Chinese Wood Blocking Inspires Live Cell Printing

Mar-01-14 A new live-cell printing technology inspired by ancient Chinese wood blocking enables researchers to print cells on to any surface with a much higher live-cell success rate than previous inkjet printing methods.

During inkjet printing, a survival rate of only 50 to 80 percent is typical, since many cells do not survive their journey through the nozzle. In contrast, the BloC-Printing method has displayed a survival rate of close to 100 percent. The BloC-Printing method works by using microfluidic physics to guide the living cells to hook-shaped traps in a silicon mold. As the cells flow down a column to the mold, they move past cells that have already been trapped, creating a line of cells arranged in a grid.

The spacing and shape of the traps and channel can be configured when the mold is being manufactured, and once the mold has filled with cells, they can be applied to a growth surface in the same way as a rubber stamp.

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[GIZMAG.COM]
[HOUSTON METHODIST]

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