The utilization of Mightex LED systems for the generation of polymeric microstructures

具有明确形状和大小的微小聚合物结构，如颗粒、膜和有图案的**表面，在生物医学应用中具有巨大的潜力，如侵入性药物输送、生物检测、生物传感和细胞研究。产生这种结构的一种流行方法是利用紫外光进行**光聚合。金属卤化物灯通常用作紫外线光源，但**存在紫外线强度波动大、预热要求长、寿命短等问题。或者，LED**系统提供高度稳定的强度，不需要预热或降温，寿命长，但它们**主要用于生命科学研究中的定向模拟和成像，但在材料科学**中有潜在的应用**，例如，创建基于光聚合的聚合物结构。**Ryerson大学的Hwang博士的团队开发了几种基于光聚合生成聚合物结构的技术。Mightex Systems是一家领先的光子产品和服务制造商和供应商。他们的主要产品之一是大功率LED系统。这笔Engage赠款将使Migthex**Systems和Ryerson团队能够开始努力，成功地将LED系统应用于材料科学**，特别是生产形状和尺寸定义良好的颗粒和薄膜。因此，**这一合作将扩大Mightex LED系统的用途，从而加强其市场份额。

Tiny polymeric structures with well-defined shape and size such as particles, membranes, and patterned**surfaces can have great potential in biomedical applications such as invasive drug delivery, bioassay,**biosensing, and cellular studies. One popular approach to generate such structures is to use**photopolymerization with ultraviolet light. The Metal Halide Lamps are commonly used for a UV source but**suffer from UV-intensity fluctuation, long warm-up requirement, and short-life-time. Alternatively, LED**systems offer highly stable intensity, no requirements for warm-up or cool-downt, and long life-time but they**are mostly used for targeted simulation and imaging in life science research, yet there are potential applications**in material science, for example, to create polymeric structures based on photopolymerization.**Dr. Hwang's group at Ryerson University has developed several techniques to generate polymeric structures**based on photopolymerization. Mightex Systems is a leading manufacturer and supplier of photonic products**and services. One of their main products is high-power LED systems. This Engage grant will enable Migthex**Systems and the Ryerson team to begin working towards successfully using LED systems for their application**in material science, particularly to generate particles and membranes with well-defined shape and size. Thus,**this collaboration will broaden the utilization of Mightex LED systems and thus strengthen their market share.