Fabrication of honeycomb-patterned polyalkylcyanoacrylate films from monomer solution by breath figures method

Honeycomb-patterned polyalkylcyanoacrylate (PACA) films were prepared from the chloroform solutions of alkylcyanoacrylate (ACA) by breath figures (BFs) method. Condensed water droplets on the solution surface acted not only as templates to endow the ordered structure but also as initiators to trigger the polymerization of ACA. After the polymerization started, the in situ formed polymer chains self-assembled around the water droplets, structuring PACA film with a hexagonal arrangement of holes. This was the first time that polymerization was introduced to breath figures method. The formation mechanism and the influencing factors, including substrates, relative humidity, and solution concentrations were investigated. Hela cells were cultured on both flat and honeycomb-like PACA films to investigate their application as biomaterials.

Graphical abstractHoneycomb-like films were prepared directly from the alkylcyanoacrylate monomer solution via a polymerization involved breath figure method on the hydrophobic polypropylene substrate.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (133 K)Download as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights► Honeycomb-like PACA films are obtained from monomer solution by BFs method ► Water droplets are used as both templates and the initiators ► Ordered porous structure enhances the cell proliferations