title: Microfabrication meets microbiology.
abstract: This Review summarizes methods for constructing systems and structures at micron or submicron scales that have applications in microbiology. These tools make it possible to manipulate individual cells and their immediate extracellular environments and have the capability to transform the study of microbial physiology and behaviour. Because of their simplicity, low cost and use in microfabrication, we focus on the application of soft lithographic techniques to the study of microorganisms, and describe several key areas in microbiology in which the development of new microfabricated materials and tools can have a crucial role.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 433 Babcock Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA. weibel@biochem.wisc.edu
authors.forename: Douglas B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Weibel
authors.forename: Willow R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Diluzio
authors.forename: George M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Whitesides
mesh_terms: D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D001698:Biomedical Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D001709:Biotechnology; D008828:Microbiological Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008829:Microbiology; D008904:Miniaturization; D010641:Phenotype; D018511:Systems Integration