Despite the rapidly increasing number of publications on the fabrication and use of
micro-patterns for cell studies, comparatively little is know about the long-term
stability of such patterns under cell culture conditions. Here, we report on the long-term
stability of cellular patterns created by three different patterning techniques: selective
molecular assembly patterning, micro-contact printing and molecular assembly patterning
by lift-off. We demonstrate that although all three techniques were combined with
the same background passivation chemistry based on assembly of a PEG-graft copolymer,
there are considerable differences in the long-term stability between the three different
pattern types under cell culture conditions. Our results suggest that these differences
are not cell-dependent but are due to different (substrate-dependent) interactions
between the patterned substrate, the passivating molecule and the serum containing
cellular medium. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
