Molding Micropatterns of Elasticity on PEG‐Based Hydrogels to Control Cell Adhesion and Migration

Abstract

We present an innovative and simple, soft UV lithographic method “FIll-Molding In Capillaries” (FIMIC) that combines soft lithography with capillary force driven filling of micro-channels to create smooth hydrogel substrates with a 2D micro-pattern on the surface. The lithographic procedure involves the molding of a polymer; in our case a bulk PEG-based hydrogel, via UV-curing from a microfabricated silicon master. The grooves of the created regular line pattern are consequently filled with a second hydrogel by capillary action. As a result, a smooth surface is obtained with a well-defined pattern design of the two different polymers on its surface. The FIMIC method is very versatile; the only prerequisite is that the second material is liquid before curing in order to enable the filling process. In this specific case we present the proof of principle of this method by applying two hydrogels which differ in their crosslinking density and therefore in their elasticity. Preliminary cell culture studies on the fabricated elasticity patterned hydrogels indicate the preferred adhesion of the cells to the stiffer regions of the substrates, which implies that the novel substrates are a very useful platform for systematic cell migration studies, e.g. more fundamental investigation of the concept of “durotaxis”

Microscale Technologies for Engineering Complex Tissue Structures

“…In another study, Diez et al microfabricated elastomeric patterned hydrogels by combining soft lithography and micromolding techniques known as fi ll-molding in capillaries (FIMIC) [ 76 ]. In this method, a PEG-based hydrogel is molded on microfabricated silicon master using UV radiation.…”

Regulation of Stem Cell Fate in a Three‐Dimensional Micropatterned Dual‐Crosslinked Hydrogel System

“…[23] Only recently have various techniques been used to prepare hydrogels with micropatterned 3D biomaterial properties to examine the influence of stem cell niche signals such as matrix rigidity [24] and topography, [25] growth factors [26–28] and cell adhesion molecules. [26,29] For example, a photopolymerizable hydrogel has been directly micropatterned via photolithography using ultraviolet (UV) light exposure through a photomask to create 3D spatial patterning of rigidity for regulation of human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) differentiation.…”

Techniques for fabrication and construction of three-dimensional scaffolds for tissue engineering

“…24,25,73,74 Another advantage of the bottom-up method is the superior diffusion properties of microgels due to their controllable volume, which can obtain a high cell density after encapsulating cells. A variety of methods have been developed to fabricate microgels, including molding, 75 folding, photolithography, 21 molecular synthesis, 76 and generation of microdroplets. 77 Here we focus on microgels fabricated using photolithography ( Figure 6A) and the assembly approaches used for these microgels via railed microfluidic assembly, surface tension assembly, acoustic assembly, and magnetic assembly.…”