Fluidic microstructuring of alginate hydrogels for the single cell niche.
Controlling alginate gel formation by diffusion of Ca(2+) ions through a filter barrier, a layer-by-layer deposition technique with resolution on the size scale of a single cell is presented. It offers the possibility of exposing cells under biocompatible conditions to microheterogeneous three-dimensional environments, mimicking the layered structure of extracellular matrix in tissues.
Braschler
Thomas
T
Laboratory of Microsystems, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland. thomas.braschler@epfl.ch
Valero
Ana
A
Colella
Ludovica
L
Pataky
Kristopher
K
Brugger
Juergen
J
Renaud
Philippe
P
D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008846:Micromanipulation / Q000295:instrumentation*
D000464:Alginates; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020100:Hydrogels; D020723:Glucuronic Acid