Fabrication of Elastic Substrates for Tissue Engineering by Two-Photon Initiated Polymerization

NORIKO KIMURA, TOSHIYUKI WATANABE, KENRO TOTANI, AKIKO OGUNI, IICHIRO HARADA, and TOSHIHIRO AKAIKE

Elastometric substrates for tissue engineering was fabricated by using two-photon initiated polymerization. Ring shape patterns were obtained by using hydrophobic two-photon initiator, whereas hydrophilic two-photon initiator give needle-like posts after scanning laser light. Swiss 3T3 cells were cultivated on hydrogel micro-needle posts and the traction force between cells and extracellular matrix were measured. Effects of elastic modulus on cell function were discussed.