The Effect of Morphology in Block Copolymer Thin Films on Stem Cell Differentiation and Fate
| Author(s) | Lewis, Ronald | |
| Date Accessioned | 2013-10-14T14:48:14Z | |
| Date Available | 2013-10-14T14:48:14Z | |
| Publication Date | 2013-05 | |
| Abstract | Solvent annealing represents a versatile technique for self-assembly of block copolymer thin films. The following report highlights the practical functionality of this technique by describing a series of studies undertaken to expand the understanding of this procedure. Firstly, a microfluidic device was utilized to demonstrate that, with the proper selection of solvents, a gradient in morphology could be established across a single film. Secondly, the rate of solvent removal from a film was shown to have a direct impact on the topography of the film, while maintaining a different through-film structure. Thirdly, raster solvent vapor annealing (RSVA) techniques were employed to selectively anneal a very small portion of a film. Multiple passes or cross patterns with this technique were shown to alter the morphology as well. Fourthly, a program was developed in Java to quantitatively interpret and analyze AFM images for the ratios of different morphologies. Finally, the solvent annealing procedure was applied to a biological application by initially conducting bell jar experiments to determine the morphologies of the polymer film. The film was subjected to experimental thiol-ene click chemistry reactions in order to functionalize the surface of the film. While no further experimentation occurred, a literature search was performed to evaluate future experimental parameters involving cell growth. | en_US |
| Advisor | Thomas H. Epps, III | |
| Program | Chemical Engineering | |
| URL | http://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/12676 | |
| Language | en_US | en_US |
| Publisher | University of Delaware | |
| Title | The Effect of Morphology in Block Copolymer Thin Films on Stem Cell Differentiation and Fate | en_US |
| Type | Thesis | en_US |