3D tissue culture substrates produced by microthermoforming of pre-processed polymer films

• Published in: Biomedical microdevices Vol. 8; no. 3; pp. 191 - 199
• Main Authors: Giselbrecht, S, Gietzelt, T, Gottwald, E, Trautmann, C, Truckenmüller, R, Weibezahn, K F, Welle, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Springer Nature B.V 01.09.2006
• Subjects: Animals; Biocompatible Materials; Biomedical materials; Biomedical research; Cell Culture Techniques; Cell Line, Tumor; Feasibility studies; Humans; Materials Testing; Medical technology; Mice; Polycarboxylate Cement; Polymers; Polystyrenes; Surface Properties; Tissue engineering
• ISSN: 1387-2176; 1572-8781
• DOI: 10.1007/s10544-006-8174-8

We describe a new technology based on thermoforming as a microfabrication process. It significantly enhances the tailoring of polymers for three dimensional tissue engineering purposes since for the first time highly resolved surface and bulk modifications prior to a microstructuring process can be realised. In contrast to typical micro moulding techniques, the melting phase is avoided and thus allows the forming of pre-processed polymer films. The polymer is formed in a thermoelastic state without loss of material coherence. Therefore, previously generated modifications can be preserved. To prove the feasibility of our newly developed technique, so called SMART = Substrate Modification And Replication by Thermoforming, polymer films treated by various polymer modification methods, like UV-based patterned films, and films modified by the bombardment with energetic heavy ions, were post-processed by microthermoforming. The preservation of locally applied specific surface and bulk features was demonstrated e.g. by the selective adhesion of cells to patterned microcavity walls.