Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) has a hydrophobic surface, forming a contact angle of around 110º with deionised water. It is due to its hydrophobic nature that the elastomer is prone to bio-fouling, such as non-specific adsorption of biomaterials like proteins. This is a limitation to microfluidic applications that require hydrophobic surfaces where proteins are involved. This study determines the change in wetting of PDMS after fouling by a protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA), by measuring contact angles.
Reference:
Windvoel, VT, Mbanjwa, MB and Land, K. 2010. Contact angle studies on PDMS surfaces fouled by bovine serum albumin. European Cells and Materials, Vol.19(Supplement 1), pp 23
Windvoel, V., Mbanjwa, M., & Land, K. (2010). Contact angle studies on PDMS surfaces fouled by bovine serum albumin. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/3937
Windvoel, VT, MB Mbanjwa, and K Land "Contact angle studies on PDMS surfaces fouled by bovine serum albumin." (2010) http://hdl.handle.net/10204/3937
Windvoel V, Mbanjwa M, Land K. Contact angle studies on PDMS surfaces fouled by bovine serum albumin. 2010; http://hdl.handle.net/10204/3937.