Regenerating the cell resistance of micromolded PEG hydrogels

Abstract

Polydimethylsiloxane stamp materials used during soft lithography undermine the non-fouling behaviour of bio-inert PEG-based hydrogels, resulting in increased protein adsorption and cell adhesion and migration on the gel. This previously unreported phenomenon undermines the function of lab-on-a-chip devices that require the device to be bio-inert, and slows the implementation of promising micromolding and imprinting methods for 3D culture and commercial cell culture systems. We illustrate that the degree of cell adhesion and protein adsorption to the gels correlates with the amount of residual stamp material remaining at the hydrogel interface after fabrication. After identifying this previo..