Micropatterns of double-layered nanofiber scaffolds with dual functions of cell patterning and metabolite detection
Abstract
This paper describes the development of multi-functional nanofiber scaffolds consisting of multiple layers of nanofiber scaffolds and nanofiber-incorporated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels. As a proof-of-concept demonstration, we fabricated micropatterned polymeric nanofiber scaffolds that were capable of simultaneously generating cellular micropatterns within a biomimetic environment and detecting cellular metabolic products within well-defined microdomains. To achieve this goal, we designed nanofiber scaffolds with both vertical and lateral microdomains. Vertically heterogeneous structures that were responsible for multi-functionality were realized by preparing double-layered nanofiber scaffolds consisting of an antibody-immobilized bottom layer of nanofibers and an upper layer of bare polystyrene (