Facile and Rapid Microcontact Printing of Additive-Free Polydimethylsiloxane for Biological Patterning Diversity

Abstract

The development and application of micropatterning technology play a promising role in the manipulation of biological substances and the exploration of life sciences at the microscale. However, the universally adaptable micropatterning method with user-friendly properties for acceptance in routine laboratories remains scarce. Herein, a green, facile, and rapid microcontact printing method is reported for upgrading popularization and diversification of biological patterning. The three-step printing can achieve high simplicity and fidelity of additive-free polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) micropatterning and chip fabrication within 8 min as well as keep their high stability and diversity. A detailed experimental report is provided to support the advanced microcontact printing method. Furthermore, the applications of easy-to-operate PDMS-patterned chips are extensively validated to complete microdroplet array assembly with spatial control, cell pattern formation with high efficiency and geometry customization, and microtissue assembly and biomimetic tumor construction on a large scale. This straightforward method promotes diverse micropatternings with minimal time, effort, and expertise and maximal biocompatibility, which might broaden its applications in interdisciplinary scientific communities. This work also offers an insight into the establishment of popularized and market-oriented microtools for biomedical purposes such as biosensing, organs on a chip, cancer research, and bioscreening.