Microfluidic device‐assisted etching of p‐HEMA for cell or protein patterning

Abstract

The construction of biomaterials with which to limit the growth of cells or to limit the adsorption of proteins is essential for understanding biological phenomena. Here, we describe a novel method to simply and easily create thin layers of poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (p-HEMA) for protein and cellular patterning via etching with ethanol and microfluidic devices. First, a cell culture surface or glass coverslip is coated with p-HEMA. Next, a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic is placed onto the p-HEMA surface, and ethanol is aspirated through the device. The PDMS device is removed, and the p-HEMA surface is ready for protein adsorption or cell plating. This method allows for the fabrication of 0.3 µm thin layers of p-HEMA, which can be etched to 10 µm wide channels. Furthermore, it creates regions of differential protein adhesion, as shown by Coomassie staining and fluorescent labeling, and cell adhesion, as demonstrated by C2C12 myoblast growth. This method is simple, versatile, and allows biologists and bioengineers to manipulate regions for cell culture adhesion and growth. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 34:243-248, 2018.

Recapitulating complex biological signaling environments using a multiplexed, DNA-patterning approach

“…This includes, for example, active cell-patterning methods that use microfluidic (16,17), acoustic (18,19), or dielectrophoretic forces to manipulate cells (20,21). Similarly, indirect capture methods that modulate surface chemistries through either surface charge (22,23) or the selective deposition of cell-adhesive/resistive materials (24)(25)(26) are limited to patterning only one or two cellular components. On the other hand, direct-deposition methods that are capable of recreating multifactorial signaling scenarios-such as ink-jet printing (27), dip-pen lithography (28,29), and robotic-spot microarray technologies (30)(31)(32)-often sacrifice micrometer-scale spatial resolution and/ or throughput.…”