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Fabrication and Applications of Three Dimensional Porous Microwells

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Christina L Randall
Affiliation:
christina.randall@gmail.com, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Yevgeniy V Kalinin
Affiliation:
ykalini1@jhu.edu, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Anum Azam
Affiliation:
anumazam@gmail.com, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
David Gracias
Affiliation:
dgracias@jhu.edu, Johns Hopkins University, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, 3400 N Charles Street, 125 Maryland Hall, Baltimore, Maryland, 21218, United States, 410-516-5284, 410-516-5510
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Abstract

In many biological applications, such as cell therapy and drug delivery, there is a need to enhance diffusion by enabling chemical transport in all three dimensions. We highlight this need by comparing diffusion in a conventional two-dimensional (2D) microwell with diffusion in a three-dimensional (3D) cubic microwell using numerical simulations. We also describe the fabrication of hollow polymeric (and biocompatible) cubic microwells and microwell arrays. We emphasize that since the assembly process is compatible with 2D lithographic patterning, porosity can be precisely patterned in all three dimensions. Hence, this platform provides considerable versatility for a variety of applications.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2010

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References

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