Novel transparent poly(silazane) derived solvent-resistant, bio-compatible microchannels and substrates: application in microsystem technology

In this report we have described fabrication of preceramic polymer-derived transparent, solvent-resistant, thermally stable and bio-compatible microchannels and substrates using soft-lithography methods such as micromolding in capillary (MIMIC) and micromolding. The micromolding technique was preferred in the current work to fabricate channels by thermal and photo crosslinking of a commercially available poly(vinyl silazane) (VL 20, KION Corporation, USA). Both thermal and photo cured preceramic polymer channels were found to possess unique glass-like characteristics, such as transparency and chemical inertness. However, their surfaces were identified to be hydrophobic with a contact angle of 101 degrees. To have an insight on the nature of the surface groups present on the surface of the cured preceramic polymer, ATR-IR was carried out. The hydrophobic nature of the cured polymer was best utilized for direct patterning of protein by nonspecific binding.