Cryo-preservation for the repeated use of a PDMS prepolymer

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science Vol. 131; no. 12; pp. np - n/a
• Main Author: Ju, Jongil
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, NJ Blackwell Publishing Ltd 15-06-2014; Wiley; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biological; Body temperature; cryo-preservation; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Labor; Lithography; Materials science; Miscellaneous; PDMS prepolymer; Physical tests; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polymers; Prepolymers; repeated usage; Silicone resins; Technology of polymers; Wastes; Biological properties; Dimethylsiloxane polymer; Viscosity; Adhesivity; PDMS prepolymer; Cryogenic storage; Experimental study; Wettability; Storage stability; Surface properties; Biocompatibility; Prepolymer; repeated usage; Rheological properties; cryo-preservation
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.40378

ABSTRACT
Leftover uncured polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer is generally discarded. In an effort to minimize this waste, we have developed a method for cryo‐preserving PDMS prepolymer involving a simple storage technique for the preservation and repeated use over 1 month. Aliquots of the uncured PDMS prepolymer were stored at −20 or −80°C, then conveniently and easily thawed at body temperature (37°C). Proposed cryo‐preservation was successfully evaluated using diverse biological and physical tests. This method of cryo‐preserving PDMS reduces both the material waste and labor of soft lithography process and may enable soft lithography to be environmentally friendly relative to previous methods. The method may be popularly accepted for application to a variety of common microdevice fabrication procedures. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40378.