Surface Functionalization of COC Microfluidic Materials by Plasma and Click Chemistry Processes

A robust method for COC surfaces functionalization was developed for the first time by plasma polymerization. 1-bromopropane in the vapor phase allowed the formation of a brominated deposit on COC surfaces, which stability, homogeneity and chemical nature were evaluated for different experimental conditions. The analysis of vapor phase was achieved by mass spectrometry to control brominated precursor fragmentation. Following nucleophilic exchange in the presence of NaN3 to convert the brominated surface to azide-bearing surface, these modified COC were further functionalized with a fluorescent alkyne, via the copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction, i.e. click reaction. Surface modifications were characterized by water contact angle measurement, ellipsometry, electrochemical microscopy, XPS, IR and fluorescence microscopy. This new process was proved to be efficient and stable in time up to 7 days.