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The Effect of Hydrophobic Patterning on Micromolding of Aqueous-Derived Silk Structures

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Konstantinos Tsioris
Affiliation:
[email protected], Tufts University, Mechanical Engineering, 200 Boston Ave, Suite 2700, Medford, MA, 02155, United States, 6179107825
Robert D White
Affiliation:
[email protected], Tufts University, Mechanical Engineering, Medford, MA, 02155, United States
David L Kaplan
Affiliation:
[email protected], Tufts University, Biomedical Engineering, Medford, MA, 02155, United States
Peter Y Wong
Affiliation:
[email protected], Tufts University, Mechanical Engineering, Medford, MA, 02155, United States
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Abstract

A novel micromolding approach was developed to process liquid biopolymers with high aqueous solvent contents (>90% water). Specifically silk fibroin was cast into a well-defined scaffold-like structure for potential tissue engineering applications. A method was developed to pattern the hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity of the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) mold surfaces. The water based biopolymer solution could then be directly applied to the desired regions on the cast surface. The variations in degree of hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity on the PDMS surfaces were quantified through contact angle measurements and compared to the outcome of the molded silk structures. Through this method free-standing structures (vs. relief surface-patterning) could be fabricated.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2008

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