title: Fabricating large arrays of microwells with arbitrary dimensions and filling them using discontinuous dewetting.
abstract: This paper describes the fabrication of large (up to 45 cm(2)) arrays of microwells, with volumes as small as ∼3 fL/well and densities as high as 10(7) wells/cm(2). These arrays of microwells are formed by casting an elastomer, poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), against "masters" prepared by photolithography; arrays of microwells in other polymers can be formed by using a master consisting of posts in PDMS. A straightforward technique, discontinuous dewetting, allows wells to be filled rapidly (typically on the order of 10(4) wells/s) and uniformly with a wide range of liquids. Several rudimentary strategies for addressing microwells are investigated, including electroosmotic pumping and gaseous diffusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Jackman
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Duffy
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ostuni
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Willmore
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Whitesides