3D Electrophoresis‐Assisted Lithography (3DEAL): 3D Molecular Printing to Create Functional Patterns and Anisotropic Hydrogels

• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201703014
• Publication Date: 2017-12-19T07:02:37Z
• Authors: Juan P. Aguilar; Michal Lipka; Gastón A. Primo; Edxon E. Licon‐Be...; Juan M. Fernández...; Andriy Yaroshchuk; Fernando Albericio; Alvaro Mata
• Keywords: Microscale chemistry; Microcontact Printing; 3D cell culture

Abstract The ability to easily generate anisotropic hydrogel environments made from functional molecules with microscale resolution is an exciting possibility for the biomaterials community. This study reports a novel 3D electrophoresis‐assisted lithography (3DEAL) platform that combines elements proteomics, biotechnology, and microfabrication print well‐defined molecular patterns within hydrogels. potential of 3DEAL assessed by patterning immunoglobulin G, fibronectin, elastin nine widely used hydrogels characterizing pattern depth, resolution, aspect ratio. Furthermore, technique's versatility demonstrated fabricating complex including parallel perpendicular columns, curved lines, gradients composition, multiple proteins ranging tens micrometers centimeters in size depth. functionality printed culturing NIH‐3T3 cells on fibronectin‐patterned polyacrylamide‐collagen selectively supporting cell growth. simple, accessible, versatile hydrogel‐patterning based controlled printing may enable development tunable, chemically anisotropic, hierarchical environments.