Skip to main content
Kent Academic Repository

Thermoresponsive Polymer Micropatterns Fabricated by Dip-Pen Nanolithography for a Highly Controllable Substrate with Potential Cellular Applications

Laing, Stacey, Suriano, Raffaella, Lamprou, Dimitrios A., Smith, Carol-Anne, Dalby, Matthew J., Mabbott, Samuel, Faulds, Karen, Graham, Duncan (2016) Thermoresponsive Polymer Micropatterns Fabricated by Dip-Pen Nanolithography for a Highly Controllable Substrate with Potential Cellular Applications. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 8 (37). pp. 24844-24852. ISSN 1944-8244. E-ISSN 1944-8252. (doi:10.1021/acsami.6b03860) (Access to this publication is currently restricted. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:63484)

PDF Publisher pdf
Language: English

Restricted to Repository staff only
[thumbnail of Laing 2016.pdf]
Official URL:
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.6b03860

Abstract

We report a novel approach for patterning thermoresponsive hydrogels based on N,N-diethylacrylamide (DEAAm) and bifunctional Jeffamine ED-600 by dip-pen nanolithography (DPN). The direct writing of micron-sized thermoresponsive polymer spots was achieved with efficient control over feature size. A Jeffamine-based ink prepared through the combination of organic polymers, such as DEAAm, in an inorganic silica network was used to print thermosensitive arrays on a thiol-silanized silicon oxide substrate. The use of a Jeffamine hydrogel, acting as a carrier matrix, allowed a reduction in the evaporation of ink molecules with high volatility, such as DEAAm, and facilitated the transfer of ink from tip to substrate. The thermoresponsive behavior of polymer arrays which swell/deswell in aqueous solution in response to a change in temperature was successfully characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Raman spectroscopy: a thermally induced change in height and hydration state was observed, respectively. Finally, we demonstrate that cells can adhere to and interact with these dynamic features and

exhibit a change in behavior when cultured on the substrates above and below the transition temperature of the Jeffamine/DEAAm thermoresponsive hydrogels. This demonstrates the potential of these micropatterned hydrogels to act as a controllable surface for cell growth.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1021/acsami.6b03860
Subjects: T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) > TA401 Materials engineering and construction
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Medway School of Pharmacy
Depositing User: Dimitrios Lamprou
Date Deposited: 19 Sep 2017 12:35 UTC
Last Modified: 17 Aug 2022 12:22 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/63484 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Lamprou, Dimitrios A..

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8740-1661
CReDIT Contributor Roles:
  • Depositors only (login required):

Total unique views for this document in KAR since July 2020. For more details click on the image.