Porous microwells for geometry-selective, large-scale microparticle arrays.
Large-scale microparticle arrays (LSMAs) are key for material science and bioengineering applications. However, previous approaches suffer from trade-offs between scalability, precision, specificity and versatility. Here, we present a porous microwell-based approach to create large-scale microparticle arrays with complex motifs. Microparticles are guided to and pushed into microwells by fluid flow through small open pores at the bottom of the porous well arrays. A scaling theory allows for the rational design of LSMAs to sort and array particles on the basis of their size, shape, or modulus. Sequential particle assembly allows for proximal and nested particle arrangements, as well as particle recollection and pattern transfer. We demonstrate the capabilities of the approach by means of three applications: high-throughput single-cell arrays; microenvironment fabrication for neutrophil chemotaxis; and complex, covert tags by the transfer of an upconversion nanocrystal-laden LSMA.
Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Jae Jung
JJ
Kim
BioMEMS Resource Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Shriners Hospital for Children, Massachusetts 02129, USA.|Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, 02841, South Korea.
Ki Wan
KW
Bong
BioMEMS Resource Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Shriners Hospital for Children, Massachusetts 02129, USA.|Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts 02129, USA.
Eduardo
E
Reátegui
BioMEMS Resource Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Shriners Hospital for Children, Massachusetts 02129, USA.
Daniel
0000-0001-7347-2082
D
Irimia
Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Patrick S
PS
Doyle
D000818:Animals; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D055252:Cell-Derived Microparticles / Q000502:physiology*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D057166:High-Throughput Screening Assays / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods