Sony Dadc Austria Ag

Stratec Consumables Gmbh

Werner Balika

Andrew Naisby

Georg Bauer

Johann Hofer

Ivan Lucic

Peter Hausberger

Christian Poeschl

Christoph Mauracher

A plurality of polymer slides, each having a polymer part with a first polymer surface portion uncoated and a second surface portion coated with a metal. The first and second surface portions each have different surface coating properties and have respective first and second specified degrees of hydrophobicity which are different from each other. A hydrophobic small molecule is located in the polymer part of each polymer slide, and the hydrophobic small molecule and the polymer are essentially inert to one another. Adjacent polymer slides are arranged in a manner that the first polymer surface of one slide faces a metal coated second surface portion of another slide. The hydrophobic small molecule evaporates from said first polymer surface portion of the polymer part of one polymer slide onto the adjacent metal coated second surface portion of another polymer slide.

Polymer slides having hydrophobic small molecules

A method of producing a polymer part comprising the following steps: (a) incorporating a hydrophobic small molecule into the polymer before, during or after manufacture of the polymer part, the hydrophobic small molecule and the polymer being essentially inert to one another; and (b) annealing the polymer part to induce migration of the hydrophobic small molecules to a surface of the polymer part to provide that surface with a specified degree of hydrophobicity defined by the combination of the polymer and the hydrophobic small molecule; is described. Polymer parts made according to the method are also described.

Method of producing a polymer part and polymer part

A substrate is provided, which comprises a structured surface including a regular pattern of a plurality of elevated structures that are elevated with respect to a nominal surface of the substrate, wherein at least two dimensions are between 1 nm and 100 &#x3bc;m, the structured surface being configured to stimulate smooth crystallization of microcrystals or to boost hydrophobic properties. A target plate comprising a plurality of substrates is disclosed as well.

Substrate and target plate

A structured substrate is described which is suitable for forming and hosting a crystal array, as well as associated methods for making and using such a structured substrate. The structured substrate is made by injection molding and has on one side a combination of macro- and micro-structured features. Each macro-structured feature comprises an edge that forms a perimeter around an enclosed area containing a large number of the micro-structured features. When a droplet of a solution containing molecules of interest and a solvent is deposited onto one of the enclosed areas such that it extends somewhat beyond the perimeter, the droplet slowly dries and shrinks through evaporation of the solvent, during which the edge acts to seed crystallization of the molecules, and the micro-structured features act to direct crystal growth from the seed into the enclosed area. The crystal thus forms over the whole of the enclosed area in a shape that conforms to the perimeter. Crystals of a desired size and shape can therefore be formed.

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Salzburg, Austria

Werner Balika