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2CLASSIFICATION OF KEYATTRIBUTES OF SOFTMATERIAL GRADIENTS
Jan GenzerDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina StateUniversity, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
Rajendra R. BhatDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina StateUniversity, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Becton Dickinson Technologies, Durham,North Carolina, USA
20 CLASSIFICATION OF KEY ATTRIBUTES OF SOFT MATERIAL GRADIENTS
2.1 INTRODUCTION
The Merriam–Webster dictionary identifies a gradient as (i) the rate of regularor graded ascent or descent; (ii) change in the value of a quantity (i.e., temper-ature, pressure, or concentration) with change in a given variable and especiallyper unit distance in a specified direction; (iii) a graded difference in physio-logical activity along an axis (as of the body or an embryonic field); and (iv)change in response with distance from the stimulus. While all these definitionsfit the general description of gradients, we have to be more descriptive in orderto introduce the general topic of this book. Specifically, by “soft matter gra-dient surfaces” we understand assemblies made of soft condensed matter, thatis, liquids (including small molecules, molecular clusters, macromolecules), liq-uid crystals, colloids, gels, or foams, at interfaces and surfaces, where at leastone of the attributes of such an assembly varies gradually as a function of theposition on the substrate and/or in time between two extremes. The discussionthat follows has been purposely broadened beyond the above definition; it alsoincludes selected examples of structures that, although are not made of softmaterials, facilitate the transport and partitioning of soft materials on surfaces.While the most obvious parameter to vary in a gradual manner is the concen-tration of species in question, we demonstrate below that other physicochemicalcharacteristics of the material can also be altered gradually across the substrate.We discuss that one of the chief attributes of the gradient methods developedover the past four decades is that they can be combined to form complex gra-dient assemblies and geometries exhibiting gradual variation of two (or more)properties of the newly generated surface in two (or more) independent direc-tions.
In our recent review, we discussed that soft matter gradient substrates can befabricated by employing one of the two general class methods: (i) direct deposi-tion and (ii) post-deposition modification.1 In the former category of techniques,gradients are built on a parent (typically flat) substrate by gradually putting downthe gradient-building blocks (monomers, oligomers, polymers, etc.) via either nat-urally occurring processes (i.e., diffusion, propagating front, etc.) or man-madetechniques (i.e., controlled sample dipping into a solution, position-dependentevaporation, or external field assisted deposition methods). In the post-depositionmodification methodologies, a parent material, typically a flat substrate bearing anatural or predefined surface containing a functional “pre-coat,” is progressivelymodified either chemically or physically. All methods result in surface gradientassemblies comprising either a chemical (in most cases) or/and a physical (inselected cases) variation.
In order to facilitate the discussion, we classify gradient structures based on afew key attributes (Fig. 2.1). We note that any gradient substrate can belong tomore than one category depending on its attributes. For instance, let us considera case involving a gradient comprising assemblies of nanoparticles arranged ina gradual manner on a support. If deposited onto a flat substrate comprising a
INTRODUCTION 21
Orthogonal
Mechanical
Chemical
Responsive
3D
2D
Discrete
Continuous
Broad
Narrow
1D
Dimensionality
Length scales
Directionality Type
Timedependency
Surface gradientattributes
Dynamic
Substrate
Fluidinlets
Flow
Outlet
Substrate
SoftHard
DirectionalRadial
FIGURE 2.1 Schematic representation of various attributes of surface-bound soft mattergradients.
gradient of adhesion precursors (i.e., chemical gradient), the particles, having anaffinity for the precursor species, form two-dimensional (2D) gradient arrays.In contrast, when attached to substrates covered with a polymer layer having acontinuously varying molecular weight (i.e., length), density, or chemical com-position (i.e., chemical and physical gradients), the particles arrange into a 3Dassembly. The directionality and dimensionality of the substrate gradient pre-cursor set the direction and length scale of the particle arrays. To that end, theparticle gradients can evolve in one or more directions and can be either con-tinuous or discontinuous. The spatiotemporal gradient of the substrate causes avariation of at least one physicochemical property of the substrate. In the caseof nanoparticle gradient, those can be light absorption, scattering, affinity towardsome molecular moieties, conductivity, and many others.
Material gradients, both continuous and discrete, have facilitated majorbreakthroughs in combinatorial chemistry and materials science, includingthe design and discovery of catalysts and drugs, thereby enabling rapidtechnological developments with improved efficiency and lower research andproduction cost.2,3 Gradient structures have also inspired the development ofnew analytical approaches and measurement tools4–8 and have been proposedas structures that resist mechanical deformation and damage.9 Because severalrecent reviews have discussed the progress in generating and utilizing materialgradient surfaces in detail,1,10–27 we restrict ourselves to only outlining selectedprincipal attributes of soft material gradient surfaces and pointing out limitedcase studies. We use the concept illustrated in Fig. 2.1 as a guiding templatefor such a discussion. The other chapters in this book provide additional detailspertaining to many practical applications of such gradient structures.
22 CLASSIFICATION OF KEY ATTRIBUTES OF SOFT MATERIAL GRADIENTS
2.2 GRADIENT ATTRIBUTES
Gradients can be classified into many categories depending on their physico-chemical nature. In most instances, the resultant structures exhibit typically morethan just a single attribute identified, as in Fig. 2.1. Since a detailed discussionof the gradient attributes has been presented earlier,1 we restrict ourselves to justa succinct summary.
2.2.1 Gradient Type
Substrates can be made, which possess gradual variation of any physicochem-ical property. Here we concentrate on chemical, physical, and mechanical gra-dients because they are among the most widely studied and used structures.Figures 2.2–2.4 show a pictorial representation of selected methods that lead tothe formation of such gradient patterns on substrates.
Chemical gradients have been formed by various techniques involving thedirect deposition (see Fig. 2.2 and Fig. 2.3) and post-deposition modificationmethodologies (see Fig. 2.4). Various methods have been developed that uti-lize directed deposition of atomic (i.e., metals) or molecular clusters (i.e., smallsynthetic precursors, peptides, nanoparticles) to fabricate 2D material gradients(Fig. 2.2).28–61 In addition to depositing metals or small organic moieties,62,63
techniques have been introduced that enable the formation of 3D gradient lay-ers (Fig. 2.3) by either (i) laying down larger organic clusters (i.e., proteins) ornanoparticles or (ii) preparing polymer layers. While the former class of methodsleads to the formation of “quasi 3D” soft material structures with a gradual densityvariation across the substrate,64–77 thicker 3D gradients have almost exclusivelybeen formed by coating flat substrates with a relatively thick (a few nanometersto micrometers) polymer layer. In some instances, gradient structures have alsobeen prepared by using external fields78 or pH modulation during material depo-sition on the surface.79 We discuss the formation of 3D gradients in more detailin Section 2.2.2.
Earlier, we mentioned that gradient structures can also be formed bypost-deposition modification methods (see Fig. 2.4) that encompass exposinghomogeneous substrates to a gradual dose of either a chemical or a physicalmodifier.98–101,108–110,115–117 Other post-deposition modification techniques ofpreparing surface-bound chemical gradients involve preparing self-assembledmonolayer (SAM) films and either (i) altering the chemical functional groups inthe original molecules (typically photooxidation of end groups) to another groupby an external beam102–106,111,118,119 or (ii) selectively removing certain siteson the substrate and filling the empty sites with another molecule.107,120
Physical gradients possess a gradual variation of some physical property;the two most widely explored types of physical gradients involve structuresthat exhibit a gradual variation of substrate rigidity (i.e., Young’s modulus),roughness, or porosity.121 Biologists have long been interested in preparing andutilizing supports with gradients in modulus because it impacts cell motility(so-called durotaxis).122 Ingenious approaches leading to fabrication of such
GRADIENT ATTRIBUTES 23
(a) (b) (c)
(d) (e) (f)
(g) (h) (i)
(j) (k) (l)
Stainless steel rod Palladiumwire
Glass supportSource
Silicon waferCellulose acetate
Alkanethiol 1in glass frit in glass frit
Polysaccharide matrix TCE+
DDC
Xylene
Sample immersion
Stamp
Stamp
Liquid gradient
SAM MAM
SE
Gra
dien
t
Sub
stra
teSAM
solution
Gold-covered substrate
Substrate
Substrate
Substrate
Mica
Substrate
Substrate
Paraffin wax
SE stamp
Ink pad
Outlet
Inlet
Voltage course
Electrodes
Oxidation Reduction
SE+silane
Alkanethiol 2
FIGURE 2.2 Selected methods of creating 2D or quasi 2D gradients by deposition: (a)metal deposition via shadowing28; (b) vapor deposition of organosilanes29; (c) depositingself-assembled monolayer (SAM) on top of a mechanically pre-deformed substrate, so-called mechanically-assembled monolayer (MAM)31,32; (d) diffusion of alkanethiols inpolysaccharide matrix34; (e) liquid diffusion of organosilanes37,38; (f) immersion techniqueapplied to SAMs47; (g) deposition of organosilanes by means of silicone elastomer stampswith different curvatures48; (h) printing alkanethiols from stamps of variable thickness49;(i) forming a concentration gradient of two charged molecules in a solution and imprintingthem onto a stamp, which could then transfer the gradient pattern onto a substrate50; (j)deposition of SAMs by means of reaction gradients in bipolar electrodes52; (k) SAMgradients formed by microfluidic lithography (μFL)55; and (l) embossing topographicalpatterns in soft waxes.56
24 CLASSIFICATION OF KEY ATTRIBUTES OF SOFT MATERIAL GRADIENTS
(a) (b)OptoDex
Protein
Polystyrene support
Exposure
Capillary filledwith PEG-NHS
Agarose gel
Substrate
Substrate
Substrate
Polymerize
Initiator density gradient
Substrate
Substrate
Substrate
Substrate
Substrate
Shutter
Monomer
Sampleimmersion
Polymer gradient
Sample
Heating stage
ColdHot
Polymer
UV
Mcatalystsolvent
Depositionchamber
Microfluidic mixer
Flow
Outlet
Fluidinlets
Side view
DrainPump
Monomer, catalyst, solvent
M2
M1
M2M1
Sub
stra
te
Sub
stra
te
350 nm 350 nm
(c)
(d) (e) (f)
(g) (h) (i)
(j) (k) (l)
FIGURE 2.3 Selected methods of creating 3D gradients by deposition: (a) gradi-ents of proteins by means of heterobifunctional photolinkers64; (b) knife-edge coatingtechnology80; (c) grafting onto method in conjunction with temperature gradient heatingof the substrate81; (d) immobilization of PEG by diffusion and grafting82; (e) position-dependent UV dose to monomers in contact with activated surfaces83; (f) gradual immer-sion of substrates into polymerization media84; (g) solution draining method for preparingpolymer brushes85; (h) forming a molecular gradient of an initiator on a substrate followedby grafting from polymerization86; (i) opposite grafting density counter-gradients of twopolymers formed by sequential grafting from two different set of initiators87; (j) preparingrandom copolymer brushes by steadily adding a new monomer (M2) into the polymer-ization mixture containing another monomer (M1)88; (k) preparing statistical copolymersby microfluidic mixing of two monomers followed by chamber filling method89,90; and(l) solution and surface gradient using microfluidics.91–97
FIGURE 2.4 Selected methods of creating gradients by post-deposition modifica-tion: (a) hydrolysis of poly(vinylene carbonate)98; (b) radio frequency (RF) plasmadischarge99,100; (c) corona discharge101;(d) UV/ozone modification of hydrophilic SAMsacross prisms with variable UV transparency102; (e) UV coupled to an optical cable103;(f) beam of electrons104–106; (g) replacement lithography of alkanethiols107; (h) combina-tion of corona treatment of the surface and surface-initiated polymerization20,101,108–110;(i) combination of electron beam bombardment of the surface and surface-initiatedpolymerization104–106,111; (j) position-dependent annealing of porous polyethylenesheets112; (k) position-dependent annealing of nanosphere sheets113; (l) chemical pol-ishing of rough metal plates by immersing the sample vertically into a solution of anetchant.114
26 CLASSIFICATION OF KEY ATTRIBUTES OF SOFT MATERIAL GRADIENTS
unique structures have been developed by Wang et al.,123,124 Wong et al.,125–127
and others.128,129 The utilization of such structures in biological applications isdiscussed later in Section 2.3 of this chapter. Techniques facilitating the fabri-cation of surfaces with position-dependent variation of topography/roughnesshave also been developed that employed (i) selective removal of one chemicalcomponent from the multicomponent chemically modulated surfaces130; (ii)sintering of the resultant porous substrates112 or close-packed sheets ofnanospheres113,131–134 using position-dependent heating; or (iii) “chemicalpolishing” of rough metal plates by immersing the sample vertically into asolution of an etchant,114 (iv) phase separation of immiscible polymer films castonto surface gradient substrates,135 (v) photolithography-assisted molding ofpillars and holes,136 and other methods.137 Such substrates were then used toinvestigate the effect of substrate topography on cell adhesion.138,139
A special type of physicochemical gradient involves the generation of othergradients in liquids that can be transferred onto substrates,140,141 gradients ofpH,142–144 and refractive index.145
2.2.2 Gradient Dimensionality
Section 2.2.1 discussed the methods that lead nearly exclusively to 2D gradi-ents. True 3D soft matter gradient structures can be built by deposition tech-niques, whereby the 3D hierarchy is achieved either in a single step or bysequentially building layers on the substrate. Early work included the applica-tion of the “knife-edge coating” method,80,146–148 which enabled the formationof polymer layer with gradual variation of composition and thickness. Otherefforts included plasma polymerization on surfaces,149–155 electrodeposition,156
and chemical vapor deposition.157 A very popular class of technologies involveschemical grafting of polymer chains to the substrate by employing either theso-called grafting onto or grafting from approaches.158
“Grafting onto” techniques, which are based on anchoring the chemicallyfunctionalized polymer chains onto reactive sites on the substrate, result ingradients in grafting density (i.e., number of polymer chains per unit area) ofpolymer chains, as demonstrated in a series of papers by Luzinov, Minko, andcoworkers,81,159–162 and others.82,163 The “grafting from” methods involve build-ing the polymer layer by carrying out polymerization directly from surface-boundpolymerization initiator centers chemisorbed on the substrate. Numerous variantsof this methodology have been reported.164 For instance, Liedberg and coworkersdeveloped a versatile way of producing gradient assemblies of polymers byexposing activated surfaces to the solution of a monomer and carrying out freeradical polymerization via exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. They controlledthe length of the grafted chain on the substrate by modulating the UV dosageby means of a movable shutter.83,165–167 Controlled radical polymerizationsfor instance, atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), have been employedwidely for generating 3D gradient assemblies. For instance, Tomlinson and Gen-zer reported on gradients in molecular weight of the anchored polymer by either
GRADIENT ATTRIBUTES 27
gradually immersing a substrate decorated with surface-bound initiator SAMsinto a polymerization solution84 or by gradually draining the polymerizationsolution from a chamber that had the initiator-covered substrate placed verticallyin it.85 Wu and coworkers prepared polymer grafting density gradients on flatsilica-based surfaces by first forming a gradient of organosilane-based initiator forATRP by the vapor diffusion method29 followed by grafting from polymerizationof various monomers.86,168–170 Zhao later extended this design by forming “dou-ble” grafting density gradients of two chemically distinct counter-propagatingpolymer grafts.87 Polymer gradients have also been prepared by means of electricfield gradients.171,172 Wang and Bohn reported on generating “double polymergradients” by carrying out electrochemical deposition of ATRP initiator followedby grafting from polymerization,173 and electrochemically filling the “empty”spaces on the substrate with fresh initiator molecules from which another typeof polymer was grown.174 Other methodologies for controlling the gradientnature of surface-anchored layers during ATRP have also been reported.175
Further tailoring of 3D gradients can be accomplished by polymerizing twodistinct monomers, thus forming copolymer gradients. Block copolymer gradi-ents with a gradual variation of the length of each block and the overall polymermolecular weight were synthesized by sequential polymerization of two or threemonomers combined with the methods of producing molecular weight gradientof surface-anchored macromolecules.88,176–178 Xu et al. reported on the forma-tion of surface-anchored statistical copolymers on flat substrates with gradientsin composition by means of microfluidic setups.89,90 The ability to create reac-tive sites on the surface by the post-deposition modification methods, such ascorona treatment20,101,108–110 or electron beam bombardment,104–106,179 can alsobe coupled with grafting from polymerization methods, thereby creating 3Dsurface-anchored soft scaffolds.
Special cases of 3D chemical gradients are those prepared by the means ofliquid mixing in microfluidic channels.91–97,180–187 What distinguishes this classof structures from the more conventional gradients is the fact that they are createdinside a channel of a microfluidic device rather than by grafting on top of a solidsubstrate. Formation and characteristics of microfluidic gradients are discussedin Section 2.2.5.
2.2.3 Gradient Directionality
While all gradient structures are, by definition, directional, the most widely fab-ricated gradient assemblies are unidirectional, that is, they possess variation of aphysicochemical property in one direction along the substrate. Structures enablingthe variation of one or more properties in the same as well as counter-propagatingdirections have been fabricated. Simple unidirectional gradients constitute a sub-set of more general radial motifs, in which the gradual variation of a physico-chemical character commences at a certain point on the substrate from which itpropagates radially. Gradient directionality allows for more than a single propertyto be varied in a specimen, however.
28 CLASSIFICATION OF KEY ATTRIBUTES OF SOFT MATERIAL GRADIENTS
A practical attribute of various gradient preparation methods is that theycan be combined to form complex multigradient assemblies, allowing one tochange two or more physicochemical properties across the substrate concur-rently and independently of each other. These gradients can involve change oftwo different chemistries or can be made of two dissimilar characteristics, say,chemistry and roughness or chemistry and substrate rigidity (i.e., modulus) andmany others. The simplest examples of such multigradient motifs are so-calledorthogonal gradients, wherein two properties vary independently across the spec-imen in two perpendicular directions. Early examples involved the formation oforthogonal gradients exhibiting variation in (i) polymer film thickness/chemicalcomposition,80 (ii) film chemical composition/process temperature,80 and (iii)film thickness/temperature.146 Later orthogonal motifs included polymer assem-blies comprising gradual and independent variation in (i) molecular weight andgrafting density (MW–σ )17,18,188–190 and (ii) molecular weight of two blocks ina diblock copolymer (MW1–MW2).17,18,177,178,191,192
One can extend the concept of multidirectional gradients even further. Forinstance, triangular gradients can be generated that allow for the variation ofthree independent material characteristics in three different directions. As anexample, Tomlinson and coworkers recently reported on fabricating substratesdecorated with triblock copolymers comprising independent variation of lengths(as well as composition) of three individual blocks.178
2.2.4 Gradient Length Scale
Gradient substrates represent, in essence, a collection of many individual samples,each having a uniform discrete property. Consequently, any array of discrete siteson the surface, where the property (say, composition) of each element of the arraychanges gradually, can be considered to possess the attributes of a gradient. If thevariation between neighboring properties is smooth, the gradient appears to be(nearly) continuous. In contrast, discontinuous gradients refer to designs involvinggaps between neighboring homogeneous substrate characteristics. The dual natureof a continuous soft material gradient, that is, discrete on local scales (nano tomicro) and continuous on mesoscale (micro to centimeter), makes it a powerfultool both for studying systematically various physicochemical phenomena andfor driving certain phenomena. Further discussion on how the dual length scalesexhibited by gradients facilitates their applications can be found in Section 2.3.
While most gradient geometries reported span over a distance of a few mil-limeters to centimeters, certain fabrication methods allow for decreasing consid-erably the spatial dimension of the gradient patterns. These involve creationof molecular gradients on flexible substrates32; edge-spreading lithography46;deposition of organosilanes by means of silicone elastomer (SE) stamps with dif-ferent curvatures48; UV laser irradiation of substrates via optical cable103; chem-ical convertion of alkenethiol-based SAM molecules with soft X-rays111,119 andelectron beam,104–106 replacement lithography,107 or plasma polymerization.153
Novel gradient-forming techniques are constantly being developed that permit
GRADIENT FUNCTIONALITY 29
the generation of chemical and/or physical gradients on nanometer-to-micrometerscale.193,194
2.2.5 Gradient Temporal Dependency
Time dependency constitutes yet another important attribute of gradient sub-strates. Most gradient motifs are static so that their physicochemical propertiescorrespond to the state present at the time of their creation. However, some softmaterial designs are capable of responding to a variation of external stimulus (i.e.,solvent quality, pH, temperature, electric or magnetic field, ion concentration) ormay be varied by adjusting the gradient attributes in real time.
The first category of gradient structures involves polymer assemblies thatalter their properties as a function of solvent quality, pH, charge, or an externalpotential. Ionov and coworkers created responsive polymer surfaces195 compris-ing mixed brushes made of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and poly(2-vinyl pyridine)(P2VP),196 whose density changed gradually across the substrate in two oppo-site directions. These mixed brush gradients responded to the variation of pH byswelling the P2VP brushes at low pH and swelling the PAA brushes at high pH.
The second category of dynamic gradients includes structures that are pro-duced by mixing liquids inside a microfluidic device. In these gradients, thetime-dependent variation of the concentration of the various liquids is achievedin a flowing liquid.91 Here, multiple solutions are infused simultaneously into anetwork through various inlets. As the fluid streams travel down the network,they are repeatedly split, mixed, and recombined; and after several generationsof branched systems, each branch contains different proportions of the infusedsolutions. As a result, a gradient is established—perpendicular to the flow—ina single large channel that combines all individual branches of fluids. Multiplestudies demonstrated the versatility of this method in probing numerous biolog-ical phenomena,197–200 as well as in achieving spatial control of surfactants andmicelles in solution.201
A few nontraditional gradient types were created by varying externalfields such as temperature,202–205 pH,206 and electrochemical potential. Forinstance, Isaksson and coworkers recently presented a method for producing awettability gradient by an external voltage.207 Yamada and Tada reported onthe formation of dynamic wettability gradients by first decorating substrateswith ferrocenyl alkanethiols and then applying in-plane gradients in theelectrochemical potential between the ends of the substrate. Reversibility innitrobenzene and dichloromethane drop motion on wettability gradients has alsobeen reported.199,208
2.3 GRADIENT FUNCTIONALITY
The very nature of gradient surfaces makes them functional structures. Chem-ical and physical gradients are responsible for driving many important biolog-ical and physical processes, such as the directed movement of certain bacteria
30 CLASSIFICATION OF KEY ATTRIBUTES OF SOFT MATERIAL GRADIENTS
Driving a phenomenonProperty tuning
Phenomenon recording
Property screening
FIGURE 2.5 Schematic illustrating various functionalities of gradient substrates.
toward nutrients in response to the concentration gradients of molecules emanat-ing from axon target or food source76,77,209 or locomotion of motor proteins,that is, kinesin, which can haul cargoes attached to them along microtubu-lar “railroads.”210 Concentration gradients of molecules on surfaces also affectphenomena such as osmotic swelling, surface pressure, and surface wettabil-ity. Various fabrication methods leading to the formation gradients on surfacescan also be employed to record important physical phenomena. For instance,by immersing a flat substrate continuously into a polymer solution, one canstudy systematically the adsorption of polymers onto that substrate.211 Anotherexample involves a study of polymerization kinetics: substrates decorated withpolymerization initiators can be dipped slowly into the polymerization solution,thus producing a gradient in chain length of the surface-bound polymer. Measur-ing the chain length (by assessing the film thickness) of such polymers grownat various points along the gradient can reveal information about the kineticsof polymerization on surfaces in a very systematic and facile manner.84,85 Gra-dients are conveniently suited to screen important physico-chemico-biologicalphenomena, that is, protein adsorption on surfaces.1,20,23 The chief advantageof gradient structures in studying a complex phenomenon is that the mono-tonic variation of the physicochemical characteristics of the underlying gradienteliminates the requirement for interpolation to determine the surface responseand enables unambiguous interpretation of adsorption experiments. We discussedgradient functionality in terms of four important sub-attributes, concerning theability to tune, drive, record, and screen a phenomenon (Fig. 2.5). The abilityof gradient surfaces to tune surface properties has been discussed in the pre-ceding discussion; the latter three capabilities are outlined in the subsectionsbelow.
2.3.1 Driving a Phenomenon
If the gradient is to be utilized in driving a given phenomenon, for example,directing motion of some adsorbed objects, the gradient “steepness” has to be ofthe same order of magnitude as the length scale sampled by the moving object onthe substrate. To that end, “shallow” gradients, whose steepness changes over amillimeter to centimeter range, are suitable for driving the motion of liquid drops
GRADIENT FUNCTIONALITY 31
while “sharp” gradients have to be employed for studying the mobility of muchsmaller objects. For example, cell locomotion can only be probed with gradientswhose inherent length scale is on the order of a few tens to hundreds of microns.
Traditionally, soft material gradient surfaces have been employed in trans-porting liquids across surfaces by implementing the gradient in the interfacialtension at the front and back edge of the drop acting at the droplet/substrate/airinterface.29 While relatively slow motion was observed in the initial studies,much higher drop speeds have been observed for small water droplets formed bycondensation of steam onto a gradient surface,212 by vibrating the surface,213,214
by rolling the drop on a rough substrate decorated with a chemical gradient madeof hydrophobic organosilane modifiers,215 or on wettability gradients prepared byembossing topographical patterns in soft waxes.56 A large body of work pertain-ing to probing the liquid motion due to “static gradients” as well as “dynamicgradients” has been presented recently.202–205,207,216–236 It is important to notethat chemical reactions on gradient surfaces can also govern the movement oflarger molecules, that is, dendrimers237 or nanoparticles.238
Surface-bound gradients have been employed as “directional engines”capable of driving synthetic239 and biological macromolecules along surfaces.Over the past few decades, multiple experimental and theoretical studies havebeen published that reported on the response of living cells (orientation andmigration)240–246 to the variation of chemistry (chemotaxis, haptotaxis),28,247–249
light intensity (phototaxis),250 electrostatic potential (galvanotaxis),251,252 gravi-tational field (geotaxis),253 mechanical properties (durotaxis),123–128 as well assubstrate topography,254,255 or concurrent combination of several cues.256 Manyof those studies employed either static or dynamic gradients in physicochemicalproperties or micropatterned arrays of asymmetric regions of sticky groupson the substrate257 that governed the locomotion of cells,258–262 kinesin oractin,161,263–265 and axon growth.266
2.3.2 Recording a Phenomenon
Processes leading to the formation of soft material gradients on surfaces can beperceived as a convenient means of “recording” time-dependent physicochem-ical phenomena. The resultant gradient substrate then constitutes a convenientrecoding medium, which further facilitates detailed and expedient “post-process”analytical platform.
Tomlinson and coworkers used the gradient geometry to study the kineticsof the surface-initiated controlled radical polymerization of poly(methylmethacrylate)84,85; they confirmed that the reaction obeyed the predicteddependence on the concentration of the activator and deactivator species in thepolymerization mixture and established the “living” nature of the macroinitiatorin surface-initiated ATRP. Shovsky and Schonherr employed gradient geometryto monitor reaction kinetics, rate constants, and activation energies anddetermined entropies associated with the surface reactions of alkaline hydrolysisof model SAMs on surfaces.267 The kinetics of post-polymerization reaction
32 CLASSIFICATION OF KEY ATTRIBUTES OF SOFT MATERIAL GRADIENTS
of surface-grafted chains such as bromination of grafted polystyrene has beenreported by Jhon and coworkers.268
The gradient setup is conveniently suited for monitoring time-dependentadsorption of molecules from solution onto surfaces. Morgenthaler et al. reportedon the adsorption of poly(l-lysine)-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymers ontometal oxide substrates by gradually immersing the substrate into the copolymersolution.269 Jhon and coworkers employed a similar setup to study the effectof comonomer sequence distribution in random copolymers on adsorption onsolid substrates.211 Adsorption studies of pluronics (PEO–PPO–PEO triblockcopolymers) on wettability gradients helped establish that the PPO block wasgoverning the partition of the pluronics on surfaces.270
Substrates bearing gradient assemblies of surface-grafted polymer brusheshave been used to monitor swelling/collapse of copolymer blocks with selectivesolvents.88,177,271 Several studies have demonstrated the suitability of combina-torial approaches to study the coalescence of droplets on chemically heteroge-neous gradient substrates,272 order–disorder transition in grafted oligoalkanes onsurfaces,36 and phase separation in immiscible homopolymer blends.273 Usinggradient setup, Douglas and coworkers uncovered that the mechanism involvedin forming molecular gradients of organosilane SAMs on silica flat substrates byvapor diffusion technique depends on the geometry of the diffusing system; inconfined systems, the molecules did not order themselves in a classical diffusion-like manner but grew in a wavelike fashion that spread out from a source point.274
In chapter 4 in this book, we report on studies using counter-propagating frontsemploying two different organosilane molecules; in particular, we examine thecollision between fronts made of two different chemical species and explorewhich type is thermodynamically “fittest/robust” (i.e., it displaces the other andthus “survives”).
2.3.3 Screening a Phenomenon
When employing gradients in materials property screening, that is, using the gra-dient structures as a library of individual homogeneous specimens, it is importantto assure that the change in the characteristics of the individual library elementsis small enough for one to unequivocally ascribe the measured property to thecharacteristics of underlying library elements. The actual size of the discretespots on the sample, into which the overall gradient structure can be subdivided,has to be large enough and the gradient steepness has to be small enough sothat each individual element of the library possesses a uniform property and islarger than the lateral resolution of a given analytical method used to probe suchproperties.148
Since their first creation, gradient substrates have played a pivotalrole in screening various characteristics of soft structures comprisingoligomeric/polymeric components. Gradient geometries have enabled systematicinvestigation of the structure and surface morphologies in thin block copolymerfilms over a wide range of film thicknesses,147,275–279 phase behavior in polymer
CONCLUSIONS 33
blends,80 crystallization in thin polymer films,280,281 stability of liquids282
and thin polymer films,48,80,146,276,283,284 order–disorder transition in shortalkane-36,285,286 and oligo(ethylene glycol)-based molecules on surfaces,117,287
and the structure of organic light-emitting diodes.62,63,288 Substrates decoratedwith wettability gradients have also been employed to probe the orientation ofseveral liquid crystalline materials.289,290 Gradient geometries were utilized toprobe the adsorption and absorption of inorganic or organic nanoobjects, that is,nanoparticles291–297 or nanowires,298 into SAM or polymer-based matrices, thusproviding a convenient platform for testing the partitioning of nanoadsorbatesinside organic grafts.299 Gradient geometries have also proved importantin assessing mechanical characteristics of soft materials, including gradualtransition from hard to soft tissues by self-assembling diblock copolymersdisplaying a “noncollagenic” block and a “stiffness tunable” block made up ofelastin-like (soft), amorphous polyglycine (intermediate), or a silklike (hard)material,300 or establishing novel methods for systematic assessment of theelastic modulus of polymeric and nonpolymeric material thin films.6
No other field of science and engineering has utilized soft material gradientsfor screening properties more frequently than biosciences because of theneed to screen systematically many parameters that affect the partitioning ofbiomolecules at surfaces and interfaces. To this end, soft matter gradientshave been employed in methodical studies of adsorption of surfactants,10,37,301
bacteria,302,303 and proteins.10,20,100,106,161,167,189,198,287,301,304–327 Surface-bound gradients have also been used successfully in studies pertaining toplatelet adhesion328,329; enzyme immobilization330; cell adhesion, motility,and encapsulation11,24,28,68,69,75–79,98,130,138,139,154,190,191,209,266,310,331–371;hybridization on biochips72; biosensor design83,153,165,166; tissue engi-neering372–374; and other phenomena involving interfacial biomaterial interac-tion with man-made surfaces.375 A more detailed account of the application ofsoft material gradients in biomaterial and biological sciences can be found inrecent reviews.20,22,23
2.4 CONCLUSIONS
The purpose of this chapter was to classify soft material gradients in terms oftheir chief attributes and summarize briefly the progress achieved in the fieldover the past four decades. Owing to space limitations, we could not provide thenecessary details about all the stimulating developments in the field; interestedreaders should consult recent comprehensive reviews on this topic1,19,22,23 aswell as other reviews and research articles cited in this chapter. As we discussed,gradient surfaces have not only enabled generation of “appealing” materialmotifs on surfaces but more importantly have facilitated systematic studies ofphysicochemical phenomena, enabled generation of smart/responsive materials,and provided means of dynamically adjusting physicochemical aspects ofsurfaces. The field of material science involving the preparation and utilization
34 CLASSIFICATION OF KEY ATTRIBUTES OF SOFT MATERIAL GRADIENTS
of soft material gradient surfaces has now evolved from its infancy into a maturescientific discipline, thanks primarily to the numerous researchers from variousscientific disciplines, many of whom are contributors to this exciting book.
Acknowledgments
We thank all former and current members of the Genzer research group as wellas many colleagues all over the world for the fruitful collaboration, stimulatingdiscussions, and constructive feedback over the past decade. Our research effortsin this field have been supported by generous financial assistance provided by theNational Science Foundation, Henry & Camille Dreyfus Foundation, Office ofNaval Research, and Army Research Office. Special thanks go to the Universityof Tokyo for granting one of the authors (JG) a Visiting Professorship in thesummer of 2009, during which a portion of this chapter was written.
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