title: Ice-lithographic fabrication of concave microwells and a microfluidic network.
abstract: We describe a novel method to produce concave microwells utilizing solid-liquid phase change. This method, named 'ice-lithography', does not require any lithographic processes and consists of a few simple steps that yield multiple concave microwells. We demonstrated that the shape and size of the microwells can be controlled by varying substrates and vapor-collection time. Patterned wells with sizes in the range of 10 microm to several millimeters in diameter could be produced. Additionally, we fabricated a uniformly aligned concave microwell pattern and a microfluidic network. Ice-lithography has potential biological and biomedical applications in areas such as the fabrication of cell docking devices and microbioreactors as well as the formation of uniformly sized embryoid bodies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Health Science, Korea University, Jeongneung-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 136-703, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Joong Yull
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Chang Mo
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Sang-Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002460:Cell Line; D005347:Fibroblasts; D007053:Ice; D051379:Mice; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques
chemical_list: D007053:Ice