A facile methodology for the fabrication of functional crosslinked three dimensional (3D) networks has herein been explored via the benign and UV initiated thiol-ene coupling (TEC) chemistry. The careful selection of monomers or polymers and their feed ratio resulted in straightforward design of organic, inorganic and hydrogel networks with readily available alkenes or thiol functional groups. All crosslinked networks were fabricated within 1 second of UV exposure at wavelengths of 320-390 nm and generally exhibited excellent gel fractions around 90%. By introducing off-stoichiometric thiol and ene (OSTE) monomer feed ratios the window of mechanical properties could be manipulated. For the organic triazine system, the Young's modulus was altered from 780 MPa at an equimolar monomer ratio to soft 106 kPa for 2.5 equiv. with excess of thiol compared to enes. Postfunctionalizations with hydrophilic polyethylene glycols or acrylic acid and hydrophobic heneicosa-fluorododecyl acrylate were explored for the manipulation of functional networks. In this case, the rigid networks with excess of thiols were used as model substrates of which the initial contact angle (CA) of 60 degrees was decreased to 43 degrees by the introduction of acrylic acid and increased to 140 degrees by successful attachment of fluorinated molecules. Finally, amalgamating micropatterning strategy with simple postfunctionalizations of hydrophobic groups resulted in superhydrophobic rigid surfaces with a CA of 173 degrees.

We present an easy to use, rapid fabrication platform for microfluidic systems, based on micro-molding of novel thiolene based polymer formulations. The novel fabrication platform addresses major drawbacks of PDMS by allowing large freedom in material and surface properties, including: (photo)patterning of stable surface modifications, bonding without plasma treatment, rapid UV or thermal curing, variable E-modulus, minimized leaching of uncured components [1] and suppressed non-specific binding of biomolecules [2]. This process is potentially suited for both rapid prototyping in the laboratory and medium-scale commercial production, bridging the “development gap”.

The antibiotic resistance developed among several pathogenic bacterial strains has spurred interest in understanding bacterial adhesion down to a molecular level. Consequently, analytical methods that rely on bioactive and multivalent sensor surfaces are sought to detect and suppress infections. To deliver functional sensor surfaces with an optimized degree of molecular packaging, we explore a library of compact and monodisperse dendritic scaffolds based on the nontoxic 2,2-bis(methylol)propionic acid (bis-MPA). A self-assembled dendritic monolayer (SADM) methodology to gold surfaces capitalizes on the design of aqueous soluble dendritic structures that bear sulfur-containing core functionalities. The nature of sulfur (either disulfide or thiol), the size of the dendritic framework (generation 1-3), the distance between the sulfur and the dendritic wedge (4 or 14 angstrom), and the type of functional end group (hydroxyl or mannose) were key structural elements that were identified to affect the packaging densities assembled on the surfaces. Both surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and resonance-enhanced surface impedance (RESI) experiments revealed rapid formation of homogenously covered SADMs on gold surfaces. The array of dendritic structures enabled the fabrication of functional gold surfaces displaying molecular covering densities of 0.33-2.2 molecules.nm(-2) and functional availability of 0.95-5.5 groups.nm(-2). The cell scavenging ability of these sensor surfaces for Escherichia coli MS7fim+ bacteria revealed 2.5 times enhanced recognition for G3-mannosylated surfaces when compared to G3-hydroxylated SADM surfaces. This promising methodology delivers functional gold sensor surfaces and represents a facile route for probing surface interactions between multivalently presented motifs and cells in a controlled surface setting.

Orthogonally functionalized PEGs displaying alkenes and azides have been prepared and their dual-purpose scaffolding potential was exploited via click chemistry for controlled insertion of bio-relevant moieties as well as facile fabrication of soft, non-toxic and degradable hydrogels.

Two sets of heterofunctional dendritic frameworks displaying an inversed and exact number of ene and azide groups have successfully been synthesized and post-functionalized with biorelevant molecules. Their facile scaffolding ability enabled the fabrication of soft and azide functional dendritic hydrogels with modulus close to muscle tissue. The dendritic scaffolds are furthermore shown to be promising primers for the development of novel bone fracture stabilization adhesives with shear strengths succeeding commercial Histroacryl (R).