Hydrogel Inverse Replicas of Breath Figures Exhibit Superoleophobicity Due to Patterned Surface Roughness.

The wetting behavior of a surface depends on both its surface chemistry and the characteristics of surface morphology and topography. Adding structure to a flat hydrophobic or oleophobic surface increases the effective contact angle and thus the hydrophobicity or oleophobicity of the surface, as exemplified by the lotus leaf analogy. We describe a simple strategy to introduce micropatterned roughness on surfaces of soft materials, utilizing the template of hexagonally packed pores of breath figures as molds.

Effect of Two Novel Sustained-Release Drug Delivery Systems on Bleb Fibrosis: An In Vivo Glaucoma Drainage Device Study in a Rabbit Model.

Purpose: To evaluate two drug delivery systems, a nonbiodegradable poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (P[HEMA]) system with mitomycin C (MMC) and a biodegradable poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) system with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) with and without MMC for their ability to reduce fibrosis when attached to an Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) and implanted in a rabbit model.

Methods: New Zealand albino rabbits (48) were divided into six equal groups, and AGVs, modified as described below, were implanted in the right eye of each rabbit. The groups included (1) PLGA alone; (2) P(HEMA) plus MMC (6.

Novel "breath figure"-based synthetic PLGA matrices for in vitro modeling of mammary morphogenesis and assessing chemotherapeutic response.

Biodegradable poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) porous films are developed to support mammary cell growth and function. Such porous polymer matrices of PLGA are generated using the easily implemented water-templating "breath-figure" technique that allows water droplets to penetrate the nascent polymer films to create a rough porous polymer film. Such breath figure-based micropatterned porous films show higher epithelial differentiation and growth than the corresponding flat 2D films, and represent the first instance of using them for tissue culture.

A novel antiproliferative drug coating for glaucoma drainage devices.

Purpose: The implantation of a glaucoma drainage device (GDD) is often necessary for intractable cases of glaucoma. Currently, the success rate of GDD implants is relatively low because fibrosis that develops during the wound-healing process ultimately blocks fluid drainage. We describe herein a novel porous coating for Ahmed glaucoma valves based on biodegradable poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA).

In vitro degradation and release characteristics of spin coated thin films of PLGA with a "breath figure" morphology.

Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) coatings on implant materials are widely used in controlled drug delivery applications. Typically, such coatings are made with non-porous films. Here, we have synthesized a thin PLGA film coating with a highly ordered microporous structure using a simple and inexpensive water templating "breath figure" technique.