CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan. 16 (UPI) -- U.S. and South Korean scientists have developed a method of creating wrinkled hard skins on polymer surfaces by using a focused ion beam.
The scientists from Harvard University and Seoul National Universities say by controlling the direction and intensity of the ion beam, they can literally sculpt patterns on flat areas of polydimethylsiloxane, a silicon-based organic polymer.
The researchers, who have applied for a U.S. patent, say the technique has potential use for biological sensors and microfluidic devices and might also offer new ways to build custom-made cell templates for tissue engineering.
The Harvard group included Professor John Hutchinson, Myoung-Woon Moon, and Ashkan Vaziri. The Korean scientists included Sang Hoon Lee, Jeong-Yun Sun, and Kyu Hwan Oh.
The study appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
