteins (albumin, lysozyme) and small molecules (vitamin B12, reactive red) was substantially decreased.
- The modified PDMS retained its properties for at least six months and is compatible with existing manufacturing.
Conclusions:
- The zwitterionic copolymer additive offers a user-friendly, cost-effective solution for fabricating reliable, antifouling PDMS biomicrofluidic devices.
- This approach eliminates the need for additional processing steps, simplifying PDMS device production.
- The enhanced PDMS material shows great promise for advanced microfluidic applications in biomedicine.
