Direct rapid prototyping of PDMS from a photomask film for micropatterning of biomolecules and cells.
The soft lithographic technique is a collection of simple and cost-effective patterning techniques which applies an elastomeric stamp to transfer a nano/micro-scale pattern. Patterning biological materials using soft lithography provides procedurally simple control of the surface chemistry and the cell environments. However, conventional methods for generating microstructures on a substrate require expensive clean room facilities and skillful training. Here we report a simple and inexpensive clean-room free process using a conventional photomask film as a master to fabricate elastomeric stamps or microfluidic channels. This ultra rapid prototyping technique was applied to print FITC labeled poly-L-lysine with a 10 microm feature size on a glass substrate using soft lithographic processes, such as micro-contact printing and micromolding in capillaries, for patterning human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, human skin fibroblasts and hippocampal neurons from E-18 Sprague-Dawley rat. This novel technique using a photomask film as a master would be very useful 'hands-on' tool for the generation of micro-patterned chemical or biological assays using cells and proteins.
Hwang
Hyundoo
H
Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, KAIST, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-701, Korea.
Kang
Gyumin
G
Yeon
Ju Hun
JH
Nam
Yoonkey
Y
Park
Je-Kyun
JK
D000818:Animals; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; C013830:baysilon