Dresden 2009 – scientific programme
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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 13: Cell Migration
BP 13.4: Talk
Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 11:30–11:45, ZEU 260
Three-dimensional micro scaffolds for single cell experiments — •Joachim Fischer1, Franziska Klein2, Clemens Franz2, Georg von Freymann1, Martin Bastmeyer2, and Martin Wegener1 — 1Institut für Angewandte Physik, Universität Karlsruhe (TH), 76128 Karlsruhe, Germany — 2Zoologie I, Universität Karlsruhe (TH), 76128 Karlsruhe, Germany
The extracellular matrix with its specific mechanical and chemical properties has an important influence on eucaryotic cell adhesion, migration and differentiation behaviour. Investigating these cues in vitro requires a suitable method to fabricate three-dimensional micro environments with desired geometry, elasticity and functionality. Direct Laser Writing (DLW) allows the highly-reproducible fabrication of nearly arbitrary, three-dimensional polymer-microstructures with feature sizes between 100 nm and several microns. The structures’ mechanical responses to cellular contraction forces can be controlled by using different photoresists or by varying the thickness of individual elements. As a proof-of-principle, we demonstrate that chick cardiomyocytes cultured in these structures can rhythmically deform our elastic 3D-templates. Furthermore, we show a method to characterize the mechanical properties of these structures with an atomic force microscope. In the future, shaping the laser focus via phase- and/or amplitude modulation might allow for bigger and even smaller features and hence make DLW even more versatile for micro scaffold fabrication.