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Controlled Cell Alignment Using Two‐Photon Direct Laser Writing‐Patterned Hydrogels in 2D and 3D
Author(s) -
Song Jiaxi,
Michas Christos,
Chen Christopher S.,
White Alice E.,
Grinstaff Mark W.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
macromolecular bioscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.924
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1616-5195
pISSN - 1616-5187
DOI - 10.1002/mabi.202100051
Subject(s) - microscale chemistry , self healing hydrogels , nanotechnology , two photon excitation microscopy , polymerization , adhesion , cell adhesion , microstructure , materials science , laser , mesenchymal stem cell , adhesive , fabrication , cell , optoelectronics , biophysics , chemistry , optics , polymer , composite material , microbiology and biotechnology , polymer chemistry , biology , physics , alternative medicine , mathematics , pathology , biochemistry , layer (electronics) , fluorescence , medicine , mathematics education
Direct laser writing (DLW) via two‐photon polymerization is an emerging highly precise technique for the fabrication of intricate cellular scaffolds. Despite recent progress in using two‐photon‐polymerized scaffolds to probe fundamental cell behaviors, new methods to direct and modulate microscale cell alignment and selective cell adhesion using two‐photon‐polymerized microstructures are of keen interest. Here, a DLW‐fabricated 2D and 3D hydrogel microstructures, with alternating soft and stiff regions, for precisely controlled cell alignment are reported. The use of both cell‐adhesive and cell‐repellent hydrogels allows selective adhesion and alignment of human mesenchymal stem cells within the printed structure. Importantly, DLW patterning enables cell alignment on flat surfaces as well as irregular and curved 3D microstructures, which are otherwise challenging to pattern with cells.