Evaluation of transparent polyimide film as biological cell culture sheet with microstructures for biomedical engineering

Potentials of the transparent polyimide (PI) substrate were investigated for a possible biological cell culture sheet. Stromal marrow cells (OP9) were used to test the cell culture characteristics, and the OP9 cell culture was compared on three kinds of polymer films of transparent PI, parylene (PA), and polyetheretherketone (PEEK). Microtrenches with the width of 5 μm and the depth of 5 μm were fabricated using hot embossing technique on these films. The cultured cell of OP9 was observed on the transparent PI sheet and PA sheet, but not on PEEK sheet. The culture of OP9 cells were easily observed on the transparent PI sheet using an optical microscope.