Polymer Brushes: Fabrication, Nanopatterning, Actuation and Sensing
Abstract
We present new strategies to fabricate patterned polymer brush arrays on the micrometer and nanometer length scale by combining common lithography methods. such as scanning probe lithography (SPL) and electron beam lithography (EBL). with surface-initiated polymerization. We studied the mechanics of microcantilevers decorated with stimulus-responsive polymers (SRP) and demonstrated their possible use as sensors. amplifiers. and actuators. The use of SRP brush arrays and coated micro-cantilevers promises great potential for sensing and actuation applications in micro- fluidic and Bio-MEMS devices because of the unique way by which SRPs amplify molecular binding events and changes in the solvent environment. This is significant for the Army. where fast and simple detection of biological agents is critical for soldiers in the field. To date, little research has been done on using the conformational change of polymer thin films to amplify and transduce biological binding events. All of these concepts could be incorporated with "smart", self-sensing, piezoelectric cantilevers. Ultimately, this can lead to field-deployable. reliable. cost-effective, nanobiosensors for the detection of, for example, protein-ligand interactions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA433564
Entities
People
- Bruce Lamattina
- Kalle Levon
- Marian Kaholek
- Nehal I Abu-Lail
- Robert L. Clark
- Sang-jung Ahn
- Stefan Zauscher
- Woo-Kyung Lee
Organizations
- Duke University