Electromicrofluidic Manipulations for Heterogeneous Architectures of Cells and Hydrogels
Shih Kang Fan,
Professor,
National Taiwan University
Manipulations of cells and hydrogels to construct heterogeneous architectures are demonstrated on an electromicrofluidic platform with electrowetting and dielectrophoresis. The electromicrofluidic techniques are essential to access varied objects (a) in multiple phases such as prepolymer liquid droplets and crosslinked hydrogels, (b) on a wide range of scales from micrometer particles or cells to millimeter assembled hydrogel architectures, and (c) with diverse properties such as conductive and dielectric droplets that are photo, chemically, or thermally crosslinkable. The achieved hydrogel architectures are composed of (i) varied particles or cells reorganized in programmable patterns and (ii) biomimetic hydrogel of designed properties and in adjustable geometries. The electromicrofluidic platform, capable of generic manipulations of cells and hydrogels, is desirable for reconfigurable 3D architectures.
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