"Stamp-off" to micropattern sparse, multicomponent features.
Spatially patterned subtractive de-inking, a process we term "stamp-off," provides a simple method to generate sparse, multicomponent protein micropatterns. It has been applied to control cell adhesion, study adhesion biology, as well as to micropattern fragile surfaces. This technique can also readily be applied to study nanoscale interactions between cell membrane receptors and surface-immobilized ligands. It is based on conventional microcontact printing and as such requires the same reagents, including photolithographically defined masters, a spin-coater, poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS), and conventional cell culture reagents such as glass coverslips and adhesive proteins. Stamp-off is conceptually simplified into three steps: (1) generation of an appropriate cell culture substrate, PDMS-coated glass, (2) micropatterning with stamp-off, and (3) cell deposition. After elaborating each of these three methods, we discuss limitations of the technique and its applications.
Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA; Max Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany; Medical Research Council, National Institute of Medical Research, London, United Kingdom; University College London, London, United Kingdom.
Ravi A
RA
Desai
Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Natalia M
NM
Rodriguez
Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Christopher S
CS
Chen
D002448:Cell Adhesion; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D055767:Immobilized Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D008024:Ligands; D013499:Surface Properties
D055767:Immobilized Proteins; D008024:Ligands
Cell adhesion; Extracellular matrix; Micropatterning