Non-contact printing of proteins on reactive polymer surfaces: a novel route towards structured and graded cell culture carriers

Non-contact printing with a GeSiM NanoPlotter(TM) was applied to prepare cell culture carriers with lateral structures of different proteins bound to a reactive surface of poly(ethylene-alt-maleic anhydride). As a proof of principle, it was shown that protein microstructures obtained by this technique can direct the behavior of human endothelial cells. The cells adhere and proliferate on collagen type IV spots provided by the microstructured substrate. Since non-contact printing allows us to prepare a multitude of protein spots with different compositions and concentrations on one and the same reactive cell culture carrier, multi-parameter studies on the role of proteins and its anchorage to the substrate can be carried out in an effective way.