I am trying to examine cell morphology on flat PDMS structures using negative molds also made of PDMS. The negative molds are activated by oxygen plasma treatment and silanized by vapor deposition with trichloro(1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyl)silane before they are ever used to mold the substrates.
The substrates are coated with adhesion proteins which cause cells to adopt a defined morphology. Despite even protein coating, the cells don't adopt this morphology and we reason this is due to toxic products of the silanization process which are left behind.
I am a cell biologist in training, not a chemist, so I am wondering is there a way to optimize the silanization process to avoid negative effects on the cells? Or perhaps a way to remove unbound silanization products from the molds?
Any help you can provide is greatly appreciated.
I have two thoughts:
* What testing have you done to characterize the chemistry of the silanized surface of the mold? Do you have a respectable report beyond speculation for what the toxic products might be? I could speculate that it is unbound or loosely bound silane or left-over chloride from the silanization. Characterization is needed here.
--> I would want to review XPS results from the unsilanized and silanized surfaces of the mold as as the surface of the stamped PDMS before coating with the cells.
--> I might want to try a di- or mono-functional silane on the mold to seewhether this makes any difference.
* What testing have you done to characterize the structure of the PDMS surface from the mold? Can you rule out the null hypothesis that says that surface structure is not causing the issues that you see?
--> I would want to review AFM results of the PDMS surfaces of the mold (before and after silanization) and the stamped surface before the cells are deposited.
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