Micropattern formation of apatite by combination of a biomimetic process and transcription of resist pattern

Two kinds of methods combining a biomimetic process and transcription of resist pattern were conducted to form an apatite micropattern. For method 1, apatite nuclei were formed on a resist pattern printed substrate by setting it in contact with CaO-SiO₂-based glass in a simulated body fluid (SBF) with inorganic ion concentrations nearly equal to those of human blood plasma. Next, apatite was grown from the nuclei by soaking the substrate in an aqueous solution with ion concentrations 1.5 times those of SBF (1.5 SBF). Then, the resist material was dissolved off by organic solvent with the apatite just formed on it. Apatite micropattern transcribing the resist pattern was obtained. For method 2, apatite nuclei were formed on a resist pattern printed substrate by setting it in contact with CaO-SiO₂-based glass in SBF. Next, the resist material was dissolved off with the apatite nuclei just formed on it. Then, the substrate was soaked in 1.5 SBF to grow the remaining nuclei and an apatite micropattern transcribing the resist pattern was obtained. For both methods, minute apatite patterns with various shapes as straight lines, bending lines, and blocks were clearly formed. The minimum line width of the obtained pattern was 2 μm. These methods are promising for producing multifunctional materials with bioaffinity. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 62: 579–586, 2002