Honeycomb Micropatterning of Proteins on Polymer Films through the Inverse Microemulsion Approach

Abstract

Here we report the rapid and convenient patterning of proteins on porous polymer film using the inverse microemulsion approach. Following this method, proteins, which were dissolved in water, were transferred into dichloromethane solution of polymers through the formation of inverse microemulsion by mixing the two solutions. The protein-containing microemulsion droplets accumulated automatically into large and stable ones on the surface of organic solution casting on solid substrates, and formed tightly packed microemulsion droplet arrays driven by surface tension. With the evaporation of organic solvent and water, the microemulsion droplet arrays, which act as the template, turn to honeycomb patterned pores bearing proteins in them. The formed protein patterns can be locally applied for the detection of other proteins through specific recognition. The generality and reproducibility for the formation of BSA/PS microporous film and protein patterning by using different polymers and solvents were demonstrated by investigating surfactant addition, polymer and solvent types, and casting volume on the morphology of the microporous films. A preliminary mechanism for the protein patterning is discussed based on the analysis of the experimental results.

Honeycomb‐Patterned Polyimide Film as a Versatile Coating for High‐Performance Dielectric Material

“…Suitable humidity is necessary because the humid atmosphere compensates for the water evaporation on the solutions urface. [32] In our experiment, when the level of humidity wasd ecreased, the amount of water condensed from the humid atmosphere was not enough to offset the loss of water evaporation on the solution surface. Therefore, the size and number of water droplets become smaller with the decrease in humidity,t hus leading to smaller pores after solvent evaporation.…”

Photoluminescent Honeycomb Structures from Polyoxometalates and an Imidazolium‐Based Ionic Liquid Bearing a π‐Conjugated Moiety and a Branched Aliphatic Chain

“…[4] The preparationo fh oneycombs tructures has been expanded from solid substrates to the air/waterinterface and the templates have been extended from droplets of watert ot hose formed by nonaqueous solvents or microemulsions.I nfluences of various factors on the morphology of the honeycombs tructures, such as humidity,g as flow,t emperature, concentration of the materials, type of substrate, and organic solvent,h ave been fully investigated. Up to now,v arious candidates have been explored to form honeycomb structures.B esides polymers with diversec ompositions and structures, [12][13][14][15] av ariety of materials with attractive properties have also been tried, including carbon nanotubes( CNTs), [16,17] grapheneo xide (GO), [18] proteins, [19] small organic molecules, [20][21][22] and inorganic-organic hybrids. [10,11] Ab ig advantage of the honeycombs tructures fabricated by the BF methodi st hat the functions of the films can be facilely tuned by engineeringt he starting materials.…”

“…[10,11] Ab ig advantage of the honeycombs tructures fabricated by the BF methodi st hat the functions of the films can be facilely tuned by engineeringt he starting materials. Up to now,v arious candidates have been explored to form honeycomb structures.B esides polymers with diversec ompositions and structures, [12][13][14][15] av ariety of materials with attractive properties have also been tried, including carbon nanotubes( CNTs), [16,17] grapheneo xide (GO), [18] proteins, [19] small organic molecules, [20][21][22] and inorganic-organic hybrids. [23][24][25][26][27] The films containing honeycombs tructures with varying sizes and morphologies have been successfully used as molecular sieves, [28] sensors, [29] superhydrophobic coatings, [30] antibacterial surfaces, [31] cell culture reservoirs, [32] and templates for electrodeposition of Au or Ag particlesfor surface-enhanced Ramanscattering (SERS).…”

Condensed Low‐Volatile Alcohol Droplet‐Directed Uniform Pore Formation on Polystyrene Films

“…In addition to making use of such interaction, the employment of templates in the phase inversion process also can achieve that. The templates can be applied by several means, such as casting polymer solution onto solid substrates with vertically aligned uniform pillars, mixing uniform particles into polymer solution, and preparing emulsion in polymer solution . In these cases, the templates get ready before the phase inversion process.…”