PDMS Spotarrays with the Microarray Printer Nano-PlotterTM:
Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is a widely used silicone elastomer with interesting properties such as low cost, biocompatibility and optical transparency. Cost-effective prototypes of flow-through cells are popular in microfluidics. PDMS has a cross-platform meaning for the GeSiM product portfolio: Our microcontact printers do fine and precise surface reliefs featuring 3D stamps made from PDMS. The MicCell is a cost-effective tool kit for microfluidic devices, among others made from PDMS.
Due to the special design of piezoelectric GeSiM pipets the Nano-PlotterTM is able to do PDMS spot arrays, the presented application note releases details. Piezoelectric micro dispensers are always subject to an upper viscosity limit in the range of a few mPa*s. Dilution with Octyl Acetate (OA) brings the viscosity down into the printable range. 3D spots with diameters from 100 to 400 Micrometres could be achieved on hydrophobized glass slides.
Hardened PDMS spots; Size as function of number of drops for Nano-Tip-HV (left) and Pico-Tip (right). Min. spot size is 100 µm (Pico-Tip, one drop), max. spot size about 400 µm (Nano-Tip-HV, 10 drops).
The used piezopipets are available for GeSiM bioprinters as well. Thus, the printing of spatial models based on Gcode data becomes feasible. Related experiences are not yet available at GeSiM.
