Methods of Making Polymeric Articles and Polymeric Articles Formed Thereby

A method of molding an article, comprising:

• selecting a first mold section comprising an upper surface, the upper surface comprising a recessed region, and the recessed region comprising a plurality of mold units disposed therein;
• disposing a barrier layer onto the upper surface of the first mold section, the barrier layer comprising a thermoplastic elastomeric (TPE) material;
• dispensing a first portion of a gel precursor onto the barrier layer;
• disposing a fluid-permeable material layer over the gel precursor;
• disposing a stabilizing layer over the fluid-permeable material layer and forming an interface between the gel precursor and the fluid-permeable material layer;
• advancing the interface while applying pressure to the stabilizing layer adjacent to the interface, until the gel precursor is covered by the fluid-permeable material layer;
• closing the mold;
• allowing the gel precursor to cure;
• and
• removing a sheet comprising a plurality of molded articles interconnected by a layer of polymerized gel.