Work

Characterizing the stability of poly-ethylene glycol surface coatings as a function of environmental conditions for micropatterning applications

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Poly-ethylene glycol (PEG) is widely used as an antifouling coating in biomedical applications, including the micropatterning of cells, but its antifouling properties are known to degrade over time. Here, we systematically characterize the degradation of a methoxy PEG succinimidyl valerate coating on poly-l-lysine (PLL) treated glass surfaces as a function of temperature and humidity over a 10-week period. This PEG functionalization strategy is not as well-characterized as the more established PEG grafted to PLL (PLL-g-PEG) coating, but may offer longer term stability. Using a fluorescence-based method to quantify antifouling efficacy, we found that PEG coatings stored dry at room temperature (25°C) exhibited the highest loss of function. In contrast, storing PEG-coated surfaces in phosphate-buffered saline at both 4 and 25°C, or dry at −20°C, effectively preserved their antifouling properties. We used maskless photolithography to selectively degrade PEG and revealed micro-scale and chemical changes in the PEG coating using fluorescence imaging, mass spectrometry, and atomic force microscopy. Our findings provide practical guidelines for optimal shipping and storing conditions for PEG-coated substrates.

Source: Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B Nanotechnology and Microelectronics Materials Processing Measurement and Phenomena

DOI: 10.1116/6.0004946

Authors: Nadav Jacobsen, Noa Ben-Asher, Leeya Engel

Institution: Technion – Israel Institute of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Polymer Surface Interaction Studies

Subfield: Surfaces, Coatings and Films

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: Israel Science Foundation

Award: G8854121508