Abstract
Replica-casting finds wide application in soft lithography and microfluidics. Most commonly, structures are molded with micro- to nano-patterned photoresists as master casts into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). PDMS features many favorable properties. It reproduces geometric details with nanometer fidelity, has low cytotoxicity and is transparent in the visible spectrum. It is furthermore biostable both in vitro and in vivo, can be plasma-bonded to itself, has low water permeability and is easy to handle and process. After curing, the PDMS can be peeled from the master and latter usually be reused if patterns are not undercut. Here, we describe the straightforward replica-molding process for devices that can be exploited either as perforated microchannel scaffolds for the in vitro use in axonal guidance and regeneration studies on microelectrode arrays (MEAs) or for the production of tissue-conformal in vivo MEAs for neuroprosthetic applications.
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Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Marina Nanni, Francesca Succol and Claudia Chiabrera for their excellent assistance in cell culture preparation. Thanks to Francesco Difato and Mattia Pesce for their advice on imaging techniques. Intramural funding is highly appreciated.
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Habibey, R., Golabchi, A., Blau, A. (2015). Microchannel Scaffolds for Neural Signal Acquisition and Analysis. In: Londral, A., Encarnação, P., Rovira, J. (eds) Neurotechnology, Electronics, and Informatics. Springer Series in Computational Neuroscience, vol 13. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15997-3_4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15997-3_4
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