title: Fabrication of three-dimensional multi-protein microstructures for cell migration and adhesion enhancement.
abstract: In this study, three-dimensional (3D) multi-component microstructures were precisely fabricated via multiphoton excited photochemistry using a femtosecond laser direct-writing system with proposed repetition positioning and vector scanning techniques. Extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, such as fibronectin (FN), are difficult to stack and form 3D structures larger than several-hundred microns in height due to the nature of their protein structure. Herein, to fabricate complex 3D microstructures with FN, a 3D scaffold was designed and formed from bovine serum albumin (BSA), after which human FN was inserted at specific locations on the BSA scaffold; in this manner, the fabricated ECM microstructure can guide cells in a 3D environment. A human breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231, was used to investigate the behavior of cell migration and adhesion on the fabricated human FN and BSA protein structures. Experimental results indicate that many cells are not able to attach or climb on a 3D structure's inclined plane without FN support; hence, the influence of cell growth in a 3D context with FN should being taken into consideration. This 3D multi-protein fabrication technique holds potential for cell studies in designed complex 3D ECM scaffolds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering Science, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Da Sie
authors.affiliation: Department of Photonics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Cheng
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan ; Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, NY 13210, USA.
authors.forename: Nan-Shan
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI 53706, USA.
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Campagnola
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering Science, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan ; Advanced Optoelectronic Technology Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan ; Center for Micro/Nano Science and Technology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shean-Jen
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chen
keywords: (110.3960) Microlithography; (160.1435) Biomaterials; (190.4180) Multiphoton processes; (220.4000) Microstructure fabrication