Search Results
Laser-induced surface modification of biopolymers - Micro/nanostructuring and functionalization
2018, Stankova, N.E., Atanasov, P.A., Nedyalkov, N.N., Tatchev, Dr., Kolev, K.N., Valova, E.I., Armyanov, St.A., Grochowska, K., Śliwiński, G., Fukata, N., Hirsch, D., Rauschenbach, B.
The medical-grade polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomer is a widely used biomaterial in medicine for preparation of high-tech devices because of its remarkable properties. In this paper, we present experimental results on surface modification of PDMS elastomer by using ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared ns-laser system and investigation of the chemical composition and the morphological structure inside the treated area in dependence on the processing parameters - wavelength, laser fluence and number of pulses. Remarkable chemical transformations and changes of the morphological structure were observed, resulting in the formation of a highly catalytically active surface, which was successfully functionalized via electroless Ni and Pt deposition by a sensitizing-activation free process. The results obtained are very promising in view of applying the methods of laser-induced micro- and nano-structuring and activation of biopolymers' surface and further electroless metal plating to the preparation of, e.g., multielectrode arrays (MEAs) devices in neural and muscular surface interfacing implantable systems.
SERS analysis of Ag nanostructures produced by ion-beam deposition
2018, Atanasov, P.A., Nedyalkov, N.N., Nikov, Ru.G., Grüner, Ch., Rauschenbach, B., Fukata, N.
This study deals with the development of a novel technique for formation of advanced Ag nanostructures (NSs) to be applied to high-resolution analyses based on surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). It has direct bearing on human health and food quality, e.g., monitoring small amount or traces of pollutants or undesirable additives. Three types of nanostructured Ag samples were produced using ion-beam deposition at glancing angle (GLAD) on quartz. All fabricated structures were covered with BI-58 pesticide (dimethoate) or Rhodamine 6G (R6G) for testing their potential for use as substrates for (SERS).