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Microreplication and Design of Biological Architectures Using Dynamic‐Mask Multiphoton Lithography
Author(s) -
Nielson Rex,
Kaehr Bryan,
Shear Jason B.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.200801084
Subject(s) - photomask , lithography , digital micromirror device , replication (statistics) , rapid prototyping , computer science , materials science , nanotechnology , photolithography , 3d printing , optoelectronics , resist , composite material , statistics , mathematics , layer (electronics)
A strategy for rapidly printing three‐dimensional (3D) microscopic replicas using multiphoton lithography directed by a dynamic electronic mask is reported. Morphological descriptions of 3D structures are encoded as stacks of 2D slices created from tomographic and computer‐designed instruction sets. In this manner, digital images serve as input for a sequence of reflective photomasks on a digital micromirror device to direct replication of a structure. By scanning a laser focus across the face of the intrinsically aligned masks, tomographic and computed data can be translated into protein‐based 3D reproductions with submicrometer feature sizes within 1 min. This straightforward and highly versatile approach may provide improved routes for the development of 3D cellular scaffolds, rapid prototyping of microanalytical devices, and production of custom tissue replacements.