Issue 18, 2015

Supersoft lithography: candy-based fabrication of soft silicone microstructures

Abstract

We designed a fabrication technique able to replicate microstructures in soft silicone materials (E < 1 kPa). Sugar-based ‘hard candy’ recipes from the confectionery industry were modified to be compatible with silicone processing conditions, and used as templates for replica molding. Microstructures fabricated in soft silicones can then be easily released by dissolving the template in water. We anticipate that this technique will be of particular importance in replicating physiologically soft, microstructured environments for cell culture, and demonstrate a first application in which intrinsically soft microstructures are used to measure forces generated by fibroblast-laden contractile tissues.

Graphical abstract: Supersoft lithography: candy-based fabrication of soft silicone microstructures

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
25 Jun 2015
Accepted
29 Jul 2015
First published
29 Jul 2015

Lab Chip, 2015,15, 3760-3765

Author version available

Supersoft lithography: candy-based fabrication of soft silicone microstructures

C. Moraes, J. M. Labuz, Y. Shao, J. Fu and S. Takayama, Lab Chip, 2015, 15, 3760 DOI: 10.1039/C5LC00722D

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