Biopolymer photonic crystals and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a biopolymer photonic crystal includes providing a biopolymer, processing the biopolymer to yield a biopolymer matrix solution, providing a substrate, casting the matrix solution on the substrate, and drying the biopolymer matrix solution to form a solidified biopolymer film. A surface of the film is formed with a nanopattern, or a nanopattern is machined on a surface of the film. In another embodiment, a plurality of biopolymer films is stacked together. A photonic crystal is also provided that is made of a biopolymer and has a nanopatterned surface. In another embodiment, the photonic crystal includes a plurality of nanopatterned films that are stacked together.

1 . A method of manufacturing a biopolymer photonic crystal comprising:
 providing a biopolymer film; and providing a nanopattern on a surface of said biopolymer film.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said biopolymer film includes a plurality of nanopatterned biopolymer films, and said method includes stacking said plurality of nanopatterned biopolymer films together. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising: orienting said plurality of nanopatterned biopolymer films so that adjacent nanopatterned biopolymer films have differing orientations. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising: binding said stacked plurality of nanopatterned biopolymer films. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said biopolymer film comprises silk. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said biopolymer film comprises a material selected from a group consisting of chitosan, collagen, gelatin, agarose, chitin, polyhydroxyalkanoates, pullan, starch (amylose amylopectin), cellulose, hyaluronic acid, and related biopolymers, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: embedding an organic material in said biopolymer film. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said organic material is at least one of embedded within said nanopattern on said surface of said biopolymer film, and coated on to said surface of said nanopattern on said biopolymer film. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said organic material is selected from a group consisting of red blood cells, peroxidase, phenolsulfonphthalein, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said organic material is selected from a group consisting of nucleic acid, a dye, a cell, an antibody, enzymes, for example, peroxidase, lipase, amylose, organophosphate dehydrogenase, ligases, restriction endonucleases, ribonucleases, DNA polymerases, glucose oxidase, laccase, cells, viruses, proteins, peptides, small molecules, drugs, dyes, amino acids, vitamins, antioxidants, DNA, RNA, RNAi, lipids, nucleotides, aptamers, carbohydrates, chromophores, light emitting organic compounds such as luciferin, carotenes and light emitting inorganic compounds, chemical dyes, antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, light harvesting compounds such as chlorophyll, bacteriorhodopsin, protorhodopsin, and porphyrins and related electronically active compounds, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of providing a biopolymer film includes: providing a biopolymer; processing said biopolymer to yield a biopolymer matrix solution; providing a substrate; casting said biopolymer matrix solution on said substrate; and drying said biopolymer matrix solution to form a solidified biopolymer film. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising: annealing said solidified biopolymer film; and additionally drying said annealed biopolymer film. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said annealing of said solidified biopolymer film is performed in at least one of a vacuum environment and a water vapor environment. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising: adding an organic material into said biopolymer matrix solution. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said substrate includes a nanopatterned surface, and said biopolymer matrix solution is cast on said nanopatterned surface of said substrate so that said solidified biopolymer film is formed with a surface having a nanopattern thereon. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said substrate is a template for an optical device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said substrate is a template for at least one of a lens, a microlens array, an optical grating, a pattern generator, and a beam reshaper. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said biopolymer matrix solution is an aqueous silk fibroin solution having approximately 1.0 wt % to 30 wt % silk, inclusive. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: machining said nanopattern on said surface of said biopolymer film. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said nanopattern includes an array of at least one of holes and pits. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said machining of said nanopattern on said biopolymer film is performed using a laser. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said machining is performed by femtosecond laser pulses generated by said laser. 
     
     
         23 . A method of manufacturing a biopolymer photonic crystal comprising:
 providing a biopolymer; processing said biopolymer to yield a biopolymer matrix solution;   providing a plurality of substrates; casting said biopolymer matrix solution on said plurality of substrates; drying said biopolymer matrix solution to form a plurality of solidified biopolymer films; and stacking said plurality of solidified biopolymer films together.   
     
     
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         33 . A photonic crystal comprising at least one biopolymer film with a surface having a nanopattern thereon. 
     
     
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