X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy of miscible poly(methyl methacrylate)/poly(styrene‐co‐acrylonitrile) and immiscible poly(methyl methacrylate)/polyacrylonitrile polymer surfaces metallized by nickel

A miscible blend of poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(styrene‐co‐acrylonitrile) and an immiscible blend of poly(methyl methacrylate) and polyacrylonitrile were metallized by nickel, and their surfaces were analyzed by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Before metallization, the heteroatom distribution at the polymer surface was very different in the miscible and immiscible blends. However, this distribution was modified during metallization, which was only possible via polymer‐bond breaking, leading to similar compositions at the two interfaces. Oxygen exhibited a better affinity with nickel than nitrogen, but nickel oxide and nickel nitride were both formed at the interface. Nickel nitride prevented the metal from diffusing into the substrate, playing the role of a barrier, thus driving the oxygen to the metal layer. Amorphous carbon was also detected at the interface as a new carbon species, but it did not have any significant influence on the changes induced in the distribution of heteroatoms at the polymer surfaces. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 1408–1416, 2004     

Surface analysis of plasma‐treated polydimethylsiloxane by x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and surface voltage decay

Surface states of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) treated by plasma were investigated by x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and surface voltage decay. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the formation of a silica‐like (SiO_x, x = 3–4) oxidative surface layer. This layer increased in thickness with increasing exposure duration of plasma. Plasma exposure lowers the surface resistivity from 1.78 × 10¹⁴ to 1.09 × 10¹³ Ω □^?1 with increasing plasma treatment time. By measuring the decay time constant of surface voltage, the calculated surface resistivity was compared with the value measured directly by a voltage–current method; good agreement between the two methods was obtained. It was observed that plasma treatment led to a decrease in the thermal activation energy of the surface conduction from 31.0 kJ mol^?1 for an untreated specimen to 21.8 kJ mol^?1 for a plasma‐treated specimen for 1 h. Our results allow the examination of effects of plasma on the electrical properties of PDMS. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Surface modification with well-defined biocompatible triblock copolymers Improvement of biointerfacial phenomena on a poly(dimethylsiloxane) surface

To improve interfacial phenomena of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) as biomaterials, well-defined triblock copolymers were prepared as coating materials by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) controlled polymerization. Hydroxy-terminated poly(vinylmethylsiloxane-co-dimethylsiloxane) (HO–PV_lD_mMS–OH) was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization. The copolymerization ratio of vinylmethylsiloxane to dimethylsiloxane was 1/9. The molecular weight of HO–PV_lD_mMS–OH ranged from (1.43 to 4.44) × 10⁴, and their molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n) as determined by size-exclusion chromatography equipped with multiangle laser light scattering (SEC-MALS) was 1.16. 4-Cyanopentanoic acid dithiobenzoate was reacted with HO–PV_lD_mMS–OH to obtain macromolecular chain transfer agents (macro-CTA). 2-Methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) was polymerized with macro-CTAs. The gel-permeation chromatography (GPC) chart of synthesized polymers was a single peak and M_w/M_n was relatively narrow (1.3–1.6). Then the poly(MPC) (PMPC)–PV_lD_mMS–PMPC triblock copolymers were synthesized. The molecular weight of PMPC in a triblock copolymer was easily controllable by changing the polymerization time or the composition of the macro-CTA to a monomer in the feed. The synthesized block copolymers were slightly soluble in water and extremely soluble in ethanol and 2-propanol.

Surface modification was performed via hydrosilylation. The block copolymer was coated on the PDMS film whose surface was pretreated with poly(hydromethylsiloxane). The surface wettability and lubrication of the PDMS film were effectively improved by immobilization with the block copolymers. In addition, the number of adherent platelets from human platelet-rich plasma (PRP) was dramatically reduced by surface modification. Particularly, the triblock copolymer having a high composition ratio of MPC units to silicone units was effective in improving the surface properties of PDMS.

By selective decomposition of the Si–H bond at the surface of the PDMS substrate by irradiation with UV light, the coating region of the triblock copolymer was easily controlled, resulting in the fabrication of micropatterns. On the surface, albumin adsorption was well manipulated.     

聚二甲基硅氧烷微流控芯片的紫外光照射表面处理研究

研究了紫外光化学表面改性对聚二甲基硅氧烷(PDMS)微流控芯片的片基间粘接力及毛细管通道电渗流性能的影响.PDMS片基经紫外光射照后,粘接力增强,可实现PDMS芯片的永久性封合,同时亲水性得到改善,通道中的电渗流增大.与文献报道的等离子体表面处理方法比较,采用紫外光表面处理,设备简单,操作方便,耗费少,是一种简单易行的聚二甲基硅氧烷芯片表面处理方法.     

Surface hydroxylation of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) film

The surface of PVDF film was selectively modified by wet chemistry. Treatment with aqueous LiOH produced HF-elimination and the emergence of an oxygen-containing functionality. The XPS analysis clearly indicated the presence of ketone-, ether(epoxide)-, and alcohol motifs. The percentage of alcohols could be significantly increased by reduction of the ketones with NaBH₄ in 2-propanol, followed by reduction of the epoxides with DIBAL-H in hexane. Thus, the full treatment led to a PVDF surface displaying 7 to 16% of oxygen-containing units, of which about 60% consisted in alcohol motifs. The reactvity of the surface-displayed hydroxyl functions was assayed by radiolabeling with [³H]-Ac₂O. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 1227–1235, 1997     

Synthesis and characterization of semicrystalline cycloaliphatic polyester/poly(dimethylsiloxane) segmented copolymers

High molecular weight poly(dimethylsiloxane)/semicrystalline cycloaliphatic polyester segmented copolymers based on dimethyl-1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylate were prepared and characterized. The copolymers were synthesized using a high trans content isomer that afforded semicrystalline morphologies. Aminopropyl-terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) oligomers of controlled molecular weight were synthesized, end capped with excess diester to form a diester-terminated oligomer, and incorporated via melt transesterification step reaction copolymerization. The molecular weight of the polysiloxane and chemical composition of the copolymer were systematically varied. The polysiloxane segment was efficiently incorporated into the copolymers via an amide link and its structure was unaffected by low concentrations of titanate transesterification catalyst, as shown by control melt experiments. The homopolymer and copolymers were characterized by solution, thermal, mechanical, and surface techniques. The segmented copolymers were microphase separated as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was demonstrated that relatively short poly(dimethylsiloxane) segment lengths and compositions were required to maintain single phase melt polymerization conditions. This was, in fact, the key to the successful preparation of these materials. The copolymers derived from short poly(dimethylsiloxane) segments demonstrated good mechanical properties, melt viscosities representative of single phase polymer melts, and were easily compression molded into films. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 3495–3506, 1997     

The effect of compatibilization and rheological properties of polystyrene and poly(dimethylsiloxane) on phase structure of polystyrene/poly(dimethylsiloxane) blends

The compatibilization effect of polystyrene (PS)‐poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) diblock copolymer (PS‐b‐PDMS) and the effect of rheological properties of PS and PDMS on phase structure of PS/PDMS blends were investigated using a selective extraction technique and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The dual‐phase continuity of PS/PDMS blends takes place in a wide composition range. The formation and the onset of a cocontinuous phase structure largely depend on blend composition, viscosity ratio of the constituent components, and addition of diblock copolymers. The width of the concentration region of the cocontinuous structure is narrowed with increasing the viscosity ratio of the blends and in the presence of the small amount diblock copolymers. Quiescent annealing shifts the onset values of continuity. The experimental results are compared with the volume fraction of phase inversion calculated with various theoretical models, but none of the models can account quantitatively for the observed data. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 898–913, 2004     

Direct immobilization in poly(dimethylsiloxane) for DNA, protein and enzyme fluidic biochips

A new arraying method is presented based on the properties of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) polymer to entrap beads bearing biologically active compounds. It is shown that such beads could be spotted and dried at the surface of a poly(vinyl chloride) master and subsequently transferred at the PDMS interface by direct moulding of the polymer on the mask. Moreover, the use of the PDMS-assisted-immobilization enables the development of either a low density array (100 spots) or a micro-channel biochip with a direct incorporation of the sensing element in a fluidic system for the quantitative detection of enzyme substrates, antigens and oligonucleotides, depending on the immobilized sensing element. All biochip formats were revealed by a chemiluminescent reaction detected with a charge coupled device camera.As a result, arrays of beads bearing active enzymes, antibodies and oligonucleotides were successfully obtained and enabled the achievement of biochips for the chemiluminescent detection of enzyme substrates, protein antigens and oligonucleotides sequence with detection limit of 1 μM, 1.5×10⁷ molecules and 10⁸ molecules, respectively.     

XPS chemical state analysis of sputter depth profiling measurements for annealed TiAl-SiO2 and TiAl-W layer stacks

For the application of surface acoustic wave sensors at high temperatures, both a high-temperature stable piezoelectric substrate and a suitable metallization for the electrodes are needed. Our current attempt is to use TiAl thin films as metallization because this material is also known to be high temperature stable. In this study, Ti/Al multilayers and Ti-Al alloy layers were prepared in combination with an SiO₂ cover layer or a W barrier layer at the interface to the substrate (thermally oxidized Si or Ca₃TaGa₃Si₂O₁₄) as an oxidation protection. To form the high-temperature stable γ-TiAl phase and to test the thermal stability of the layer systems, thermal treatments were done in vacuum at several temperatures. We used X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) sputter depth-profiling to investigate the film composition and oxidation behavior. In this paper, we demonstrate how the semiautomatic peak fitting can help to extract beside the elemental information also the chemical information from the measured depth profiles.     

A sol-gel immobilization of nano and micron size sorbents in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microchannels for microscale solid phase extraction (SPE)

Sorbent particles consisting of nano and micro silica, and micron size octadecylsilica (ODS) were immobilized using sol-gel chemistry onto poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microfluidic channels to serve as μ-chip solid phase extraction (SPE) devices. Extraction, preconcentration and purification of biological and chemical analytes were carried out using these. Micro and nano scale silica-immobilized μ-SPE were used for the extraction/purification of DNA from recombinant Escherichia coli crude lysate. The average DNA recovery was 77 ± 9% (X ± R.S.D.) for the micron size silica particles and 70 ± 5% (X ± R.S.D.) for the nano silica particles. The extracted DNA could be amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) whereas the DNA from the crude lysate solution could not be. This was a testimony to the purification capability of the μ-SPE device. ODS immobilized μ-SPE were used to study the extraction efficiency (EE) and enhancement factor (EF) for three groups of organic compounds, aromatics, phenols and carboxylic acids. They showed poor recovery and low enrichment because the analytes sorbed into the PDMS and were not quantitatively extracted.     

Electrophoretic separations in poly(dimethylsiloxane) microchips using mixtures of ionic,nonionic and zwitterionic surfactants

The use of surfactant mixtures to affect both EOF and separation selectivity in electrophoresis with PDMS substrates is reported, and capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection is introduced for EOF measurement on PDMS microchips. First, the EOF was measured for two nonionic surfactants (Tween 20 and Triton X‐100), mixed ionic/nonionic surfactant systems (SDS/Tween 20 and SDS/Triton X‐100), and finally for the first time, mixed zwitterionic/nonionic surfactant systems (TDAPS/Tween 20 and TDAPS/Triton X‐100). EOF for the nonionic surfactants decreased with increasing surfactant concentration. The addition of SDS or TDAPS to a nonionic surfactant increased EOF. After establishing the EOF behavior, the separation of model catecholamines was explored to show the impact on separations. Similar analyte resolution with greater peak heights was achieved with mixed surfactant systems containing Tween 20 and TDAPS relative to the single surfactant system. Finally, the detection of catecholamine release from PC12 cells by stimulation with 80 mM K⁺ was performed to demonstrate the usefulness of mixed surfactant systems to provide resolution of biological compounds in complex samples.     

Preparation and characterization of some unusually transparent poly(dimethylsiloxane) nanocomposites

A technique was developed for preparing poly(dimethylsiloxane) nanocomposites having unusually high transparencies as quantitatively judged by ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. The method was the in situ generation of silica particles by a two‐step sol–gel procedure in which the required water of hydrolysis was simply absorbed from the air, and the catalyst was generated in situ from a tin salt. Electron microscopy showed that the phase‐separated silica domains were very small (30–50 nm in diameter) and well dispersed, as expected from the transparency of the composites. Stress‐strain measurements in tension indicated that the particles provide very good reinforcement. Ultra‐small‐angle X‐ray scattering data showed that the domain morphology depends strongly on catalyst, but weakly on loading level. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 1897–1901, 2003     

Rapid surface functionalization of poly(ethersulphone) foils using a highly reactive oxygen‐plasma treatment

We present a study of the oxygen‐plasma functionalization of polyethersulphone (PES). PES samples were exposed to a weakly ionized, highly dissociated oxygen plasma, with an electron temperature of 5 eV and a positive ion density of 8 × 10¹⁵ m^?3, and its afterglow, in which the density of charged particles was negligibly low and the density of neutral oxygen atoms was 4 × 10²¹ m^?3. The wettability of the samples was determined by measuring the contact angle of a water drop, while the appearance of the functional groups on the surface of the samples was determined using high‐resolution conventional XPS. The samples were saturated with surface functional groups, both in the plasma and in the afterglow region, after 1 s of treatment time. The results are explained by the high flux of oxygen atoms on the sample surface and the characteristics of the oxygen plasma. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electrophoretic separations in poly(dimethylsiloxane) microchips using a mixture of ionic and zwitterionic surfactants

The use of mixtures of ionic and zwitterionic surfactants in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microchips is reported. The effect of surfactant concentration on electroosmotic flow (EOF) was studied for a single anionic surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS), a single zwitterionic surfactant (N-tetradecylammonium-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonio-1-propanesulfonate, TDAPS), and a mixed SDS/TDAPS surfactant system. SDS increased the EOF as reported previously while TDAPS showed an initial increase in EOF followed by a reduction at higher concentrations. When TDAPS was added to a solution containing SDS, the EOF decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. The EOF for all three surfactant systems followed expected pH trends, with increasing EOF at higher pH. The mixed surfactant system allowed tuning of the EOF across a range of pH and concentration conditions. After establishing the EOF behavior, the adsorption/desorption kinetics were measured and showed a slower adsorption/desorption rate for TDAPS than SDS. Finally, the separation and electrochemical detection of model catecholamines in buffer and reduced glutathione in red blood cell lysate using the mixed surfactant system were explored. The mixed surfactant system provided shorter analysis times and/or improved resolution when compared to the single surfactant systems.     

聚ε-己内酯/聚氯乙烯球晶表面的XPS研究

聚合物薄膜在微电子领域中的应用日益增加.聚ε-己内酯/聚氯乙烯（PCL/PVC）是研究得最广泛的聚合物共混薄膜之一.PCL与PVC以一定比例混合时,可以形成环带球晶；同时,体系分为结晶PCL相及PCL/PVC非晶混溶相.用XPS和成象XPS分析技术,对PCL/PVC膜的表面化学组成和元素分布情况进行了研究.观察到PCL在薄膜表面富集.此外,成象XPS表明,PVC在球晶边界处富集,且球晶边界宽度约15 μm.     

Rapid separation of strychnine and brucine on a dynamically modified poly(dimethylsiloxane) microchip followed by electrochemical detection

A method has been developed for rapidly separating and detecting strychnine and brucine using a poly(dimethysiloxane) (PDMS) microchip and electrochemical (EC) detection. PDMS microchannels dynamically modified by Brij35 are shown to be more efficient than native ones. The two analytes are well separated within 90 s in 70 mmol/L acetate buffer (pH 5.5) containing 0.01% (v/v) Brij35. Detection limits were found to be 1.0 μmol/L for strychnine and 0.2 μmol/L for brucine at S/N=3. The method was used to determine trace strychnine and brucine in rat serum, and the results obtained correlate well with those obtained via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).      

Electrokinetic-driven microfluidic system in poly(dimethylsiloxane) for mass spectrometry detection integrating sample injection, capillary electrophoresis, and electrospray emitter on-chip

A novel microsystem device in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) for MS detection is presented. The microchip integrates sample injection, capillary electrophoretic separation, and electrospray emitter in a single substrate, and all modules are fabricated in the PDMS bulk material. The injection and separation flow is driven electrokinetically and the total amount of external equipment needed consists of a three-channel high-voltage power supply. The instant switching between sample injection and separation is performed through a series of low-cost relays, limiting the separation field strength to a maximum of 270 V/cm. We show that this set-up is sufficient to accomplish electrospray MS analysis and, to a moderate extent, microchip separation of standard peptides. A new method of instant in-channel oxidation makes it possible to overcome the problem of irreversibly bonded PDMS channels that have recovered their hydrophobic properties over time. The fast method turns the channel surfaces hydrophilic and less prone to nonspecific analyte adsorption, yielding better separation efficiencies and higher apparent peptide mobilities.     

Micro-perforated elastomeric poly(dimethylsiloxane) mask fabricated using high-aspect-ratio micro-pillar arrays for spatially defined surface modification: an unconventional method for establishing a microarray platform

Herein, we introduce the fabrication of a micro-perforated elastomeric poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) mask and employ it for spatially defined surface modification. To fabricate the micro-perforated PDMS mask, high-aspect-ratio micro-pillar arrays having millimeter scale height were first fabricated via direct photopolymerization using a thiol–ene-based UV-curable adhesive. Square pillars (500 × 500 μm) and 200 μm circular pillars with 5 and 12.5 in the aspect ratios, respectively, were successfully fabricated with high pattern fidelity, reaching 2.5mm in height. Next, using the micro-pillar-array platform as a master mold, PDMS prepolymer was cast and polymerized to form an elastomeric PDMS mask having micro-perforation arrays. Alternating hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces were successfully obtained by oxidizing PDMS-covered Si wafer with corona discharge. Spatially defined chemical functionalities obtained by selective oxidation and subsequent silanization were clearly distinguished via colorimetric detection methods employing ninhydrin and toluidine reagents. The micro-perforated elastomeric PDMS mask enables selective modification of a surface without utilizing photoreactive chemicals and a photomask. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.