Three-dimensional laser micro-sculpturing of silicone: towards bio-compatible scaffolds

Opt Express. 2013 Jul 15;21(14):17028-41. doi: 10.1364/OE.21.017028.

Abstract

Possibility to form three-dimensional (3D) micro-structures in silicone elastomer (polydimethylsiloxane; PDMS) doped with different photo-initiators was systematically investigated using direct laser writing with femtosecond laser pulses at different exposure conditions. Accuracy of the 3D structuring with resolution of ~5 μm and a fabrication throughput of ~720 μm(3)/s, which is exceeding the previously reported values by ~ 300(×), was achieved. Practical recording velocities of ~ 1 mm/s were used in PDMS with isopropyl-9H-thioxanthen-9-one (ISO) and thioxanthen-9-one (THIO) photo-initiators which both have absorption at around 360 nm wavelength. The 3D laser fabrication in PDMS without any photo-initiator resulting in a fully bio-compatible material has been achieved for the first time. Rates of multi-photon absorption and avalanche for the structuring of silicone are revealed: the two-photon absorption is seeding the avalanche of a radical generation for subsequent cross-linking. Direct writing enables a maskless manufacturing of molds for soft-lithography and 3D components for microfluidics as well as scaffolds for grafts in biomedical applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry*
  • Biocompatible Materials / radiation effects*
  • Dimethylpolysiloxanes / chemistry*
  • Dimethylpolysiloxanes / radiation effects*
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Lasers*
  • Materials Testing
  • Miniaturization
  • Surface Properties / radiation effects
  • Tissue Scaffolds*

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Dimethylpolysiloxanes
  • baysilon