The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Microheated substrates for patterning cells and controlling development

Microheated substrates for patterning cells and controlling development
Microheated substrates for patterning cells and controlling development
Here, we seek to control cellular development by devising a means through which cells can be subjected to a microheated environment in standard culture conditions. Numerous techniques have been devised for controlling cellular function and development via manipulation of surface environmental cues at the micro- and nanoscale. It is well understood that temperature plays a significant role in the rate of cellular activities, migratory behavior (thermotaxis), and in some cases, protein expression. Yet, the effects and possible utilization of micrometer-scale temperature fields in cell cultures have not been explored. Toward this end, two types of thermally isolated microheated substrates were designed and fabricated, one with standard backside etching beneath a dielectric film and another with a combination of surface and bulk micromachining and backside etching. The substrates were characterized with infrared microscopy, finite element modeling, scanning electron microscopy, stylus profilometry, and electrothermal calibrations. Neuron culture studies were conducted on these substrates to 1) examine the feasibility of using a microheated environment to achieve patterned cell growth and 2) selectively accelerate neural development on regions less than 100$mu m$wide. Results show that attached neurons, grown on microheated regions set at 37$~^circ C$, extended processes substantially faster than those incubated at 25$~^circ C$on the same substrate. Further, unattached neurons were positioned precisely along the length of the heater filament (operating at 45$~^circ C$) using free convection currents. These preliminary findings indicate that microheated substrates may be used to direct cellular development spatially in a practical manner.$hfillhbox[1414]$
BioMEMS, cell patterning, microfabrication, microheater, neural development, neural outgrowth, thermal isolation
1057-7157
924-934
Shu, W.M.
1481e2c4-c245-4995-b74d-c9770dc8a9e7
Everett, W.N.
5b9013b0-17d7-411f-b69b-438d24ffb2c6
Zhang, Q.X.
aa31388d-84a2-404f-ba83-4768aad010f3
Liu, M.H.H.
d2cfb550-f0f2-4bee-891e-da625ee2d632
Trigg, A.
e65ea21c-8312-4b2e-9052-d625573bd6b4
Ma, Y.X.
17d7896a-1019-49d2-a4fa-e4edb2f719f7
Spearing, S.M.
9e56a7b3-e0e8-47b1-a6b4-db676ed3c17a
Wang, S.
8a390e2d-6552-4c7c-a88f-25bf9d6986a6
Sue, H.J.
0ea29b3b-7a2a-4735-8ed8-5dcb770e4a6c
Moran, P.M.
717bfb6d-6172-4df9-a158-dca6a591764b
Shu, W.M.
1481e2c4-c245-4995-b74d-c9770dc8a9e7
Everett, W.N.
5b9013b0-17d7-411f-b69b-438d24ffb2c6
Zhang, Q.X.
aa31388d-84a2-404f-ba83-4768aad010f3
Liu, M.H.H.
d2cfb550-f0f2-4bee-891e-da625ee2d632
Trigg, A.
e65ea21c-8312-4b2e-9052-d625573bd6b4
Ma, Y.X.
17d7896a-1019-49d2-a4fa-e4edb2f719f7
Spearing, S.M.
9e56a7b3-e0e8-47b1-a6b4-db676ed3c17a
Wang, S.
8a390e2d-6552-4c7c-a88f-25bf9d6986a6
Sue, H.J.
0ea29b3b-7a2a-4735-8ed8-5dcb770e4a6c
Moran, P.M.
717bfb6d-6172-4df9-a158-dca6a591764b

Shu, W.M., Everett, W.N., Zhang, Q.X., Liu, M.H.H., Trigg, A., Ma, Y.X., Spearing, S.M., Wang, S., Sue, H.J. and Moran, P.M. (2005) Microheated substrates for patterning cells and controlling development. Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems, 14 (5), 924-934. (doi:10.1109/JMEMS.2005.856677).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Here, we seek to control cellular development by devising a means through which cells can be subjected to a microheated environment in standard culture conditions. Numerous techniques have been devised for controlling cellular function and development via manipulation of surface environmental cues at the micro- and nanoscale. It is well understood that temperature plays a significant role in the rate of cellular activities, migratory behavior (thermotaxis), and in some cases, protein expression. Yet, the effects and possible utilization of micrometer-scale temperature fields in cell cultures have not been explored. Toward this end, two types of thermally isolated microheated substrates were designed and fabricated, one with standard backside etching beneath a dielectric film and another with a combination of surface and bulk micromachining and backside etching. The substrates were characterized with infrared microscopy, finite element modeling, scanning electron microscopy, stylus profilometry, and electrothermal calibrations. Neuron culture studies were conducted on these substrates to 1) examine the feasibility of using a microheated environment to achieve patterned cell growth and 2) selectively accelerate neural development on regions less than 100$mu m$wide. Results show that attached neurons, grown on microheated regions set at 37$~^circ C$, extended processes substantially faster than those incubated at 25$~^circ C$on the same substrate. Further, unattached neurons were positioned precisely along the length of the heater filament (operating at 45$~^circ C$) using free convection currents. These preliminary findings indicate that microheated substrates may be used to direct cellular development spatially in a practical manner.$hfillhbox[1414]$

Text
23450.pdf - Version of Record
Download (3MB)

More information

Published date: 2005
Keywords: BioMEMS, cell patterning, microfabrication, microheater, neural development, neural outgrowth, thermal isolation

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 23450
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/23450
ISSN: 1057-7157
PURE UUID: 5e40ec41-5290-4926-bedb-348ddedaff9c
ORCID for S.M. Spearing: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-3059-2014

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 10 Mar 2006
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 03:37

Export record

Altmetrics

Contributors

Author: W.M. Shu
Author: W.N. Everett
Author: Q.X. Zhang
Author: M.H.H. Liu
Author: A. Trigg
Author: Y.X. Ma
Author: S.M. Spearing ORCID iD
Author: S. Wang
Author: H.J. Sue
Author: P.M. Moran

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×