Issue 6, 2020

A low-cost paper-based platform for fast and reliable screening of cellular interactions with materials

Abstract

A paper-based platform was developed and tested for studies on basic cell culture, material biocompatibility, and activity of pharmaceuticals in order to provide a reliable, robust and low-cost cell study platform. It is based upon a paper or paperboard support, with a nanostructured latex coating to provide an enhanced cell growth and sufficient barrier properties. Wetting is limited to regions of interest using a flexographically printed hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane layer with circular non-print areas. The nanostructured coating can be substituted for another coating of interest, or the regions of interest functionalized with a material to be studied. The platform is fully up-scalable, being produced with roll-to-roll rod coating, flexographic and inkjet printing methods. Results show that the platform efficiency is comparable to multi-well plates in colorimetric assays in three separate studies: a cell culture study, a biocompatibility study, and a drug screening study. The color intensity is quantified by using a common office scanner or an imaging device and the data is analyzed by a custom computer software without the need for expensive screening or analysis equipment.

Graphical abstract: A low-cost paper-based platform for fast and reliable screening of cellular interactions with materials

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
09 Sep 2019
Accepted
13 Jan 2020
First published
15 Jan 2020
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2020,8, 1146-1156

A low-cost paper-based platform for fast and reliable screening of cellular interactions with materials

E. Rosqvist, E. Niemelä, J. Frisk, H. Öblom, R. Koppolu, H. Abdelkader, D. Soto Véliz, M. Mennillo, A. P. Venu, P. Ihalainen, M. Aubert, N. Sandler, C.-E. Wilén, M. Toivakka, J. E. Eriksson, R. Österbacka and J. Peltonen, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2020, 8, 1146 DOI: 10.1039/C9TB01958H

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