Taken together, these data suggest that laser materials processing of silicon-based devices is a promising avenue to pursue in the production of biosensors and other bionic devices.

The increasing demand for new biomaterials and fabrication methods provides an opportunity for silicon to solve current challenges in the field. Laser processing is becoming more common as the public begins to understand its simplicity and value. When an abundant material is paired with a reliable and economic fabrication method, biomedical devices can be created and improved. In this chapter, different laser parameters of the Nd:YAG laser are investigated and the topographic and physical trends are analyzed. The biocompatibility is assessed for scanning speed, line spacing, overlap number, pulse frequency, and laser power with the use of simulated body fluid (SBF) and fibroblast culturing (NIH 3T3). Not only can nanosecond pulses increase the biocompatibility of silicon by generating silicon oxide nanofibers, but the substrate becomes bioactive with the manipulation of cell interactions.

This study investigates the effects of laser irradiation on crystalline silicon and its application in biomaterials. We used an analytical model to predict the ablation depth and pit size resulting from laser exposure of silicon samples. The temperatures generated are predicted correlate with laser power, and to result in the formation of a residual stress zone bordering the ablated groove. Different crystal orientations found in the substrate confirm that there was crystal distortion, which consequently induces these residual stress zones. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts avoid the stress areas and accumulate outside of these zones. Higher laser power results in broader residual stress zone and a larger zone of cellular exclusion. We argue that residual stress resulting from high-energy laser ablation of silicon may be a promising avenue to explore as a method for patterning cell growth on these materials.

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