Surface modification

About: Surface modification is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 35544 publications have been published within this topic receiving 859567 citations.

Solution-phase surface modification in intact poly(dimethylsiloxane) microfluidic channels.

Abstract: An improved approach composed of an oxidation reaction in acidic H2O2 solution and a sequential silanization reaction using neat silane reagents for surface modification of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) substrates was developed. This solution-phase approach is simple and convenient for some routine analytical applications in chemistry and biology laboratories and is designed for intact PDMS-based microfluidic devices, with no device postassembly required. Using this improved approach, two different functional groups, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and amine (NH2), were introduced onto PDMS surfaces for passivation of nonspecific protein absorption and attachment of biomolecules, respectively. X-ray electron spectroscopy and temporal contact angle experiments were employed to monitor functional group transformation and dynamic characteristics of the PEG-grafted PDMS substrates; fluorescent protein solutions were introduced into the PEG-grafted PDMS microchannels to test their protein repelling characteristics. These analytical data indicate that the PEG-grafted PDMS surfaces exhibit improved short-term surface dynamics and robust long-term stability. The amino-grafted PDMS microchannels are also relatively stable and can be further activated for modifications with peptide, DNA, and protein on the surfaces of microfluidic channels. The resulting biomolecule-grafted PDMS microchannels can be utilized for cell immobilization and incubation, semiquantitative DNA hybridization, and immunoassay.

Porous silicon chemical sensors and biosensors: A review

Abstract: The use of porous silicon (PSi) as a sensor for detection of various analytes is reviewed. The optical or electrical properties of PSi are key sensing parameters that have been used in many chemical and biological sensing applications. PSi is a promising candidate due to ease of fabrication, large surface area, various accessible pore sizes and morphologies, controllable surface modification and its compatibility with conventional silicon processing technology. The adsorption of chemical or biological molecules into the pores modifies the electrical and/or optical properties, allowing convenient and sensitive measurement approach. In this review, we provide a critical assessment of the development of PSi as a promising material for chemical and biosensing applications. Formation procedures of PSi with various pore sizes and morphologies are firstly given. Surface properties and structural characteristics of the material are briefly described. The recent progress on utilization of such porous structures in chemical and biosensing applications is then addressed in the context of surface chemistry effects and nanostructures, measuring approaches, operating concepts and device sensitivity and stability. Finally, concluding remarks with existing challenges that hinder the material for commercial use are highlighted.

Surface Modification of Electrospun Polycaprolactone Nanofiber Meshes by Plasma Treatment to Enhance Biological Performance

Abstract: A critical aspect in the development of biomaterials is the optimization of their surface properties to achieve an adequate cell response. In the present work, electrospun polycaprolactone nanofiber meshes (NFMs) are treated by radio-frequency (RF) plasma using different gases (Ar or O2), power (20 or 30W), and exposure time (5 or 10min). Morphological and roughness analysis show topographical changes on the plasma-treated NFMs. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results indicate an increment of the oxygen-containing groups, mainly ‐OH and ‐C‐ at the plasma-treated surfaces. Accordingly, the glycerol contact angle results demonstrate a decrease in the hydrophobicity of plasma-treated meshes, particularly in the O2-treated ones. Three model cell lines (fibroblasts, chondrocytes, and osteoblasts) are used to study the effect of plasma treatments over the morphology, cell adhesion, and proliferation. A plasma treatment with O2 and one with Ar are found to be the most successful for all the studied cell types. The influence of hydrophilicity and roughness of those NFMs on their biological performance is discussed. Despite the often claimed morphological similarity of NFMs to natural extracellular matrixes, their surface properties contribute substantially to the cellular performance and therefore those should be optimized.