Surface energy induced patterning of polymer nanostructures for cancer diagnosis and therapy

We have developed a new simple method to pattern discrete polymer micro and nanostructures. A Si template is patterned by lithography and selective surface treatment to have spatially different surface energies that induce microfluidic self-patterning of a spincoated polymer layer. Biocompatible diblock co-polymer and SU8 are patterned using this method to form monodisperse and shape specific microstructures. After patterning, these particles are lifted off the template surface into aqueous solution. The template is then cleaned and re-used. These freestanding polymer particles with uniform and precise spherical morphology can be used as carriers for drug and imaging agents for biomedical applications.