We report herein a simple, inexpensive fabrication methodology of salt microwells, and define the utility of the latter as nanoparticle containers for highly sensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) studies. AFM characterization of Ag and Au loaded salt microwells reveal the ability to contain favorable nanostructures such as nanoparticle dimers, which can significantly enhance the Ra...

Over the past few years there has been a great deal of interest in reducing experimental systems to a lab-on-a-chip scale. There has been particular interest in conducting high-throughput screening studies using microscale devices, for example in stem cell research. Microwells have emerged as the structure of choice for such tests. Most manufacturing approaches for microwell fabrication are bas...

We present a simple cell docking method induced by receding meniscus to capture non-adherent yeast cells onto microwells inside a microfluidic channel. Microwells were fabricated either by capillary moulding of UV curable polyurethane acrylate (PUA) onto glass substrate or direct replica moulding of poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS). A cell suspension of the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae...

We describe a novel method to produce concave microwells utilizing solid-liquid phase change. This method, named 'ice-lithography', does not require any lithographic processes and consists of a few simple steps that yield multiple concave microwells. We demonstrated that the shape and size of the microwells can be controlled by varying substrates and vapor-collection time. Patterned wells with ...

An electrochemical device, which consists of electrode arrays, nanocavities, and microwells, was developed for multi-electrochemical detection with high sensitivity. A local redox cycling-based electrochemical (LRC-EC) system was used for multi-electrochemical detection and signal amplification. The LRC-EC system consists of n(2) sensors with only 2n bonding pads for external connection. The na...

Microtechnology becomes a versatile tool for biological and biomedical applications. Microwells have been established long but remained non-intelligent up to now. Merging new fabrication techniques and handling concepts with microelectronics enables to realize intelligent microwells suitable for future improved cancer treatment. The described technology depicts the basis for the fabrication of ...

We report cell-cell interaction studies utilizing a microfluidic chip capable of capturing cell pairs of different types into culture microwells and isolating the captured cells for a given amount of time using pneumatic valves. We have quantified the capture efficiency and confirmed cell viability and interaction in the microwells. We successfully distinguished interaction modes in the fabrica...

We have developed a multi-layer, microfluidic array platform containing concave microwells and flat cell culture chambers to culture embryonic stem (ES) cells and regulate uniform-sized embryoid body (EB) formation. The main advantage of this platform was that EBs cultured within the concave microwells of a bottom layer were automatically replated into flat cell culture chambers of a top layer,...

Microalgae are cultivated in macro-scale reactors traditionally and the relevant knowledge is based on bulk analysis. Whether the knowledge and laws are true for cells under micro-cultivation is still unknown. To better understand microalgal physiology, micro-cultivation of microalgae, and unicellular tracking and analysis of its response in vivo is necessary. In the study, cellular responses o...

Aptamer beacons are DNA or RNA probes that bind proteins or small molecules of interest and emit signal directly upon interaction with the target analyte. This paper describes micropatterning of aptamer beacons for detection of IFN-γ-an important inflammatory cytokine. The beacon consisted of a fluorophore-labeled aptamer strand hybridized with a shorter, quencher-carrying complementary strand....