Methods for characterization of epoxy-functionalized substrates used for microarray applications, prepared by silanization with 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, have been developed. Contact angle measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry and fluorescence based methods have been applied to investigate these epoxy-functionalized microarray substrates. The surface density of epoxy-functionalized glass slides was investigated by fluorescence labeling of surface species utilizing Rhodamine 110 as fluorescence probe.
Nitrogen rich plasma polymer films (L-PPE:N) were prepared by low-pressure RF plasma using a 1:1 mixture of ethylene and ammonia and aged for 345 d in four different ambient conditions: (i) at room temperature (RT) in air; (ii) at RT in nitrogen; (iii) at -20?°C in air and; (iv) at –20 °C in nitrogen. The films were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) at various intervals over the duration of the experiment. The ageing of primary amines, NH2, was followed by chemical derivatization with 4-trifluoromethyl benzaldehyde. Storage at –20 °C, mostly independently of ambient atmosphere, slowed down ageing to almost undetectable levels as evaluated by the analytical methods used for this study.
A combined XPS, NEXAFS, and ToF-SIMS chemical surface characterization of carbohydrate-functionalized gold and glass surfaces is presented. Spot shape and chemical composition across a spot surface are provided by surface-sensitive methods as ToF-SIMS and XPS, used in their imaging modes. Moreover, the feasibility of this multimethod approach to control relevant production steps of a carbohydrate microarray prototype is demonstrated.
The wettability of the surfaces inside the microchannels of a microfluidic device is an important property considering a liquid flows through them. Contact angle measurements usually applied to test the wettability of surfaces cannot be used for an analysis of microchannel walls within microfluidic devices. A workaround is the use of surface analytical methods, which are able to reach points of interest in microchannels and may provide information on the surface chemistry established there. In calibrating these methods by using flat polymer wafers, where the contact angle can be measured as usual, data measured in real microchannels can be evaluated in terms of wetting properties. Reference wafers of bisphenol-A polycarbonate, a polymeric material that is often used in fluidic microdevice fabrication, were treated under different oxygen plasma conditions. The modified surfaces were characterized by using XPS, time of flight (ToF)-SIMS and atomic force microscope (AFM). Surface chemistry and surface topography have been correlated with contact angle measurements. In addition, effects of ageing or rinsing after plasma treatment have also been investigated.
The chemical composition of the functional surfaces of substrates used for microarrays is one of the important parameters that determine the quality of a microarray experiment. In addition to the commonly used contact angle measurements to determine the wettability of functionalized supports, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) are more specific methods to elucidate details about the chemical surface constitution. XPS yields information about the atomic composition of the surface, whereas from ToF-SIMS, information on the molecular species on the surface can be concluded. Applied on printed DNA microarrays, both techniques provide impressive chemical images down to the micrometer scale and can be utilized for label-free spot detection and characterization. Detailed information about the chemical constitution of single spots of microarrays can be obtained by high-resolution XPS imaging.
Carbohydrate films on gold based on dimannoside thiols (DMT) were prepared, and a complementary surface chemical analysis was performed in detail by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS), FT-IR, and contact angle measurements in order to verify formation of ω-carbohydrate-functionalized alkylthiol films. XPS (C 1s, O 1s, and S 2p) reveals information on carbohydrate specific alkoxy (C–O) and acetal moieties (O–C–O) as well as thiolate species attached to gold. Angle-resolved synchrotron XPS was used for chemical speciation at ultimate surface sensitivity. Angle-resolved XPS analysis suggests the presence of an excess top layer composed of unbound sulfur components combined with alkyl moieties. Further support for DMT attachment on Au is given by ToF-SIMS and FT-IR analysis. Carbon and oxygen K-edge NEXAFS spectra were interpreted by applying the building block model supported by comparison to data of 1-undecanethiol, poly(vinyl alcohol), and polyoxymethylene. No linear dichroism effect was observed in the angle-resolved C K-edge NEXAFS.
We investigated the ageing of amine-terminated
self-assembled monolayers (amine-SAMs) on different silica
substrates due to exposure to different ambient gases,
pressures, and/or temperatures using time-of-flight secondary
ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) with principal component
analysis and complementary methods of surface
analysis as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and
near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS). The
goal of this study is to examine the durability of primary
amine groups of amine-SAMs stored in a user laboratory
prior to being used as supports for biomolecule immobilization
and other applications. We prepared amine-SAMs on
the native oxides of silicon wafers and glass slides using 3-
aminopropyl triethoxysilane, by using optimized conditions
such as anhydrous organic solvent and reaction time scale of
hours to avoid multilayer growth. Selected commercial
amine-SAM slides have been investigated, too. When the
amine-SAMs are exposed to air, oxygen incorporation
occurs, followed by formation of amide groups. The formation
of oxygen species due to ageing was proved by ToFSIMS,
XPS, and NEXAFS findings such as CNO- secondary
ion emission at m/z 42, observation of the N 1s HNC=O
component peak at 400.2400.3 eV in XPS, and, last but not
least, by formation of a π*(HNC=O) resonance at 401 eV in
the N K-edge X-ray absorption spectrum. It is concluded
that the used multi-method approach comprising complementary
ToF-SIMS, XPS, and NEXAFS analyses is well
suited for a thorough study of chemical aspects of ageing
phenomena of amine-SAM surfaces.
Microarrays are a versatile platform for diagnostics and high-throughput analysis. Carbohydrate microarrays are valuable tools to investigate interactions with other molecules since many glycans are involved in fundamental biological processes. A combined X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) surface analysis was used to investigate the basic steps in the production of carbohydrate microarrays. The preparation included coupling of a thiol-terminated mannoside to maleimide-functionalized glass surfaces derived from γ-aminopropyl silane (GAPS) slides. XPS results clearly demonstrate successful chemical modification in each fabrication step, and ToF-SIMS imaging revealed immobilized carbohydrates in the spotted regions of the final microarray.
Recently, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) instrumentation has been used to address areas of interest within micro-fluidic devices providing full access to the surface chemistry established at the bottom of micro-channels therein. After careful calibration, information on surface chemistry as obtained by ToF-SIMS or XPS can be interpreted in terms of wettability expressed as contact angles which are then characteristic for the inner walls of micro-channels. Standard contact angle measurement is not applicable in micro-channels. The approach has been demonstrated to be successful with two different micro-fluidic devices hot embossed into high-end quality poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) or Polycarbonate wafers. A pre-selected surface chemistry at micro-channel walls can be established by plasma technologies but ageing and rinsing effects have to be under control. A combination of ToF-SIMS, XPS and contact angle measurement techniques has been demonstrated to provide the required information. Finally, it is shown by ToF-SIMS and XPS analysis that in the production of micro-fluidic parts during practical processing using hot embossing technologies, material originating from cover foils will reside on the polymer wafer's surface. Moreover, residues of releasing agents as silicone oil used during processing can be detected by ToF-SIMS. Both cover foil residues and silicones are issues of trouble shooting in micro-fluidics because they will change contact angles efficiently.