title: Micro- and nanopatterned star poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) materials prepared by UV-based imprint lithography.
abstract: A UV-based imprint lithography method is used for the direct surface structuring of hydrogel-based biomaterials, which are prepared from a family of tailor-made star poly(ethylene glycol) formulations. Bulk star poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels are fabricated by cross-linking acrylate-functionalized star PEG macromolecules. Cross-linking is achieved by radical reactions initiated by UV irradiation. This UV-curable star PEG formulation allows templating of mold structures to yield a stable, stand-alone, elastomeric replica of the mold. In particular, when a secondary, soft mold is used that consists of a perfluorinated elastomer with inherent excellent release properties, nanometer-sized features (down to 100 nm) can be imprinted without specialized equipment. The applied UV-based imprint lithography is a fast and simple technique to employ for the direct topographic structuring of bulk PEG-based biomaterials. The UV-based imprinting into the star PEG prepolymer by means of a perfluorinated, soft mold can be carried out on the bench top, while nanoscale resolution is demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: DWI e.V. and Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 8, D-52056 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Marga C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lensen
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mela
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mourran
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Groll
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heuts
authors.forename: Haitao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rong
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Möller
mesh_terms: D000179:Acrylates / Q000737:chemistry; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D020724:Elastomers; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated / Q000737:chemistry; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D000179:Acrylates; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D020724:Elastomers; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated; D020100:Hydrogels; D011108:Polymers; C036925:elastomeric polymer; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols