Femto‐Second Laser‐Based Free Writing of 3D Protein Microstructures and Micropatterns with Sub‐Micrometer Features: A Study on Voxels, Porosity, and Cytocompatibility

Chan, Barbara P.; Ni, Jiao; Xu, Jin; Li, Chuen Wai; Cheng, Jin; Cheng, Shuk Han

doi:10.1002/adfm.201300709

Cited by 36 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…The fabrication of (sub)micrometer‐sized 3D shape‐shifting structures remain a challenge due to the difficulties and lack of fabrication tools for the precise fabrication and positioning of structures. Photolithography emerges as a promising technique for the fabrication of defined, 3D polymeric microstructures . Using a masked‐directed multiphoton lithography, pH‐responsive bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein microstructures with differing cross‐linking densities that qualitatively curl to different extents in response to pH change have been fabricated .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shape-Shifting 3D Protein Microstructures with Programmable Directionality via Quantitative Nanoscale Stiffness Modulation

Lee

Phang

Cui

et al. 2014

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The ability to shape-shift in response to a stimulus increases an organism's survivability in nature. Similarly, man-made dynamic and responsive "smart" microtechnology is crucial for the advancement of human technology. Here, 10-30 μm shape-changing 3D BSA protein hydrogel microstructures are fabricated with dynamic, quantitative, directional, and angle-resolved bending via two-photon photolithography. The controlled directional responsiveness is achieved by spatially controlling the cross-linking density of BSA at a nanometer lengthscale. Atomic force microscopy measurements of Young's moduli of structures indicate that increasing the laser writing distance at the z-axis from 100-500 nm decreases the modulus of the structure. Hence, through nanoscale modulation of the laser writing z-layer distance at the nanoscale, control over the cross-linking density is possible, allowing for the swelling extent of the microstructures to be quantified and controlled with high precision. This method of segmented moduli is applied within a single microstructure for the design of shape-shifting microstructures that exhibit stimulus-induced chirality, as well as for the fabrication of a free-standing 3D microtrap which is able to open and close in response to a pH change.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shape-Shifting 3D Protein Microstructures with Programmable Directionality via Quantitative Nanoscale Stiffness Modulation

Lee

Phang

Cui

et al. 2014

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“…However, after photostructuring by TPS, most of them involve multistep processes such as phase inversion or thermal annealing to achieve the desired properties . In this regard, only few works have been focused on the development of directly crosslinkable functional materials suitable for TPS . Indeed, this field of research is still very challenging because it is usually rather difficult to combine antagonist parameters to ensure both integrity and specific properties of the functional material during the processing route.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Rapid Prototyping of Chemical Microsensors Based on Molecularly Imprinted Polymers Synthesized by Two‐Photon Stereolithography

et al. 2016

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Two-photon stereolithography is used for rapid prototyping of submicrometre molecularly imprinted polymer-based 3D structures. The structures are evaluated as chemical sensing elements and their specific recognition properties for target molecules are confirmed. The 3D design capability is exploited and highlighted through the fabrication of an all-organic molecularly imprinted polymeric microelectromechanical sensor.

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“…The orthogonal views of the ECM/BSA microstructures revealed that a thin layer of ECM protein was crosslinked to the top surface of the prefabricated BSA micromatrix. Instead of mixing and co‐crosslinking both BSA and ECM proteins to form the ECM–containing 3D protein microstructures and micropatterns, as we described in a previous study,[14b] here we crosslinked the ECM proteins at the solid–water interface between the BSA protein microstructures and the ECM protein solutions. By crosslinking the ECM proteins to form a very thin layer at the water–solid interface between the BSA protein microstructures and the ECM solution, we minimized the influence of the ECM crosslinking on the intrinsic material property elastic modulus of the BSA micromatrix, and thus we effectively decoupled these two properties.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, the noncontact laser‐based crosslinking makes it possible to functionalize the surface of extremely soft 3D microstructures at selected locations with specific densities without damaging their topological features. Previous studies demonstrated the ability of two‐photon microfabrication to fabricate complex protein micropatterns with precisely controlled voxels, topological structures and porosity, as well as mechanical properties . The ECM niche is one of the most important components of cell niche, and thus plays a critical role in cell–matrix interactions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiphoton 3D Microprinting of Protein Micropatterns with Spatially Controlled Heterogeneity – A Platform for Single Cell Matrix Niche Studies

Huang

Chan

2018

Adv. Biosys.

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it is critical to be able to reconstitute the complex cell niche in native tissues in vitro. An ideal in vitro cell niche should feature spatially controlled heterogeneity and the free selection of niche factors for individual control. The availability of a cell niche where the components can be so finely controlled will provide information regarding how a particular cell niche factor regulates cellular fate processes and what combination of cell niche factors leads to optimal cellular activities. Ultimately, a complex cell niche with "programmable" niche factors can be fabricated to model the microenvironment of cells in native and pathological tissues. Previous studies show that human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are sensitive to the ECM composition [7] as well as the matrix compliance or mechanical force applied. [8] Numerous microfabrication technology platforms, for example, replica molding, [9] microcontact printing, [10] dippen nanolithography, [11] and micro-inkjet printing [12] have been developed to fabricate microstructures and micropatterns. However, they have several drawbacks such as time-consuming fabrication process and low fabrication resolution. Two-photon microfabrication [13] has several advantages such as sub-micrometer resolution, free-form 3D fabrication with spatial control ability. Moreover, the noncontact laser-based crosslinking makes it possible to functionalize the surface of extremely soft 3D microstructures at selected locations with specific densities without damaging their topological features. Previous studies demonstrated the ability of two-photon microfabrication to fabricate complex protein micropatterns with precisely controlled voxels, topological structures and porosity, [14] as well as mechanical properties. [15] The ECM niche is one of the most important components of cell niche, and thus plays a critical role in cell-matrix interactions. Nevertheless, micropatterning the ECM niche with precise control of the density, spatial location of multiple ECM components, and decoupling this niche with the mechanical properties of the protein microstructures, has not been demonstrated.Here, we demonstrate the critical capability of the multiphoton microprinting technology to micropattern the ECM niche with heterogeneity (Figure 1). The multiphoton 3D fabrication system including a femtosecond laser (Figure 1a) has been used to fabricate the underlying protein substrateReconstituting the biomimetic cell niche in vitro is important as it allows to determine how niche factors may affect cellular fate processes. Many biofabrication and micropatterning technologies are developed to achieve this goal. However, the critical outstanding challenges are the capabilities to spatially control the micropatterns and to decouple the different niche factors. Multiphoton microfabrication is an emerging technology with unique advantages. A multiphoton 3D microprinting platform has been previously established to create protein microstructures and micropatterns with sub-micrometer resolution and it...

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Femto‐Second Laser‐Based Free Writing of 3D Protein Microstructures and Micropatterns with Sub‐Micrometer Features: A Study on Voxels, Porosity, and Cytocompatibility

Cited by 36 publications

References 47 publications

Shape-Shifting 3D Protein Microstructures with Programmable Directionality via Quantitative Nanoscale Stiffness Modulation

Shape-Shifting 3D Protein Microstructures with Programmable Directionality via Quantitative Nanoscale Stiffness Modulation

Rapid Prototyping of Chemical Microsensors Based on Molecularly Imprinted Polymers Synthesized by Two‐Photon Stereolithography

Multiphoton 3D Microprinting of Protein Micropatterns with Spatially Controlled Heterogeneity – A Platform for Single Cell Matrix Niche Studies

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