Biocompatible/Biodegradable Electrowetting on Dielectric Microfluidic Chips with Fluorinated CTA/PLGA.

ABSTRACT: One of the major hurdles in the development of biocompatible/biodegradable EWOD (Electrowetting-on-dielectric) devices is the biocompatibility of the dielectric and hydrophobic layers. In this study, we address this problem by using reactive ion etching (RIE) to prepare a super-hydrophobic film combining fluorinated cellulose triacetate (CTA) and poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA). The contact angle (CA) of water droplets on the proposed material is about 160°. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) characterizations indicate that a slight increase in the surface roughness and the formation of CF_x (C-F or CF?) bonds are responsible for the super-hydrophobic nature of the film. Alternating Current (AC) static electrowetting and droplet transportation experiments evidence that contact angle hysteresis and contact line pinning are greatly reduced by impregnating the CTA/PLGA film with silicon oil. Therefore, this improved film could provide a biocompatible alternative to the typical Teflon^® or Cytop^® films as a dielectric and hydrophobic layer.

SUBMITTER: Zhang K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6120052 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature