Design of polymer coating materials for long-term hydrophilic stability of poly(dimethylsiloxane) surfaces

Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) is often used as a base material for microfluidic devices because of its attractive shape-molding properties, elasticity, and biocompatibility. However, sufficient long-term hydrophilic stability of PDMS surfaces has not been achieved. This study provides a new molecular design for surface-coating materials that can maintain the hydrophilicity of the PDMS surface for an ultralong-term. The recovery rates of surface hydrophobicity were distinctly different for the three polymers used for coating the PDMS substrate. The polymer with the most inert functional group maintained the hydrophilic surface over one year.