Delaware Biotechnology Institute

2 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Bioengineering

Image-guided, Laser-based Fabrication of Vascular-derived Microfluidic Networks

Keely A. Heintz¹, David Mayerich², John H. Slater^1,3

¹Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, ²Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Houston, ³Delaware Biotechnology Institute

This protocol outlines the implementation of image-guided, laser-based hydrogel degradation to fabricate vascular-derived, biomimetic microfluidic networks embedded in poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels. These biomimetic microfluidic systems may be useful for tissue engineering applications, generation of in vitro disease models, and fabrication of advanced "on-a-chip" devices.

Bioengineering

Fabrication and Implementation of a Reference-Free Traction Force Microscopy Platform

Omar A. Banda¹, John H. Slater^1,2,3

¹Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, ²Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Delaware, ³Delaware Biotechnology Institute

This protocol provides instructions for implementing multiphoton lithography to fabricate three-dimensional arrays of fluorescent fiducial markers embedded in poly(ethylene glycol)-based hydrogels for use as reference-free, traction force microscopy platforms. Using these instructions, measurement of 3D material strain and calculation of cellular tractions is simplified to promote high-throughput traction force measurements.