Functionality of Nanopatterned Polymer Surfaces

Abstract

IntroductionThe aim of this mini review was zoom in the perspective and feasible methods to produce nanopatterned polymers surfaces and to collect their some properties. This has opened new possibilities for making affordable polymer products with functional nanopatterned surfaces.While a variety of approaches to create hydrophobic/ superhydrophobic surfaces have been developed, [1][2][3][4][5] there are still restrictions on their widespread use due to the cost, number of processing steps, limits on the manufacturable area, durability, instrumentation required, etc. This has led to the development of inexpensive and reliable techniques for the commercial production of hydrophobic layers. Electrochemical methods have been used to prepare a Ni based nanostructured surface coupled with a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) monolayer using spin -coating. 6 The surface hydrophobicity increased by about 30% in comparison to the Ni surface only and could be modified to enhance the adhesion of ordered biomolecules or the self-assembly of monolayers. Alternative simple methods included the fabrication of a shark-skin-like patterned PDMS modified with carbon nanotubes to form a polymeric superhydrophobic film.7 A high viscosity paste (comprised of 10 wt % multi walled carbon nanotubes dispersed into PDMS) was placed between two rollers, and the paste was transferred as a smooth film (with less than 300nm roughness) onto the roll with the high rotational speed.7 A spin-coating method has been used to form a biomimetic interface from melanin whose electric signal transduction can be modified.8 High density plasma processing was employed to create a nanotextured superhydrophobic transparent poly (methyl methacrylate) surface. 9 By appropriate tuning of the plasma conditions, either random or ordered hierarchical structures of high aspect ratio and surface area could be reproducibly created. Such plasma treated polymeric surfaces have been evaluated as substrates for efficiently controlling the wettability, biomolecules immobilization, and cell adhesion of the surface, paving the way to a wide spectrum of applications. A three-dimensional plasma micro-nanotextured cyclo-olefin-polymer surfaces has been used for biomolecules immobilization because of its environmentally stable superhydrophobic and superoleophobic properties.10 Plasmas could also be used to deposit fluorocarbons on a cyclo-olefin polymer to enhance hydrophobicity 11 with good adhesion and effective surface protection reducing plastic deformation. A micro reactive ion-etching method has been used to prepare nanotextured films from PDMS for enhanced cancer cell isolation. 12Slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces show great promise for preventing biofilm formation owing to their low surface energy in combination with their self-cleaning properties. 13 Li and co-workers demonstrated a novel hydrophobic liquid-infused porous poly (butyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) surface with bacteriaresistance in BM2 mineral, which had medium and long-term stability in aque...

Nanopillar Polymer Films as Antibacterial Packaging Materials

“…Nevertheless, the ability to pattern polymers at different length scales with high reproducibility offers advantages over other materials due to the broad application of polymeric materials in both industry and medicine. In recent years, a broad range of patterning strategies has been developed to create a variety of micronanopatterned polymer topographies including nanoimprint lithography and a combination of colloidal lithography and plasma etching. − Biomimetic “moth-eye” film was the first commercial realization of a micronanopatterned polymeric topography that possessed a variety of functions including low reflectivity, superhydrophobicity, antifogging properties, and antibacterial characteristics (Mosmite, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation). , However, the bactericidal efficacy of nanopatterns consisting of high aspect ratio structures, such as pillars, rely heavily on the geometry of the nanopattern array . For example, the pillar height and spacing are two geometric parameters that have been found to profoundly influence the mechano-bactericidal efficacy of the resultant pattern. , Efforts to characterize the optimal surface nanopattern for bactericidal action has led to broad discrepancy in the reported antibacterial efficacy of investigated topographies .…”