Facile fabrication of a poly(ethylene terephthalate) membrane filter with precise arrangement of through-holes

Abstract

Although membrane filters are indispensable in biochemical analysis fields, most methods for through-hole fabrication are complex and inefficient. We developed a simple method of fabricating poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) membrane filters with a precise arrangement of through-holes for the isolation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) based on their size. By photolithography and dry etching, highly packed 380,000 through-holes with a diameter of 7 µm were able to cover a whole area with a diameter of 13 mm. Device fabrication for the size-based capture of rare cells in blood such as CTCs is realized in this study.

Membranes for the life sciences and their future roles in medicine

“…By designing the size and shape of photomask, the membranes with specific structure can be fabricated. In a recent work, Kihara et al [158] fabricated a microporous polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) membrane with 380000 precisely aligned holes. The membrane diameter was adjustable (from 4 to 12 μm) with a precision of ±0.2 µm.…”

Towards prevention and prediction of infectious diseases with virus sterilization using ultraviolet light and low-temperature plasma and bio-sensing devices for health and hygiene care

“…62) A key point in the fabrication of polymeric membrane filters is the handling method of the membrane during manufacture. 63) For example, with ethylene tetrafluoroethylene membranes, 380 000 top-down-fabricated highly packed through-holes were demonstrated to collect circulating tumor cells in human blood samples. 64) This type of filtration is suitable for separation based on the size exclusion principle.…”