Laser interference lithography as a new and efficient technique for micropatterning of biopolymer surface.

Laser interference lithography (LIL) is a straightforward technique to prepare linear micropatterns for regulating cellular adhesion behaviors on polymer substratum. This process is based on selective laser ablation directly duplicating the interference patterns of two or more coherent laser beams onto the polymer surface. Micropatterns prepared by LIL on poly(ethylene terephthalate) and Thermanox were characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and white light interferometer while the chemical surface modification induced by laser was analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The AFM photographs show that the micropatterns are well-defined and of great consistency. Polymer properties and laser parameters related to LIL as well as laser ablation mechanisms are discussed in this technical note.