Rahul M. Rasal, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Clemson University, 127 Earle Hall, Clemson, SC 29634-0909 and Douglas E. Hirt, NSF Engineering Research Center for Advanced Engineering Fibers & Films, Clemson University, 301 Rhodes Hall, Clemson, SC 29634.
Micropatterning is a robust tool to control the spatial organization of proteins on bioplastics like poly(lactic acid) (PLA). We used a two-step approach to micropattern proteins on PLA films. Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) was micropatterned in step 1 and was used as a platform to attach proteins in step 2. A PLA specimen was dip coated in benzophenone solution in ethanol for 1 min. A couple drops of aqueous acrylic acid solution were placed on benzophenone dip coated PLA specimens. When the photomask was placed on top of this, the monomer solution spread out uniformly. This assembly was subsequently exposed to UV irradiation for 15 min. PAA micropatterned PLA films were sonicated in water to ensure that unattached PAA was washed off. These films were subsequently characterized using water contact angle goniometry, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). In step 2, acid groups from PAA were reacted with amine terminated biotin using water soluble carbodiimide chemistry. Specimens were then immersed in a solution of fluorescence-conjugated streptavidin in PBS buffer solution containing bovine serum albumin (BSA) for 2 h. After rinsing several times with PBS buffer solution, the specimens were dried in a vacuum oven and examined by fluorescence microscopy to reveal various micropatterns.