Laser structuring and modification of polymer surfaces for chemical and medical micro components

In the production of micro devices the surface properties become more and more important for chemistry, biotechnology and medical technology with respect to wetting properties and chemical composition of the surface. Typical applications are implants as well as micro fluidic systems or miniaturized devices for DNA- and proteome analysis (biochips). In this paper newly designed laser technologies based on UV-laser treatment of polymers for surface processing are described to manipulate wetting properties, cell growth and immobilization of functional molecules with high spatial resolution. Depending on the processing parameters and used polymers either hydrophobic or hydrophilic properties can be enhanced (i.e. laser induced lotus/anti-lotus effect). Enhanced roughness and changes of the chemical composition have also influence on cell growth on polymer surfaces. Thus guiding aids for cells e.g. on medical implants can be generated by laser irradiation. Due to photo oxidation processes while UV-treatment in air, functional groups are created that are suited for covalent bonding of (bio)moelcules onto the surfaces. A second process for the locally selective immobilization of anchor molecules based on azide functionalized templates suitable for further modification steps is presented by means of irradiating polymers under solutions of these linkers.