Fluidic channels and methods of altering the surface energy of components thereof
A surface-treated fluidic channel is provided comprising a dispensing device that comprises a microarray of microchannels. The fluidic channel is made from metal and comprises a surface and a hydrophobic coating layer comprising a self-assembled monolayer of an organophosphorus acid adhered to the surface. A mesh nebulizer comprising a reservoir and a dispensing device comprising a microarray of microchannels is also provided. A metal surface layer is applied to the interior and exterior surfaces of the reservoir and dispensing device, and a hydrophobic coating layer comprising an organo-silicon or a self-assembled monolayer of an organophosphorus acid is adhered to the metal surface layer, usually on the exterior surfaces of the reservoir and dispensing device. A hydrophilic polymeric coating layer may be chemically bonded to and propagated from terminal functional groups on the hydrophobic coating layer on the interior surfaces of the reservoir and dispensing device.
1 . A surface-treated fluidic channel comprising a mesh nebulizer that comprises a microarray of microchannels, wherein the fluidic channel is made from metal and comprises:
1) A surface; and
2) A hydrophobic coating layer comprising a self-assembled monolayer of an organophosphorus acid adhered to the surface, wherein the hydrophobic coating layer is adhered to the surface either directly or indirectly through an intermediate organometallic coating.
2 . The surface-treated fluidic channel of claim 1 , wherein the metal is titanium, tantalum, aluminum, copper, iron, or a metal alloy.
3 . The surface-treated fluidic channel of claim 1 , wherein select areas of the hydrophobic coating layer are removed to expose the surface.
4 . The surface-treated fluidic channel of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic coating layer is chemically bonded directly to the surface.
5 . The surface-treated fluidic channel of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic coating layer is adhered to the surface indirectly through the intermediate organometallic coating.
6 . The surface-treated fluidic channel of claim 5 , wherein the organometallic coating comprises a polymeric metal oxide having unreacted alkoxide and/or hydroxyl groups.
7 . The surface-treated fluidic channel of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic coating layer has terminal functional groups that are capable of initiating polymer growth when exposed to a source of polymerizable monomer; and wherein the fluidic channel further comprises:
3) A polymeric coating layer chemically bonded to and propagated from terminal functional groups on the hydrophobic coating layer.
8 . The surface-treated fluidic channel of claim 7 , wherein the polymeric coating layer is prepared from a reaction mixture comprising one or more of [2-(Methacryloyloxy)ethyl]dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl)ammonium hydroxide, 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid, and salts thereof, via ATRP.
9 . A mesh nebulizer comprising:
a microarray of surface-treated fluidic microchannels, wherein the microarray of surface-treated fluidic microchannels is made from metal and comprises:
1) A surface; and
2) A hydrophobic coating layer comprising a self-assembled monolayer of an organophosphorus acid adhered to the surface, wherein the hydrophobic coating layer is adhered to the surface either directly or indirectly through an intermediate organometallic coating.
10 . The mesh nebulizer of claim 9 , wherein the hydrophobic coating layer is chemically bonded directly to the surface.
11 . The mesh nebulizer of claim 9 , wherein the metal is titanium, tantalum, aluminum, copper, iron, or a metal alloy.
12 . The mesh nebulizer of claim 9 , wherein the hydrophobic coating layer has terminal functional groups that are capable of initiating polymer growth when exposed to a source of polymerizable monomer; and wherein the microarray of surface-treated fluidic microchannels further comprises:
3) A polymeric coating layer chemically bonded to and propagated from terminal functional groups on the hydrophobic coating layer.
13 . The mesh nebulizer of claim 12 , wherein the polymeric coating layer is prepared from a reaction mixture comprising one or more of [2-(Methacryloyloxy)ethyl]dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl)ammonium hydroxide, 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid, and salts thereof, via ATRP.
14 . The mesh nebulizer of claim 9 , wherein the hydrophobic coating layer is adhered to the surface indirectly through the intermediate organometallic coating.
15 . The mesh nebulizer of claim 14 , wherein the organometallic coating comprises a polymeric metal oxide having unreacted alkoxide and/or hydroxyl groups.