Interrogating Surface Functional Group Heterogeneity of Activated Thermoplastics Using Super-Resolution Fluorescence Microscopy

Colleen E. ONeil, Joshua M. Jackson, Sang Hee Shim, Steven A. Soper

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We present a novel approach for characterizing surfaces utilizing super-resolution fluorescence microscopy with subdiffraction limit spatial resolution. Thermoplastic surfaces were activated by UV/O3 or O2 plasma treatment under various conditions to generate pendant surface-confined carboxylic acids (-COOH). These surface functional groups were then labeled with a photoswitchable dye and interrogated using single-molecule, localization-based, super-resolution fluorescence microscopy to elucidate the surface heterogeneity of these functional groups across the activated surface. Data indicated nonuniform distributions of these functional groups for both COC and PMMA thermoplastics with the degree of heterogeneity being dose dependent. In addition, COC demonstrated relative higher surface density of functional groups compared to PMMA for both UV/O3 and O2 plasma treatment. The spatial distribution of -COOH groups secured from super-resolution imaging were used to simulate nonuniform patterns of electroosmotic flow in thermoplastic nanochannels. Simulations were compared to single-particle tracking of fluorescent nanoparticles within thermoplastic nanoslits to demonstrate the effects of surface functional group heterogeneity on the electrokinetic transport process. (Chemical Equation Presented).

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3686-3696
Number of pages11
JournalAnalytical chemistry
Volume88
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016 Apr 5
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Analytical Chemistry

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