title: Micropatterning of polymer brushes: grafting from dewetting polymer films for biological applications.
abstract: In this novel platform, a micropatterned polymer brush was obtained by grafting poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) (poly(PEGMA)) from a thin macroinitiator film using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). A pattern of holes was formed in the macroinitiator film by taking advantage of its spontaneous dewetting above the glass transition temperature from a bottom polystyrene film, driven by unfavorable intermolecular forces. Patterning by dewetting can be achieved at length-scales from a few hundred nanometers to several tens of micrometers, by simply thermally annealing the bilayer above the glass transition temperature of the polymer. This approach is substrate-independent, as polymer films can be cast onto surfaces of different size, shape, or material. As a demonstration of its potential, proteins, and individual cells were attached on targeted bioadhesive polystyrene areas of the micropatterns within poly(PEGMA) protein-repellent brushes. We anticipate this approach will be suitable for the patterning of brushes, especially for biomedical applications such as in the study of single cells and of cell cocultures.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, F11, NSW 2006 Australia.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Telford
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meagher
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Glattauer
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Gengenbach
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Easton
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Neto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006801:Humans; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D044367:Phase Transition; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D058105:Polymerization; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000737:chemistry*; D059010:Single-Cell Analysis; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008689:Methacrylates; D011137:Polystyrenes; C524499:polyethylene glycol methacrylate; D014867:Water; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D005340:Fibrinogen; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate