Reducing Small Molecule Adsorption in a PDMS-Based Microphysiological System of the Female Reproductive Tract via Parylene-C Coating to Improve Mechanistic Studies

Microphysiological systems (MPS) have been extensively developed in the past decade and are now used in mechanistic studies, as well as in drug and chemical toxicity testing. The utility of MPS for studies of a broad range of molecules is becoming ever more important. Many MPS models utilize polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as the material of choice. Despite its advantages, including biocompatibility, optical transparency, and gas permeability, PDMS exhibits significant molecular adsorption due to its hydrophobic surface properties, which is a well-known phenomenon. Although some MPS can be made from low-adsorbance materials, not all models can easily transition away from PDMS. Here, we investigated the potential…

• NI
  National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

  Awards: P42ES027704, P30ES029067
• NI
  National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

  Award: R01HD100729
• NC
  National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences

  Awards: U2C TR004868, UH3TR003283