Plastic laboratory consumables with specified wettability characteristics and methods of making same

Abstract

According to one example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a plastic laboratory consumable, the method comprising: providing a metal mold substantially corresponding to a plastic laboratory consumable to be molded; texturing the surface of the metal mold so as to form a textured metal mold with nanoscale surface textures; and forming the plastic material into the plastic laboratory consumable using the textured metal mold such that the plastic laboratory consumable obtains a complementary nanoscale surface texture (110, 210) having at least one wettability characteristic for at least the first liquid.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to plastic laboratory consumables and their wettability characteristics. Specifically, this invention relates to a method for manufacturing plastic laboratory consumables. Furthermore, this invention relates to a molded plastic laboratory consumable. Background Technology

[0002] Pipettes, such as micropipettes, are used to handle and dispense predetermined and specified volumes of liquid. Disposable plastic pipette tips that can be attached to such pipettes can affect the pipette's liquid handling performance. For optimal liquid handling results, these instruments, as well as other laboratory consumables, need to have suitable wettability.

[0003] Surface wettability characteristics, such as hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity, can be achieved by adding compounds and surfactants. However, some chemicals exhibiting beneficial wettability characteristics may be hazardous, endocrine disruptors, carcinogenic, or otherwise unsafe, raising concerns about their use in laboratory consumables. Therefore, some products and compounds that impart wettability characteristics to the surfaces of medical devices and / or biotechnology equipment may be considered unsafe or regulated or prohibited in certain jurisdictions. For example, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), may exhibit suitable wettability characteristics, such as in terms of hydrophilicity and / or hydrophobicity, although regulatory constraints and potential health risks associated with such compounds may hinder their use. Furthermore, such addition of surfactants and compounds often includes additional manufacturing steps and alterations to, for example, the mechanical, biological, and / or chemical properties and / or biochemical compatibility of the laboratory consumables.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need to develop methods, devices, products, and structures to obtain at least some material-specific wettability characteristics suitable for laboratory consumables and plastic laboratory consumables, thereby at least alleviating, reducing, or minimizing the aforementioned problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention is defined by the features of the independent claims. Some specific embodiments are defined by the dependent claims.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a method for manufacturing plastic laboratory consumables is provided, the method comprising: providing a metal mold, the metal mold being a substantially corresponding component to a plastic laboratory consumable to be formed by the metal mold; texturing the surface of the metal mold to form a textured metal mold having a first nanoscale surface texture; and using the textured metal mold to form a plastic material into the plastic laboratory consumable, such that the plastic laboratory consumable acquires a complementary nanoscale surface texture, the complementary surface texture having at least one wettability feature against at least a first liquid.

[0007] Some embodiments of the first aspect may include at least one feature from the following bulleted list: • Texturing is performed using nanolasers, femtosecond lasers, or pulsed ultrashort lasers. The first nanoscale surface texture of the textured metal mold includes laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS). • Complementary nanoscale surface textures include nanoscale pores and / or nanoscale patterns. • Complementary nanoscale surface textures include three-dimensional surface textures. • Complementary nanoscale surface textures consist of repeating, partially raised mesh patterns. • The repeating, partially raised grid pattern includes multiple shapes. These shapes include raised edge portions that connect to each other in the form of rectangles. • At least one raised diagonal portion connecting the two opposite corners of the rectangle. Complementary nanoscale surface textures include repeating surface structures, such as repeating surface structures with patterned protrusions and / or depressions. • The first liquid is selected from: water, glycerol solution, protein solution, and precipitated cell fluid. • At least one wettability feature includes a first wettability feature contained in a first region of the complementary nanoscale textured surface. • The first region is distributed in a ring shape along the periphery of the inner surface of the plastic pipette tip. • The first wettability characteristic of at least the first liquid is selected from the group consisting of: liquid repellency, liquid affinity, hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, lipophilicity, lipophilicity, oleophobicity, or oleophilicity. • At least the first wettability characteristic of the first liquid is hydrophobic, such as superhydrophobic. • The at least one wetting feature includes a second wetting feature of the first liquid, the second wetting feature being contained in a second region of the complementary nanoscale textured surface. The second wettability characteristic is different from the first wettability characteristic. • The second wettability characteristic is selected from the group consisting of: hydrophobic, hydrophilic, lipophobic, lipophilic, oleophobic or oleophilic. The second wettability characteristic is hydrophilicity. • The at least one wettability characteristic is defined by the contact angle of the first liquid, which is in the range of 95 to 115 degrees, for example, 104.5 degrees. • The at least one wettability characteristic is defined by a contact angle of at least 95 degrees, such as at least 100 degrees, at least 120 degrees, or at least 150 degrees. • The at least one wettability characteristic is defined by a contact angle of less than 90 degrees (e.g., less than 85 degrees, e.g., less than 80 degrees). The molding process includes injection molding. • The metal mold comprises a metal material selected from the following: steel and / or stainless powder steel. • The plastic material includes thermoplastic materials, preferably selected from polypropylene or polystyrene. • The molded plastic laboratory consumable is a pipette tip, which includes complementary nanoscale surface textures on at least the inner surface of the pipette tip.

[0008] According to a second aspect of the invention, a molded plastic laboratory consumable is provided, comprising at least one complementary nanoscale surface texture having at least one wettability feature for a first liquid.

[0009] Some embodiments of the second aspect may include at least one feature from the following bulleted list: • Molded plastic laboratory consumables include pipette tips. • At least one complementary nanoscale surface texture exists on the inner surface of the pipette tip. • The depth of the complementary nanoscale surface texture of the laboratory consumables ranges from 5 μm to 90 μm. • The complementary nanoscale surface texture of the laboratory consumables has a depth of at least 5 μm, for example at least 10 μm, for example at least 20 μm, for example at least 30 μm. • The depth of the complementary nanoscale surface texture of the laboratory consumables is less than 90 μm, for example less than 70 μm, for example less than 50 μm. • The pipette tips are low retention pipette tips and / or low adsorption pipette tips.

[0010] Certain embodiments of the present invention offer significant advantages. The present invention provides a method for manufacturing plastic laboratory consumables and a molded plastic laboratory consumable. This method allows the manufacture of molded plastic laboratory consumables from plastic materials having complementary nanoscale surface textures, which have at least one wettability characteristic for at least a first liquid. For example, the consumable could be a pipette tip with a hydrophobic inner surface. Brief description of the attached diagram

[0011] Figure 1A and 1B A pattern is shown according to at least some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0012] Figure 2A and 2B Another pattern is shown according to at least some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0013] Figure 3 Example plastic laboratory consumables capable of supporting at least some embodiments of this disclosure are shown;

[0014] Figure 4A and 4B An example of a portion of a mold that can be used in conjunction with at least some embodiments of this disclosure is shown; and

[0015] Figure 5A and 5B Another example of a portion of a mold that can be used in conjunction with at least some embodiments of this disclosure is shown. Specific Implementation

[0016] The term “first liquid” is used in this document. In this document, the term also includes a completely dissolved solution, a mixture of at least two liquids, a dispersion of a solid in a liquid medium, a suspension of a solid in a liquid medium, an emulsion of a solid in a liquid medium, and a precipitated cell fluid.

[0017] The "contact angle" of a droplet can be used to characterize and classify the wettability of a three-phase system (i.e., a system comprising a liquid phase, a gas phase, and a solid phase, and the interfaces between them). The wettability of a solid phase and / or its surface relative to its liquid and gaseous environments can be inferred from this contact angle. In other words, for a droplet on a solid surface, the angle between the solid-liquid interface and the gas-liquid interface describes the wettability of the solid phase. The contact angle is the angle between the solid-liquid interface and the liquid-gas interface of the droplet. Therefore, the contact angle is often defined for a small amount of liquid, or a "drop" or "droplet". For example, for a "wettable" solid phase, this angle is typically 0 to 90 degrees, while for a "non-wettable" solid phase, it is typically 90 to 180 degrees. In the case of water, wettability and non-wetability correspond to the hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity of the solid phase, respectively. Furthermore, superhydrophobicity or superhydrophobicity can be defined as a contact angle of 150 to 180 degrees.

[0018] In the context of this disclosure, generally speaking, wettability should be understood as "hydrophilic" and non-wetability as "liquid-repellent". Furthermore, for example, when the liquid in question is water, wettability should be understood as "hydrophilic" and non-wetability as "hydrophobic". Therefore, "liquid-repellent" and "liquiophilic" are considered superordinate concepts to "hydrophobic" and "hydrophilic", respectively. Additionally, for liquids containing lipids or multiple lipids, the surface can be "lipophilic" or "lipophobic". For liquids containing oils, the surface can be "oleophobic" or "oleophilic". Therefore, those skilled in the art will understand that "non-wettable" and "wettable", as well as "liquid-repellent" and "liquiophilic" (and their subordinate concepts), can be understood as relative terms, thus allowing the contact angle to more quantitatively describe wettability or lack thereof.

[0019] According to this disclosure, a plastic laboratory consumable is provided having a complementary nanoscale textured surface, thereby providing wetting properties for at least one liquid (e.g., water or a liquid containing water).

[0020] "Laboratory consumables" should be understood as instruments, equipment, and components thereof used, for example, in a laboratory environment. Such laboratory consumables include laboratory glassware, such as petri dishes, cuvettes, funnels, test tubes, beakers, pipettes, and pipette tips. Laboratory consumables can be disposable, single-use, or reusable. In at least some embodiments, laboratory consumables are pipette tips, for example, micropipettes suitable for controlled liquid handling and dispensing. In at least some embodiments, the pipette tips according to this disclosure are low-retention tips. Low-retention tips minimize liquid adhesion and / or retention on the surface of such tips. This characteristic is beneficial at least in reducing the risk of sample loss and minimizing the risk of pipetting inaccuracies. It is worth noting that although "low-retention tip" as a term may not necessarily have a standardized definition or specification, in the context of this disclosure, such a low-retention tip should be understood as a pipette tip comprising at least one region having hydrophobic wetting properties to at least one liquid.

[0021] In this disclosure, terms such as “nanoscale texture” and “nanotexture” should be understood as physical surface structures having size, pattern, and / or shape to achieve wettability characteristics for a particular liquid. For example, for water, nanotexture can refer to a repeating surface structure having patterned protrusions and / or depressions.

[0022] In the context of this disclosure, the term "first nanoscale surface texture" refers to the nanoscale surface texture of a mold.

[0023] In the context of this disclosure, the term "complementary nanoscale surface texture" refers to the nanoscale surface texture of plastic laboratory consumables.

[0024] In at least some embodiments, the contact angle of the liquid at the nanotexture, complementary nanoscale surface texture, or a portion thereof is 95 to 115 degrees, for example 100 to 110 degrees, for example 104.5 degrees.

[0025] In at least some embodiments, the contact angle of the liquid at the nanotexture, complementary nanoscale surface texture, or a portion thereof is at least 95 degrees, for example at least 100 degrees, for example at least 120 degrees, for example at least 150 degrees.

[0026] In at least some embodiments, the wettability characteristics are obtained through complementary nanoscale surface textures comprising a partially raised mesh pattern. This partially raised mesh pattern can be a periodic surface structure, wherein the mesh pattern is repeating and / or periodic.

[0027] Figure 1A and 1B Complementary nanoscale surface textures 110 of plastic laboratory consumables according to at least some embodiments of the present disclosure are shown. In other words, Figure 1A and Figure 1B The same structural pattern was depicted, albeit from different perspectives. Figure 1A and Figure 1B The figure depicts a periodic structure 120 comprising a rectangular repeating pattern having protruding edges 122 extending from a surface 121. This complementary nanoscale surface texture 110 can provide wettability characteristics for at least one liquid. As can be seen from the figure, the diagonals of the rectangular pattern also include protrusions connecting the two corners of the rectangular pattern. These protrusions define openings, each of which has, for example, a triangular shape. The depth of the complementary nanoscale surface texture can, for example, range from 5 μm to 90 μm. Thus, a hydrophobic surface can be provided for consumables, for example. The first nanoscale surface texture of the mold is the opposite of the complementary nanoscale surface texture 110 of the laboratory consumable.

[0028] Figure 2A and 2B Complementary nanoscale surface textures 210 suitable for plastic laboratory consumables are illustrated according to at least some embodiments of the present invention. In other words, Figure 2A and Figure 2B The same structural pattern was depicted from different angles. Figure 2A and Figure 2B middle, Figure 2A and Figure 2B A periodic structure 220 is depicted, wherein the periodic structure 220 comprises a rectangular repeating pattern having protruding edges 222 extending from a surface 221. This complementary nanoscale surface texture 210 can provide wettability characteristics for at least one liquid. As can be seen from the figure, one diagonal of the rectangular pattern contains elongated protrusions. Those skilled in the art will understand that, Figure 2A and Figure 2B The complementary nanoscale surface texture 210 shown is complementary or substantially complementary to the first nanoscale surface texture of the mold.

[0029] The advantage of this three-dimensional surface texture is that it allows for the creation of desired wettability characteristics at the gas-liquid-solid interface. This structure can be verified, for example, using a CT nano-scanner.

[0030] Those skilled in the art will also understand that expressions such as "wetting characteristics of a liquid" implicitly mean that the solid phase considered when discussing this characteristic should also be taken into account. It should be noted that in at least some embodiments, different solid phase materials, such as plastics, are used, and complementary nanoscale textured patterns are provided for them. In at least some embodiments, the plastics include thermoplastic materials, preferably selected from polypropylene or polystyrene.

[0031] Furthermore, the surface offers other benefits and advantages. For example, for plastic laboratory consumables (e.g., pipette tips), its hydrophobicity to liquids can facilitate liquid transfer and / or movement, which is particularly beneficial when using small amounts of liquid. This may be the case, for example, for expensive and / or scarce liquid samples, as well as other liquids that may be small in volume. Therefore, low retention pipette tips according to this disclosure offer advantages in the manufacture and use of the products described herein. For example, the hydrophobic region may help improve liquid handling, increasing the accuracy and precision of dispensing volumes.

[0032] In at least some embodiments, the liquid specifying the wetting characteristic is water. Alternatively, a liquid having at least one wetting characteristic can be a combination of substances that acquire at least one wetting characteristic, such as a combination of water and a reagent. In at least some embodiments, the liquid is at least one of the following: a glycerol solution or a protein solution.

[0033] In at least some embodiments, the solution and liquid of the at least one liquid are completely dissolved solutions or mixtures of two or more liquids. In at least some embodiments, for example, a dispersion, suspension, and / or emulsion of a solid in a liquid medium is at least one liquid that acquires wetting characteristics. In at least some embodiments, the sedimentation cell liquid is a liquid that exhibits wetting characteristics on the nanoscale textured surface of the plastic laboratory surface.

[0034] In at least some embodiments, different regions of the plastic laboratory consumables have different wettability characteristics. For example, in at least some embodiments, the inner surface of a pipette tip includes a first region configured to be hydrophobic to liquids and a second region configured to be hydrophilic to liquids. Furthermore, in at least some embodiments, for example, the first region has different wettability characteristics to different liquids.

[0035] Those skilled in the art will also understand that combinations of liquids (such as those disclosed above) are also applicable. For example, complementary nanoscale surface textures can include multiple distinct regions for a variety of liquids, each region containing a wetting characteristic for at least one of the liquids. An advantage of this structure and method (where multiple regions are employed) is that different liquids may behave differently on the surface of a plastic laboratory consumable. For example, in at least some embodiments, the plastic laboratory consumable is a pipette tip, the interior of which contains distinct regions with different wetting characteristics. In some such embodiments, a first region is hydrophobic to a first liquid, while the first region is hydrophilic to a second liquid. Thus, the second liquid can remain on the first region (i.e., hydrophilic), while the first liquid can be dispensed (i.e., hydrophobic).

[0036] Figure 3 A plastic pipette tip 300 according to at least some embodiments is shown. The plastic pipette tip 300 includes a tip portion 301 and a connecting portion 302. A volume of liquid can be retained and processed through the tip portion 301. For example, the pipette tip can be connected to a micropipettes via the connecting portion 302. Figure 3 As can be seen, the plastic pipette tip includes a first region 310, which has a first wettability characteristic for liquids. Furthermore, the first region is annular and arranged along the periphery of the inner surface of the plastic pipette tip.

[0037] It is worth noting that in at least some embodiments of plastic laboratory consumables, including pipette tips, the surface quality of the area can be uniform and / or smooth. For example, for the tip portion of a pipette tip, such as... Figure 3 The suction head portion 301 in the middle may be an example of this. The advantage of such embodiments is that such structures and their patterns can eliminate or reduce the retention of liquids (e.g., droplets) in the area.

[0038] Plastic laboratory consumables having one or more wetting properties offer benefits and advantages. Since the wetting properties are obtained at least in part through structural patterns on the surface of the plastic laboratory consumable, it may be unnecessary to add additional compounds that could be harmful or undesirable. Furthermore, the embodiments disclosed herein may also provide other benefits and advantages.

[0039] According to the present invention, a method for producing plastic laboratory consumables is provided. In this method, a metal mold is provided. The metal mold is configured together with a suitable plastic material to provide the plastic laboratory consumables. Thus, the metal mold substantially matches the plastic laboratory consumables to be molded using the metal mold. The metal mold may be made of steel and / or stainless powder steel. The metal mold may consist of multiple components that collectively constitute corresponding components for the shape of the plastic laboratory consumables to be molded. For example, these components may be independent of each other. The term "substantially corresponding component" should be understood as a corresponding component configured to give the plastic laboratory consumables a general shape and geometry. Those skilled in the art will understand that differences may exist between the ideal shape and the molded shape depending on molding practice and the molding method used. For example, defects such as seams and protrusions may occur, especially when the plastic laboratory consumables are molded using multiple components of the metal mold.

[0040] The metal mold is textured, thus forming a textured metal mold. Therefore, this textured metal mold not only has the general shape of a metal mold, but also possesses a nanoscale textured surface (first nanoscale surface texture) on at least a portion of its surface. Thus, the nanoscale textured surface is a fundamental counterpart to the surface or area of ​​the plastic laboratory consumable. It should be noted that the nanoscale textured surface of the textured metal mold itself does not necessarily contain the wettability characteristics of the plastic laboratory consumable, because the nanoscale textured surface of the metal mold is a counterpart to the surface to which said properties are to be imparted.

[0041] Using the textured metal mold described above, a plastic laboratory consumable is molded. This plastic laboratory consumable acquires a complementary nanoscale surface texture, which has at least one wettability characteristic for at least one liquid. Therefore, the complementary nanoscale surface texture is complementary to the nanoscale textured surface (first nanoscale surface texture) of the textured mold. This wettability characteristic is for at least one liquid, such as a first liquid, for example, water or a solution. Those skilled in the art will further understand that the created textured metal mold can be used to mold multiple plastic laboratory consumables, thus the method described herein allows for the mass production of multiple plastic laboratory consumables, e.g., sequential or simultaneous production.

[0042] In at least some embodiments, plastic injection molding can be used to mold plastic laboratory consumables.

[0043] In at least some embodiments, the plastic laboratory consumable is a pipette tip, such as a micropipette, and the mold comprises at least two parts: an outer and an inner part. The outer part may include a hollow conical cavity mold, and the inner part may be arranged within the cavity mold to form at least a portion of the plastic laboratory consumable between them during molding. In at least some embodiments, the inner part of the mold has a first nanoscale surface texture. Therefore, the molding process provides a mirror copy of the first nanoscale surface texture on the inner surface of the pipette tip, resulting in a complementary nanoscale surface texture. The inner part of the mold may also be referred to as a "core pin" or "cone" of the metal mold for the pipette tip. Thus, a nanoscale surface texture complementary to the inner surface of the plastic pipette tip is formed.

[0044] In at least some embodiments, laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) are used to texturize a metal mold to form a textured metal mold. Nanolasers can be used to ablate the surface of the metal mold, thereby forming a predetermined structured periodic pattern. Laser-induced periodic surface structures are a phenomenon that occurs when a material is irradiated with laser radiation. For example, this process can be a combination of ablation, melting, and resolidification of the mold surface. These structures are characterized by their periodic patterns, and their size can range from nanometers to micrometers. When a laser beam interacts with a material surface, a laser-induced periodic surface structure (LIPSS) is formed, resulting in periodic surface modulation. These structures can be created on a variety of materials, including metals, semiconductors, and dielectrics.

[0045] Figure 4A and Figure 4B as well as Figure 5A and Figure 5B Individual examples of mold components that can be used in conjunction with at least some embodiments of this disclosure are shown. The mold is a metal mold. The mold is a component substantially corresponding to a plastic laboratory consumable formed using the metal mold. The mold surface is textured, thereby forming a textured metal mold with a first nanoscale surface texture. Therefore, a plastic laboratory consumable can be molded from a plastic material using the textured metal mold, such that the plastic laboratory consumable acquires complementary nanoscale surface textures 110, 210, which have at least one wettability characteristic against at least a first liquid.

[0046] refer to Figure 4A and Figure 4B This shows a portion of mold 450. Figure 4A and Figure 4BThe same structural pattern is depicted, albeit from a different perspective. A portion of mold 450 may be, for example, part of a textured metal mold. This mold portion includes protrusions 451 and recesses 452, which at least partially form a first nanoscale surface texture 460 on this mold portion. In terms of height, these protrusions and recesses are opposite each other. This first nanoscale surface texture can be complementary to a pattern on the surface of the plastic laboratory consumable to be molded using this mold. Therefore, as can be understood from the use of a portion of mold 450, plastic laboratory consumables with complementary nanoscale surface textures can be manufactured using this mold.

[0047] and Figure 4A A portion of the mold 450 shown is similar, see reference. Figure 4A and Figure 4B , Figure 5A and Figure 5B A portion of mold 550 was displayed. Figure 5A and Figure 5B The same structural pattern is depicted from different perspectives. For example, a portion of mold 550 may be part of a textured metal mold. According to at least some embodiments, a nanoscale surface texture 560 comprising protrusions 551 and recesses 552 thereby forms a surface complementary to a surface having a complementary nanoscale texture with a pattern having wetting properties to at least a first liquid. This complementary nanoscale texture may be located on, for example, the surface of a plastic laboratory consumable molded using a mold having the first nanoscale surface texture 560, or constitute part of the surface of the plastic laboratory consumable. Therefore, from Figure 5A and Figure 5B It can be seen that... (e.g.) Figure 5A and Figure 5B As shown, the protrusions 551 and recesses 552 at least partially form a first nanoscale surface texture 560. Therefore, this first nanoscale surface texture 560 is complementary to the complementary nanoscale surface texture of the plastic laboratory consumables molded using the mold 550.

[0048] It should be understood that the embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein are not limited to the specific structures, processes, or materials disclosed herein, but extend to their equivalents as recognized by those skilled in the art. It should also be understood that the terminology used herein is for describing specific embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.

[0049] In this specification, references to "embodiment" or "an embodiment" mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Therefore, the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" appearing throughout this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.

[0050] For convenience, multiple items, structural elements, components, and / or materials may be listed in the same list herein. However, these lists should be understood as each member being individually identified as an independent and unique member. Therefore, unless otherwise stated, a member should not be construed as being factually equivalent to any other member in the same list simply because each member is listed in the same group. Furthermore, various embodiments and examples of the invention and alternatives to its various components may be mentioned herein. It should be understood that such embodiments, examples, and alternatives should not be construed as factual equivalents of each other, but should be regarded as independent and separate statements of the invention.

[0051] Furthermore, the aforementioned features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Numerous specific details, such as examples of length, width, shape, etc., are provided in the specification to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of embodiments of the invention. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the invention can be practiced without these specific details, or using other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations have not been shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring certain aspects of the invention.

[0052] While the foregoing examples illustrate the principles of the invention in one or more specific applications, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications in form, usage, and implementation details can be made without inventive thinking and without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the scope defined by the following claims.

[0053] The verbs “comprising” and “including” are used herein as open-ended restrictions, neither excluding nor requiring the presence of features not listed. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the features listed in the dependent claims may be freely combined with each other. Furthermore, it should be understood that the use of “a” or “an” (i.e., the singular form) herein does not exclude the plural. Industrial applicability

[0054] At least some of the embodiments have industrial applicability in surface treatment applications (e.g., liquid treatment applications). List of abbreviations PFAS (Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid) LIPSS laser-induced periodic surface structures Reference symbol 110，210 Complementary nanoscale surface textures 120，220 pattern 121，221 surface 122，222 protruding edge 300 Plastic pipette tips 301 suction head part 302 Connection part 450，550 Part of the mold 451，551 protrusion 452，552 dent 460，560 First nanometer-level surface texture

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing plastic laboratory consumables, the method comprising: A metal mold is provided, which is a component that substantially corresponds to the plastic laboratory consumable to be formed by the metal mold; The surface of the metal mold is textured to form a textured metal mold with a first nanoscale surface texture; and The plastic material is formed into the plastic laboratory consumable using the textured metal mold, such that the plastic laboratory consumable acquires complementary nanoscale surface textures (110, 210), the complementary surface textures having at least one wettability feature for at least a first liquid.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The texturing is performed using nanolasers, femtosecond lasers, or pulsed ultrashort lasers.

3. The method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, The first nanoscale surface texture of the textured metal mold includes laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS).

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The complementary nanoscale surface texture includes nanoscale pores and / or nanoscale patterns.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The complementary nanoscale surface textures (110, 210) comprise repeating, partially raised mesh patterns.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein, The repeating partially raised grid pattern (120, 220) comprises multiple shapes, and the shapes include: The raised edge portions (122, 222) are interconnected to form a rectangle; and At least one convex diagonal portion connecting the two opposite corners of the rectangle.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The first liquid is selected from: water, glycerol solution, protein solution, and precipitated cell fluid.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The at least one wettability feature includes a first wettability feature contained in a first region of the complementary nanoscale textured surface.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, At least the first wettability characteristic of the first liquid is selected from the group consisting of: Lipophobic, hydrophilic, hydrophobic, lipophilic, lipophilic, oleophobic, or lipophilic.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The at least one wetting feature includes a second wetting feature for the first liquid, the second wetting feature being contained in a second region of the complementary nanoscale textured surface.

11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The second wettability characteristic is different from the first wettability characteristic.

12. The method according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein, The second wettability characteristic is selected from the following group: Lipophobic and hydrophilic properties, such as hydrophobic, hydrophilic, lipophobic, lipophilic, oleophobic, or lipophilic.

13. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The at least one wettability characteristic is defined by the contact angle of the first liquid, the contact angle being in the range of 95 degrees to 115 degrees.

14. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The molding process includes injection molding, and the plastic material includes thermoplastic materials.

15. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The metal mold comprises a metal material selected from the group consisting of steel and / or stainless powder steel.

16. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The molded plastic laboratory consumable is a pipette tip (300) which includes the complementary nanoscale surface textures (110, 210) on at least its inner surface.

17. A molded plastic laboratory consumable comprising at least one complementary nanoscale surface texture (110, 210) having at least one wettability feature for a first liquid.

18. The molded plastic laboratory consumables according to claim 17, wherein, The molded plastic laboratory consumables are pipette tips (300), such as low retention pipette tips and / or low adsorption pipette tips.

19. The molded plastic laboratory consumables according to claim 18, wherein, The at least one complementary nanoscale surface texture (110, 210) is present at least on the inner surface of the pipette tip (300).

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