title: Laser-based three-dimensional multiscale micropatterning of biocompatible hydrogels for customized tissue engineering scaffolds.
abstract: Light-induced material phase transitions enable the formation of shapes and patterns from the nano- to the macroscale. From lithographic techniques that enable high-density silicon circuit integration, to laser cutting and welding, light-matter interactions are pervasive in everyday materials fabrication and transformation. These noncontact patterning techniques are ideally suited to reshape soft materials of biological relevance. We present here the use of relatively low-energy (< 2 nJ) ultrafast laser pulses to generate 2D and 3D multiscale patterns in soft silk protein hydrogels without exogenous or chemical cross-linkers. We find that high-resolution features can be generated within bulk hydrogels through nearly 1 cm of material, which is 1.5 orders of magnitude deeper than other biocompatible materials. Examples illustrating the materials, results, and the performance of the machined geometries in vitro and in vivo are presented to demonstrate the versatility of the approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155;
authors.forename: Matthew B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Applegate
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155;
authors.forename: Jeannine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coburn
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155;
authors.forename: Benjamin P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Partlow
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155;
authors.forename: Jodie E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Moreau
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155;
authors.forename: Jessica P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Mondia
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155;
authors.forename: Benedetto
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155;
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155; Department of Physics, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155 fiorenzo.omenetto@tufts.edu.
authors.forename: Fiorenzo G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Omenetto
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D007834:Lasers; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020100:Hydrogels
keywords: biomaterials; micromachining; silk; tissue engineering; ultrafast lasers