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To date, the iCVD process has enabled the synthesis of over 60 distinct functional polymer films. Given its ability to form homogeneous copolymer coatings through the controlled combination of multiple monomer species, the potential library of polymer compositions is virtually limitless. Leveraging this versatility, FTFL has developed functional polymer films designed to replace conventional animal-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) materials for cell culture. In particular, for clinically relevant cell types such as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and human intestinal stem cells (ISCs), where xenogeneic contamination must be strictly avoided, we established well-defined organic polymer surfaces through precise chemical modifications. These engineered substrates provide a xeno-free culture environment suitable for therapeutic applications.
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FTFL has also demonstrated the ability to precisely tailor surface energy by modulating the composition of polymer coatings. For example, adjusting the surface property from hydrophilic to hydrophobic enabled selective separation of dendritic cells and macrophages by regulating cell–substrate interactions. The iCVD process allows for polymer-based cell-culture platform that supports efficient DC expansion and cDC1 differentiation without requiring any additional biochemical manipulation or protocol modification during the culture process. Moreover, hydrophobic surfaces synthesized via iCVD promoted the formation of tumor spheroids with enhanced performance compared to the conventional ultra-low attachment (ULA) plates, through preferential adsorption of specific proteins on the hydrophobic substrate. Therefore, polymer films deposition via iCVD provides a versatile platform for both immunological and cancer research applications.
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FTFL has developed a range of three-dimensional architectures and two-dimensional patterns integrated with nano-polymer coatings. The combination of micro-wrinkles and nano-pillars effectively modulated the behavior of cardiac cells. In addition, a microfluidic chip mimicking the human vascular system successfully recapitulated cancer invasion and metastasis upon the introduction of malignant cancer spheroids that were pre-formed on polymer-coated surfaces synthesized via iCVD prcoes. Furthermore, the use of two-dimensional micropatterning of polymers enabled selective cell adhesion and detachment, offering a facile and controllable platform for injection-based cell therapy. | |
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FTFL uses solvent-free vapor-phase polymerization (iCVD/piCVD) and precise nano-topography engineering to address critical challenges in bio-devices, including nonspecific protein adsorption, corrosion, immune/tissue responses, and infection. Specifically, (1) molecular diagnostics: we built an “all-in-one” PCR platform by conformally coating the inner wall of PCR tubes with positively charged polymers via iCVD, enabling nucleic acid capture–release–amplification–detection in a single vessel. In parallel, we established a robust droplet dPCR analysis pipeline that combines deep-learning semantic segmentation with Hough transform algorithms to reliably classify and count droplets even from low-quality images.
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(2) Infection control and ophthalmic/dermatological applications: we applied non-cytotoxic antiviral/antibacterial iCVD nanocoatings to electrospun nanofiber filters, creating reusable masks that maintain both filtration efficiency and breathability under humid conditions. We also developed a 3D nanopillar array platform coated with functional polymers to directly capture and analyze pathogens from skin lesions, and designed transparent, long-lasting antibacterial coatings for contact lenses and intraocular lenses (IOLs) to preserve optical clarity and biocompatibility while suppressing bacterial biofilms. (3) Implantable and ingestible device interfaces: we engineered nanometer-scale antifouling hydration layers on flexible neural probes that maintain electrical performance while reducing foreign-body reactions, enabling stable long-term neural recordings. | |
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For ingestible devices, we applied silicone-based anticorrosion coatings via iCVD that conform uniformly to complex geometries and remain durable in the harsh gastric environment.
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| Please click on the image to watch the video clip |
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| Cell sheet formation |
3D cancer spheroid formation |
All-in-one PCR for nucleic acid extraction |
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