Porous microwells for geometry-selective, large-scale microparticle arrays

• Main Authors: Bong, Ki Wan (Author), Reátegui, Eduardo (Author), Irimia, Daniel (Author), Kim, Jae Jung (Contributor), Doyle, Patrick S (Contributor)
• Other Authors: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Chemical Engineering (Contributor)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Nature Publishing Group, 2017-03-09T18:52:30Z.
• Subjects: Article
• Online Access: Get fulltext

Large-scale microparticle arrays (LSMAs) are key for material science and bioengineering applications. However, previous approaches suffer from trade-offs between scalability, precision, specificity and versatility. Here, we present a porous microwell-based approach to create large-scale microparticle arrays with complex motifs. Microparticles are guided to and pushed into microwells by fluid flow through small open pores at the bottom of the porous well arrays. A scaling theory allows for the rational design of LSMAs to sort and array particles on the basis of their size, shape, or modulus. Sequential particle assembly allows for proximal and nested particle arrangements, as well as particle recollection and pattern transfer. We demonstrate the capabilities of the approach by means of three applications: high-throughput single-cell arrays; microenvironment fabrication for neutrophil chemotaxis; and complex, covert tags by the transfer of an upconversion nanocrystal-laden LSMA.
National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Grant CMMI-1120724)
Samsung Scholarship Foundation
National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant GM092804)
National Science Foundation (U.S.). Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (Program) (Award DMR-1419807)