Dear Sung Jin,

Biocompatibility is a complicated issue, and you need to consider what
you mean when you use the term "biocompatible".  All of the materials
you listed below could be considered biocompatible in some instances and
not in others.  On a practical basis I would recommend avoiding soft
polymers where possible for durability reasons.  You should also
consider the possibility of using silanizing reagents such as the many
offered in the Gelest catalog to "tailor" the surface chemistry of your
devices.  For reviews on biocompatibility in polymers I suggest you look
up the following authors, both in the biomaterials field and presently
employed as professors at the University of Washington in Seattle: Buddy
D. Ratner; Allan S. Hoffman.  Good luck.

Thor Osborn, Ph.D.
Manager, MEMS Processing
Microvision, Inc.
2203 Airport Way South, Suite 100
Seattle, Washington 98134

TEL.    (206) 623-7055 (Main Office)
TEL.      (206) 685-6649 (Fab Office)
FAX     (206) 467-8120


-----Original Message-----
From: Sung Jin [mailto:siliconmad@hotmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, March 18, 1999 4:05 AM
To: MEMS@ISI.EDU
Subject: Pyralene C and Biocompatible materials needed


Dear MEMS community,

I am looking for a biocompatible material, which is deposited easily,
by spin-coating for instance, and offers good durability for
microfluidic devices.

1. Could anyone tell me what materials are considered to be
biocompatible?

2. Parylene C is often reported to be one of them, and it is said to be
vapour deposited.  Does this mean, it is deposited by Chemical Vapour
Deposition?

3. Are the following biocompatible: glass, silicone rubbers, PMMA?


Thank you very much for your time.


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