Three-dimensional photonic structures on transparent substrates fabricated by two-photon polymerization for use as cell substrates and for wetting experiments

Polymer micro- and nanostructures with various geometries can be written onto a transparent substrate by the technique of two-photon polymerization by a Ti-sapphire femtosecond-laser, which is focused into a liquid acrylate based resin containing a photo-initiator. The microstructures can be employed either as three-dimensional tissue scaffold onto which adherent cells can be seeded or are used as topological substrates for wetting experiments. Due to confinement to the microstructures and/or mechanical interaction with the scaffold, skin derived cells can be stimulated to grow three-dimensionally and to produce calcium binding proteins. The periodic laser-written structures may have other potential applications in the field of bio-inspired microfluidic devices due to their good wettability and water sustainment.