Fabrication of High Aspect Ratio Poly(ethylene glycol)-Containing Microstructures by UV Embossing

The fabrication of high aspect ratio (5 and above) microstructures based upon UV embossing of mixtures containing poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) is described. UV embossing is a quick and convenient replication technique using low pressure and room temperature. The biocompatibility and cell- and protein-resistance of PEGDA make deep three-dimensional (3-D) micropatterned PEGDA films potentially useful for many biological applications such as protein delivery, tissue engineering, drug delivery, and biosensors. Microarrays of deep microchannels and microcups separated by PEGDA walls with aspect ratios of 7 and 5, respectively, were successfully embossed. UV embossing was found to faithfully replicate the lateral periodicity and height of the mold. We also successfully UV embossed a mixture having equal weight proportions of hydrophilic PEGDA and hydrophobic poly(propylene glycol) diacrylate and demonstrated the use of this microarray of microcups for encapsulation of a model protein (bovine serum a...