FIG. 1.

Anisotropic topography of uniaxial-stretched poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (UX-PCL). (A) Schematic of fabrication. UX-PCL was generated from heat-pressed poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (HP-PCL) through heating (54°C), uniaxial stretching (DR=4) and cooling (21°C). (B) Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images of UX-PCL at representative regions (X-0→X-5 and Y-0→Y-4; double-headed arrow: stretching direction; Scale bar=100 μm). UX-PCL showed anisotropic topographies on the whole film surface. *Represents the significant difference compared with the inter-ridge-distance of film central area of X-0, Y-0 (n=4; *p<0.05). (C, D) FESEM and atomic force microscopy (AFM) images of UX-PCL (Scale bar=50 μm). The anisotropic topographies of UX-PCL consisted of orientated micro-ridges and grooves. (E) Typical height profile of UX-PCL examined by AFM showed the heterogeneity of ridge-depth. Color images available online at www.liebertpub.com/tec