title: Micropatterned porous membranes for combinatorial cell-based assays.
abstract: Here, we describe a protocol for producing micropatterned porous membranes which can be used for combinatorial cell-based assays. We use contact printing to pattern the surface of a porous filter membrane with a thin layer of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). This allows the porosity of the filter membrane to be altered at selected locations. Cells can be grown on one side of the filter membrane, while drugs and reagents can be deposited on the porous areas of the other side of the membrane. The reagents can diffuse through the pores of the membrane to the cells. The first part of the protocol describes how to design a stamp and use it to contact print PDMS. The second part describes how to create microprinted membranes for cell-based assays. The method is simple, highly customizable, can be performed at the bench, and can be used to perform combinatorial or time-dependent cell-based assays.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Matiѐre et Systѐmes Complexes, UMR7057, CNRS & Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Clément
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vulin
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Matiѐre et Systѐmes Complexes, UMR7057, CNRS & Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Fanny
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Evenou
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Matiѐre et Systѐmes Complexes, UMR7057, CNRS & Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Jean Marc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Di Meglio
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Matiѐre et Systѐmes Complexes, UMR7057, CNRS & Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hersen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000737:chemistry; D004285:Dogs; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D061985:Madin Darby Canine Kidney Cells; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D008851:Micropore Filters; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D016062:Porosity; D011327:Printing; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; C013830:baysilon
keywords: Cell-based assays; Microcontact printing; Microfabrication; PDMS printing; Porous membranes