Polydimethylsiloxane template-based size-selective assembly of single biological cells

Abstract

This paper presents experimental demonstrations of size-selective parallel templated assembly of single biological cells on a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) template. Using the ultrasonic assembly technique known as templated assembly by selective removal (TASR), single chlorella cells with diameters between 5 and 20 μm were individually assembled in parallel with high size-based selectivity and precise alignment into their size-matching hemispherical assembly sites on the template. Optical observation of assembled single cells on the template without cell staining was enabled by transparency of the PDMS template. No significant change in the cell morphology was observed after assembly, confirming that the conditions of ultrasound used in the assembly are compatible. The presented size-selective trapping of single biological cells on the transparent and biocompatible PDMS template represents a biological tool with potential for direct implementation in various biological applications including cell sorting and isolation for optical cell diagnostics or cell templating for artificial tissue replication.