title: The submerged printing of cells onto a modified surface using a continuous flow microspotter.
abstract: The printing of cells for microarray applications possesses significant challenges including the problem of maintaining physiologically relevant cell phenotype after printing, poor organization and distribution of desired cells, and the inability to deliver drugs and/or nutrients to targeted areas in the array. Our 3D microfluidic printing technology is uniquely capable of sealing and printing arrays of cells onto submerged surfaces in an automated and multiplexed manner. The design of the microfluidic cell array (MFCA) 3D fluidics enables the printhead tip to be lowered into a liquid-filled well or dish and compressed against a surface to form a seal. The soft silicone tip of the printhead behaves like a gasket and is able to form a reversible seal by applying pressure or backing away. Other cells printing technologies such as pin or ink-jet printers are unable to print in submerged applications. Submerged surface printing is essential to maintain phenotypes of cells and to monitor these cells on a surface without disturbing the material surface characteristics. By printing onto submerged surfaces, cell microarrays are produced that allow for drug screening and cytotoxicity assessment in a multitude of areas including cancer, diabetes, inflammation, infections, and cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Wasatch Microfluidics.
authors.forename: Sherry N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Davidoff
authors.affiliation: Wasatch Microfluidics.
authors.forename: Adam R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Miles
authors.affiliation: Wasatch Microfluidics; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Utah.
authors.forename: Valentin
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Romanov
authors.affiliation: Wasatch Microfluidics; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Utah.
authors.forename: Bruce K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Gale
authors.affiliation: Wasatch Microfluidics.
authors.forename: Josh W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Eckman
authors.affiliation: Wasatch Microfluidics; bbrooks@microfl.com.
authors.forename: Benjamin D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Brooks
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051379:Mice; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*