Magnetic Cell Patterning on Hexagonally Packed Cell Culture Substrates

In this study, we used a T-junction microfluidic to fabricate hexagonally packed cell culture substrates involving ferrofluid for magnetic cell patterning. Polymeric microdroplets, which constituted the main structure of the cell culture substrates, were made by generation of a photo-sensitive polymer material in the T-shaped microfluidic junction by an immiscible liquid. The self-assembled droplet array then was solidified to form the hexagonally-packed cell culture substrates, followed by the filling of ferrofluid in the gaps between the solidified droplets for magnetic cell patterning. The advantages of our technique include different unit cell patterning areas of cell culture substrates can be created by only adjusting the volumeric flow rates without having to change the microfluidic channel, and the magnetic modification of the cell culture substrate is very easy. Furthermore, high spatial uniformity of the cell culture substrates is also promised. Magnetic cell patterning experiment was performed to verify the feasibility of our cell culture substrates.