Stable, nanometer‐thick oxygen‐containing plasma polymer films suited for enhanced biosensing. Issue 11 (23rd August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hegemann, Dirk; Indutnyi, Ivan; Zajíčková, Lenka; Makhneva, Ekaterina; Farka, Zdeněk; Ushenin, Yuriy; Vandenbossche, Marianne
• Is Part Of: Plasma processes and polymers. Volume 15:Issue 11(2018)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2018-08-23
• Subjects: functionality -- immunosensing -- nano‐layers -- plasma coating -- surface plasmon resonance; Plasma polymerization -- Periodicals; Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition -- Periodicals; Plasma chemistry -- Periodicals
• DOI: 10.1002/ppap.201800090
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1612-8850

Abstract

Abstract : Stable surface functionalization is required in many applications such as in biosensing. For this purpose, hydrocarbon‐based plasma polymer films (PPFs) were investigated by controlling cross‐linking and film structure at the nanoscale, while functional groups were incorporated using a CO2 /C2 H4 low pressure plasma. In particular, an oxygen‐rich termination layer of 1 nm (top layer) was gradually deposited onto a more cross‐linked PPF (base layer) with varying thickness (<20 nm) yielding highly stable yet functional a‐C:H:O films as compared to conventional oxygen‐rich PPFs. Such stabilized nano‐layers provided a homogeneous functionalization of Au‐coated (flat) biochips as used for immunosensing as well as of nanostructured Au‐coated surfaces explored for enhanced biosensing. The used periodic grating coated by the highly stable a‐C:H:O nano‐layer can be adjusted to the required environmental refractive index range yielding a distinct sensitivity enhancement for biosensing. Abstract : Au‐coated chips with and without a periodic nanostructure (grating) were functionalized by oxygen‐containing plasma polymer films to enable immunosensing and to enhance SPR sensitivity. In particular, ultrathin functional plasma polymer films comprising a vertical gradient structure resulted in a stable functionalization of flat and graded Au‐coated chips.