Simple molding fabrication for poly acrylamide hydrogel

We present a simple fabrication method based on nano-molding and capillary force lithography to achieve micro/nano structures of poly-acrylamide (PAAm) hydrogel. We fabricated various patterns, such as line and space (L&S), posts, and grid with 140-2,000 nm in width or diameter using nano-molding method. Also, we could fabricate fiber and mesh structures of 2 μm in width using capillary force lithography. The nano L&S structure allowed the cells to align along the line and have long and narrow shape. The hydrogel micromesh could trap cells inside of mesh. Therefore, the present hydrogel molding method provides easy, fast, and flexible micro/nano fabrication of PAAm hydrogel, indicating the potential to functional surface for chemical and biomedical applications.