title: DROPLAY: laser writing of functional patterns within biological microdroplet displays.
abstract: In this study, we introduce an optofluidic method for the rapid construction of large-area cell-sized droplet assemblies with user-defined, re-writable, two-dimensional patterns of functional droplets. Light responsive water-in-oil droplets capable of releasing fluorescent dye molecules upon exposure were generated and self-assembled into arrays inside a microfluidic device. This biological architecture was exploited by the scanning laser of a confocal microscope to 'write' user defined patterns of differentiated (fluorescent) droplets in a network of originally undifferentiated (non-fluorescent) droplets. As a result, long lasting images were produced on a droplet fabric with droplets acting as pixels of a biological monitor, which can be erased and re-written on-demand. Regio-specific light-induced droplet differentiation within a large population of droplets provides a new paradigm for the rapid construction of bio-synthetic systems with potential as tissue mimics and biological display materials.
authors: Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, London, UK. o.ces@imperial.ac.uk.
authors: Chi Long
authors: CL
authors: Chan
authors: Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, London, UK. o.ces@imperial.ac.uk.
authors: Guido
authors: 0000-0002-2380-0794
authors: G
authors: Bolognesi
authors: Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA.
authors: Archis
authors: A
authors: Bhandarkar
authors: Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, London, UK. o.ces@imperial.ac.uk.
authors: Mark S
authors: MS
authors: Friddin
authors: Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, London, UK. o.ces@imperial.ac.uk.
authors: Nicholas J
authors: NJ
authors: Brooks
authors: Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, London, UK. o.ces@imperial.ac.uk.
authors: John M
authors: JM
authors: Seddon
authors: Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, London, UK. o.ces@imperial.ac.uk.
authors: Robert V
authors: RV
authors: Law
authors: Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, London, UK. o.ces@imperial.ac.uk.
authors: Laura M C
authors: LM
authors: Barter
authors: Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, London, UK. o.ces@imperial.ac.uk.
authors: Oscar
authors: O
authors: Ces
mesh_terms: D056656:Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; D007834:Lasers; D055620:Optical Phenomena