LETTERS In situ collagen assembly for integrating.pdfVIP

LETTERS In situ collagen assembly for integrating microfabricated three-dimensional cell-seeded matrices BRIAN M. GILLETTE, JACOB A. JENSEN, BEIXIAN TANG, GENEVIEVE J. YANG, ARDALAN BAZARGAN-LARI, MING ZHONG AND SAMUEL K. SIA* Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 351 Engineering Terrace, 1210 Amsterdam Avenue, New York 10027, USA * e-mail: ss2735@ Published online: 30 May 2008; doi:10.1038/nmat2203 Microscale fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) extracellular Nevertheless, micropatterning and integration of diverse 3D matrices (ECMs) can be used to mimic the often inhomogeneous natural ECM materials remains technically challenging because: and anisotropic properties of native tissues1–3 and to construct (1) the microfabrication technique must accommodate diverse in vitro cellular microenvironments4–6 . Cellular contraction mechanisms for the gelling of natural ECM (such as temperature of fibrous natural ECMs (such as fibrin and collagen I) can change or enzymatic action); (2) established techniques for detach matrices from their surroundings and destroy intended patterning 3D ECM (ref. 19) require ranges of viscosity and geometry7–9 . Here, we demonstrate in situ collagen fibre assembly conductivity that are incompatible with important natural ECMs (the nucleation and growth of new collagen fibres from (such as collagen or Matrigel); (3) rapid contraction of natural preformed collagen fibres at an interface) to anchor together ECM by cells7,9 can destroy intended ECM geometry and multiple phases of cell-seeded 3D hydrogel-based matrices disintegrate interfaces among multiple ECM phases. against cellular contractile forces. We apply this technique t