Fig 1.
Schematic overview of the fabrication protocols.
(a) Protocol used to produce the PDMS templates. (b) Protocols used to produce the patterned: (i) agarose, (ii) PDMS, and (iii) gelatin.
Fig 2.
(a) Comparison of the photoresist mold master (ADEX05) undertaken by (i) AFM and an (ii) optical profilometer. (b) PDMS 10:1 template 3D optical profile. (c) Optical profiles for (i) agarose 5% w/v, (ii) PDMS 10:1 w/w, and (iii) gelatin 12.5% w/v. All optical profilometer images were filtered using a 3-point level function in Profilm3D Software (Filmetrics). See S2 Fig. for AFM and optical profilometer image comparison for the patterned PDMS replication process.
Table 1.
Pattern resolution measurements.
Height and width measurements were taken from 20 pillars (or wells, as was the case from the PDMS template). All data is represented as mean ± standard deviation. Standard deviation has been used to show the scattering in measured values. See S2 Fig and S1 Table for AFM and optical profilometer image comparison for the PDMS patterned replication process.
Fig 3.
Degradation measurements for the three selected materials.
The weight loss over 72 hours for (a) agarose, (b) PDMS, and (c) gelatin was investigated at relative humidities (rH) of (i) 25% and (ii) 7 5% at 30°C. Five samples were measured for each material at each concentration.
Fig 4.
Contact angle comparison of leaf cuticles with the three selected replica materials.
Contact angles of bitter orange and poplar leaf cuticles, are compared with contact angles of agarose 5% w/v, PDMS 10:1 w/w and gelatin 12.5% w/v. See S3 Fig for contact angle measurements for the three concentrations of each material. Data is presented as the mean ± SEM, *P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001, and ****P<0.0001. N.S. indicates no significant difference between measurements.
Fig 5.
Normalised cell density of Pantoea agglomerans 299R.
The normalised cell density of P. agglomerans 299R was analysed over 72 hours on: Citrus × aurantium (bitter orange) cuticles, agarose 5%, PDMS 10:1 w/w, and gelatin 12.5%. See S4 Fig for contact normalised cell density measurements for the three concentrations of each material. Data here is presented as the mean ± SEM.