Self-assembled cellular microarrays patterned using DNA barcodes.
The successful integration of living cells into synthetic devices requires precise control over cell patterning. Here we describe a versatile platform that can accomplish this goal through DNA hybridization. Living cells functionalized with exogenous cell-surface DNA strands bind to cognate sequences of DNA printed on glass slides. Attachment via these "cell-adhesion barcodes" is rapid and specific, with close-packed arrays of cells forming within minutes. The biophysical properties of the system are characterized, and the technique is used to form complex cellular patterns with single-cell line widths and self-assembled cellular microarrays. Key advantages of DNA-directed cell binding include the ability to immobilize both adherent and non-adherent cells, to capture cells selectively from a mixed population, to tune the binding properties of the cells, and to reuse substrates prepared with widely available DNA printing technologies.
Douglas
Erik S
ES
UCSF/UC Berkeley Joint Graduate Group in Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
Chandra
Ravi A
RA
Bertozzi
Carolyn R
CR
Mathies
Richard A
RA
Francis
Matthew B
MB
D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D044085:Microfluidics; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
D017931:DNA Primers