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Wang Xi 1, Samuel Sanchez 1, Christine. K. Schmidt 2 and Oliver G. Schmidt 1
1 Institute for Integrative Nanosciences, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden, Helmholzstr. 20, Dresden 01069, Germany 2 The Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK Recently, the development of a three-dimensional (3D) micro-scaffolds for cell culture has attracted much research interest,i, ii as it recapitulates the multi-cellular complexity of a tissue more faithfully than a conventional two-dimensional (2D) culture substrate. We have fabricated biocompatible and transparent SiO/SiO2 microtubes by the rolled-up technology,iii, iv, v, vi which enables the mass-production of scalable microtubes integrated on-chip. The tubular structure offers the advantage of a good directionality and a strict 2D confinement for cell growth where the inner surface can be further functionalized with various biomolecules to mimic the in vivo environment for tissue engineering. After seeding individual cells inside each microtube in a predesigned array by a novel "suck-up" method,vii single cellular behaviours in 3D tubular structure are scrutinized in situ with a fluorescent microscope. The directional outgrowth of neurites has been realized.viii The confinement of the microtubular channels causes the rotation in yeast cell budding2 and the reorientation of the mitotic spindle in HeLa cells, which results in a delay in anaphase onset. Our work demonstrates the rolled-up microtubes as a promising "Lab-in-a-tube" bio-analytical microsystem for individual cells since multiple functionalities can be integrated within the microtubes. |
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