Microwell fabrication methods and applications for cellular studies

Kim, Sunghwan; Lee, Gi Hoon; Park, Joong Yull

doi:10.1007/s13534-013-0105-z

Cited by 43 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…In this work, we chose to investigate the feasibility of patterning microwell arrays into these reactive gels. Microwell arrays are attractive for the culture of embryoid bodies (EBs) and other 3D cell clusters useful for tissue engineering and regeneration . We used a replica molding procedure to introduce microwell arrays into our reactive gels (Supporting Information Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fabrication, chemical modification, and topographical patterning of reactive gels assembled from azlactone‐functionalized polymers and a diamine

Wancura

Anex-Ries

Carroll

et al. 2017

J. Polym. Sci. Part A: Polym. Chem.

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The work reported here demonstrates an approach to the fabrication of chemically reactive and topographically patterned hydrogels using the azlactone-functionalized polymer poly(2-vinyl-4,4'-dimethylazlactone) (PVDMA) and the hydrophilic diamine Jeffamine V R . Gels were initially assembled in DMSO but can be subsequently transferred into aqueous media to form hydrogels. Spectroscopic characterization of assembled gels demonstrated that variation in the stoichiometric ratio of azlactones to amines during gel synthesis permits control over the extent of crosslinking in the gels. Residual azlactones not consumed during crosslinking can be exploited to further functionalize these gels with hydrophobic, hydrophilic, and macromolecular amines that influence the physicochemical properties of these materials in aqueous solvents. The surface and bulk of these gels can be differentially functionalized (i.e., different functional groups on the gel surface relative to the bulk) by taking advantage of different rates of diffusion of macromolecular amines versus small molecule amines into assembled gels. Finally, these azlactone-functionalized gels can be topographically patterned with microwell arrays using a replica molding technique and chemically modified postfabrication with amine nucleophiles. This reactive approach to the fabrication of topographically patterned and chemically functionalized hydrogels offers a straightforward method for the rapid synthesis of micropatterned scaffolds of interest in a broad range of applications.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fabrication, chemical modification, and topographical patterning of reactive gels assembled from azlactone‐functionalized polymers and a diamine

Wancura

Anex-Ries

Carroll

et al. 2017

J. Polym. Sci. Part A: Polym. Chem.

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“…For stem cell research, it is important to collect data from isolated individual cells or cell pallets in high-throughput manner, because both isolated cell response and statistical analysis should be obtained simultaneously in order to understand stem cell characteristics clearly. In this regard, microwell array has been used as one of primary pioneering microtechniques [ 15 ]. One of examples to apply microwell technique to stem cell research was to recreate niche structure to understand the effects of specific proteins on stem cell function.…”

Section: Microwellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Microwell is micrometer-sized well, which can handle pico- or nanoliters of liquid, for trapping single or multiple cells. The first microwell system was made with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) in the early 1950s [ 14 ], since then microwell techniques have been frequently applied to various biological studies [ 15 ]. Comparing the traditional method which used culture dish, using microwell has advantages such as low sample amount, ability of high throughput test, and rapid analysis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Features of Microsystems for Cultivation and Characterization of Stem Cells with the Aim of Regenerative Therapy

Ahn

Kim

Lee

et al. 2016

Stem Cells International

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Stem cells have infinite potential for regenerative therapy thanks to their advantageous ability which is differentiable to requisite cell types for recovery and self-renewal. The microsystem has been proved to be more helpful to stem cell studies compared to the traditional methods, relying on its advantageous feature of mimicking in vivo cellular environments as well as other profitable features such as minimum sample consumption for analysis and multiprocedures. A wide variety of microsystems were developed for stem cell studies; however, regenerative therapy-targeted applications of microtechnology should be more emphasized and gain more attractions since the regenerative therapy is one of ultimate goals of biologists and bioengineers. In this review, we introduce stem cell researches harnessing well-known microtechniques (microwell, micropattern, and microfluidic channel) in view point of physical principles and how these systems and principles have been implemented appropriately for characterizing stem cells and finding possible regenerative therapies. Biologists may gain information on the principles of microsystems to apply them to find solutions for their current challenges, and engineers may understand limitations of the conventional microsystems and find new chances for further developing practical microsystems. Through the well combination of engineers and biologists, the regenerative therapy-targeted stem cell researches harnessing microtechnology will find better suitable treatments for human disorders.

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“…In this platform cells are typically seeded within some user-defined ECM, typically hydrogels such as Matrigel ® , collagen, or alginate [18,19], enabling studies of the role of cell-ECM interactions in defined geometries and soluble factor conditions [20]. 13.3.1a) [21]. The most common method for patterning microwells is by soft lithography.…”

Section: Microwell Arraysmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(a) Process for patterning microwells by soft lithography (modified from Kim et al [21]); (b) process for patterning microwells by laser cutting (modified from Tu et al [22]). However, neither microarrays nor the spheroids potentially present therein inherently incorporate to another microenvironmental cue that has proven itself important in the cascade of cancer progression: fluid transport.…”

Section: Microwell Arraysmentioning

confidence: 99%