Development of a process for the manufacturing of SU-8 100 for the use in cell culture

Abstract

SU-8 100 is a negative-tone photoresist which is used for the manufacturing of structures with high thickness and aspect ratio. The use of SU-8 100 systems in cell culture is difficult due to its cytotoxicity resulting from leachables. In this article, the production process of non-cytotoxic SU-8 100 foils is described. The aim is to create a polymer scaffold with integrated sensors in order to enable online measurements of cell growth and viability within a three-dimensional cell culture. This scaffold could be a useful tool for testing biological effects of pharmaceutical substances. Therefore, the scaffold material must not have a negative influence on the cell growth and viability. Among the biocompatibility tests described in DIN EN ISO 10993-5, the neutral red uptake method was chosen to evaluate the cytotoxicity of polymer foils. The production process of SU-8 100 was altered in such a way that non-cytotoxic SU-8 100 foils can be manufactured.