Progress on the Use of Commercial Digital Optical Disc Units for Low-Power Laser Micromachining in Biomedical Applications

Abstract

The development of organ-on-chip and biological scaffolds is currently requiring simpler methods for microstructure biocompatible materials in three dimensions, to fabricate structural and functional elements in biomaterials, or modify the physicochemical properties of desired substrates. Aiming at addressing this need, a low-power CD-DVD-Blu-ray laser pickup head was mounted on a programmable three-axis micro-displacement system in order to modify the surface of polymeric materials in a local fashion. Thanks to a specially-designed method using a strongly absorbing additive coating the materials of interest, it has been possible to establish and precisely control processes useful in microtechnology for biomedical applications. The system was upgraded with Blu-ray laser for additive manufacturing and ablation on a single platform. In this work, we present the application of these fabrication techniques to the development of biomimetic cellular culture platforms thanks to the simple integration of several features typically achieved with traditional, less cost-effective microtechnology methods in one step or through replica-molding. Our straightforward approach indeed enables great control of local laser microablation or polymerization for true on-demand biomimetic micropatterned designs in transparent polymers and hydrogels and is allowing integration of microfluidics, microelectronics, surface microstructuring, and transfer of superficial protein micropatterns on a variety of biocompatible materials.

Micro–Macro: Selective Integration of Microfeatures Inside Low-Cost Macromolds for PDMS Microfluidics Fabrication

“…Another low-cost and rapid technique used here for the low-resolution molds consisted of poly- methylmetacrylate (PMMA) laser ablation with a custom-made laser platform based on a motorized CD–DVD pickup head unit. The detailed procedure employed here was described in a previous work [15,20]. In this work, PMMA used as the laser platform offered excellent reproducibility and control of etched dimensions, including depth, over relatively large areas [15].…”

“…The detailed procedure employed here was described in a previous work [15,20]. In this work, PMMA used as the laser platform offered excellent reproducibility and control of etched dimensions, including depth, over relatively large areas [15]. However, this process still was not suitable for applications where high resolution features of less than 20 µm are required.…”

“…Several simple solutions exist to create molds of direct fabrication: the use of thermoshrinkable polymers, the desktop cutter plotter or the combination of both are examples of these affordable techniques [10,13,14]. In our group, we have also developed a low-cost laser microfabrication system that also enables the construction of plastic micromolds [15]. This process appears to solve a cost issue when high-resolution features need to be integrated inside PDMS microfluidic chips using soft- lithography and rapid-prototyping.…”

Editorial for the Special Issue on Micro-Machining: Challenges and Opportunities

“…This special issue of Micromachines , entitled “ Micro-Machining: Challenges and Opportunities ”, collects 16 original research papers and one review article that provides updates on the latest micro-machining technologies, including novel research on and development of diamond turning [ 1 , 2 ], micro-milling [ 3 , 4 , 5 ], micro-grinding [ 6 ], polishing [ 7 , 8 , 9 ], laser micro-machining [ 10 , 11 , 12 ], lithography-based micro-machining processes [ 13 ], ultrasonic devices [ 14 ], control systems for hybrid machines [ 15 ], on-machine surface metrology [ 16 ], and the surface and subsurface integrity characterization technique [ 17 ].…”

“…This novel functional surface could be used for electric flexible circuit. Cruz-Ramirez et al [ 12 ] developed a novel system and process for local laser microablation or polymerization for true on-demand biomimetic micropatterned designs in transparent polymers and hydrogels. This novel development allowed integration of microfluidics, microelectronics, surface microstructuring, and transfer of superficial protein micropatterns on a variety of biocompatible materials.…”