Surface-structured device for life-science applications
View Patent ↗Embodiments of the invention relate a surface-structured device for life-sciences and a life-science method applying the surface-structured device. The surface-structured device has a substrate with a frontside surface corresponding to a first surface; and a plurality of protrusions arranged on the frontside surface. A shortest dimension of the protrusions at the junction from the protrusion to the front-side surface is smaller than 250 nm and at least a first group of the plurality of protrusions is arranged on a first planar area of the frontside surface in a first regular pattern in a plane of the first planar area of the frontside surface. Further embodiments relate to a stamper which may be used in the manufacturing method of the surface-structured device and a manufacturing method for surface-structured device.
1. A surface-structured device for life-sciences comprising:
a substrate having a frontside surface and a backside surface opposite the frontside surface;
a plurality of groups of first protrusions arranged on the frontside surface; and
a plurality of second protrusions arranged on the backside surface of the substrate; wherein
a shortest dimension of each of the first protrusions in the plurality of groups at a junction of the first protrusion and the frontside surface is smaller than 250 nm;
each of the groups of first protrusions is formed in corresponding different areas of the frontside surface; and
each group of the first protrusions is arranged on respective planar areas of the frontside surface in respective different regular patterns in respective planes of the corresponding different areas;
at least a first group of the plurality of second protrusions arranged on the backside surface is arranged on a planar area of the backside surface in a regular pattern in a plane of the planar area of the backside surface; and
a shortest dimension of each of the second protrusions at a junction of the second protrusion and the backside surface is smaller than 250 nm.
2. The surface-structured device according to claim 1 ,
wherein each of the different areas is planar and parallel to a first planar area.
3. The surface-structured device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the areas with regular patterns have a size of at least 1000 mm 2 .
4. The surface-structured device according to claim 1 ,
wherein a material of each of the first and second protrusions and a material of the substrate have a same composition at the junction of the first protrusion and the frontside surface and the junction of the second protrusion and the backside surface of the substrate.
5. The surface-structured device according to claim 1 ,
wherein first protrusions of at least one group of the first protrusions are of same dimensions.
6. The surface-structured device according to claim 1 ,
wherein each of the first protrusions has one of a quadratic, a rectangular, a rectangular with rounded corners, an oval and a round footprint at the junction to the substrate.
7. The surface-structured device according to claim 1 ,
wherein each of the first protrusions has one of a hemispherical shape, a prism shape, and a prism shape with rounded corners with a height between 10 nm and 100 nm.
8. The surface-structured device according claim 1 , wherein
at least one of the groups of first protrusions is arranged in at least two sub-areas of a corresponding first area or further areas; and
a height of the first protrusions in a first sub-area of the at least two sub-areas is different from a height of the first protrusions in a second sub-area of the at least two sub-areas; and
the first protrusions of the at least one group belonging to a same sub-area have a same height.
9. The surface-structured device according to claim 1 , wherein
at least two of the planar areas are located in different planes; and
tops of corresponding first protrusions arranged in the two areas are located within one plane.
10. The surface-structured device according to claim 1 ,
wherein a size of an opening between two first protrusions of at least one planar area of the frontside surface ranges from 1 to 10 times the shortest dimension of the two first protrusions.
11. The surface-structured device according to claim 1 ,
wherein a core of the first protrusions comprises one of a polymer, a treated polymer, a metal, and an alloy.
12. The surface-structured device according to claim 1 , wherein
at least one first protrusion has a core material and a surface material,
said surface material of the at least one first protrusion and said core material of the at least one first protrusion having a different constitution, and wherein the surface material provides a different functionality than the core material.
13. The surface-structured device according to claim 1 , wherein
the substrate is adapted to form a wall of a vessel or is located between two reaction chambers of the vessel.
14. A surface-structured device for life-sciences comprising:
a substrate having a frontside surface; and
a plurality of first protrusions arranged on the frontside surface; wherein
a shortest dimension of each of the first protrusions at a junction of the first protrusion and the frontside surface is smaller than 250 nm; and
at least a first group of the plurality of first protrusions is arranged on a first planar area of the frontside surface in a first regular pattern in a plane of the first planar area of the frontside surface,
the surface-structured device further comprising:
a plurality of second protrusions arranged on a backside surface of the substrate opposite to the frontside surface; wherein
at least a first group of the second protrusions is arranged on a planar area of the backside surface in a regular pattern in a plane of the planar area of the backside surface; and
a shortest dimension of each of the second protrusions at a junction from the second protrusion to the backside surface is smaller than 250 nm.