Glueing 3D printer molds to glass surfaces

[F Javier Diez Guerra]

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Hello,

Using a 3D printer, we have designed and "printed" molds that have on
one surface a number of flat channels and small wells (openings). We
want to attach these molds to glass slides to do cell imaging while
perfusing through the channels.

So far, the molds have been printed with PLA or ABS filaments.
Would you advise on other more biocompatible materials?

Further, we are thinking to use high-vacuum silicone grease to attach
the molds to the glass.
Anybody can suggest other ways to glue the molds to the glass?

Thanks in advance for the input.

--

Fco. Javier Díez Guerra, PhD
Profesor Titular
Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa
C/ Nicolás Cabrera, 1
Universidad Autónoma
Ctra Colmenar Viejo Km 15
Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid
SPAIN

phone:  [phone]
e-mail: [hidden email]

[Craig Brideau]

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RTV silicone can work. I think the PLA is a somewhat water soluble? ABS can
be toxic. You can mitigate both of these by painting the molds with the
silicone to seal them up. Not sure how your sample will react to the
silicone itself, but it is supposed to be pretty inert once dried.

Craig

On Fri, Feb 12, 2016 at 1:39 AM, Fco. Javier Díez Guerra <[hidden email]
> wrote:

> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting.
> *****
>
> Hello,
>
> Using a 3D printer, we have designed and "printed" molds that have on one
> surface a number of flat channels and small wells (openings). We want to
> attach these molds to glass slides to do cell imaging while perfusing
> through the channels.
>
> So far, the molds have been printed with PLA or ABS filaments.
> Would you advise on other more biocompatible materials?
>
> Further, we are thinking to use high-vacuum silicone grease to attach the
> molds to the glass.
> Anybody can suggest other ways to glue the molds to the glass?
>
> Thanks in advance for the input.
>
> --
>
> Fco. Javier Díez Guerra, PhD
> Profesor Titular
> Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa
> C/ Nicolás Cabrera, 1
> Universidad Autónoma
> Ctra Colmenar Viejo Km 15
> Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid
> SPAIN
>
> phone:  [phone]
> e-mail: [hidden email]
>

[Raghavendra Palanakar]

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You can use the two following approaches to render the materials biocompatible (there are many though) if you plan to use your PLA or ABS as the basis for flow chamber experiments:

1. Sputter coat with thin transparent layer of gold and then passivate with ECM proteins which always works.


2. Sputter coat with gold, use bifunctional PEG ( for e.g. thiol-PEG-carboxy or amine). Thiol- will help in forming a self assembled monolayer of PEG on gold sputter coat and the free amine/carboxy can be used to further functionalization to any ECM protein that you prefer.


Cheers and all the best,
Raghav

> On 12.02.2016, at 09:39, Fco. Javier Díez Guerra <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting.
> *****
>
> Hello,
>
> Using a 3D printer, we have designed and "printed" molds that have on one surface a number of flat channels and small wells (openings). We want to attach these molds to glass slides to do cell imaging while perfusing through the channels.
>
> So far, the molds have been printed with PLA or ABS filaments.
> Would you advise on other more biocompatible materials?
>
> Further, we are thinking to use high-vacuum silicone grease to attach the molds to the glass.
> Anybody can suggest other ways to glue the molds to the glass?
>
> Thanks in advance for the input.
>
> --
>
> Fco. Javier Díez Guerra, PhD
> Profesor Titular
> Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa
> C/ Nicolás Cabrera, 1
> Universidad Autónoma
> Ctra Colmenar Viejo Km 15
> Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid
> SPAIN
>
> phone:  [phone]
> e-mail: [hidden email]