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Updated: May 9, 2026

Control of Cell Adhesion using Hydrogel Patterning Techniques for Applications in Traction Force Microscopy
Published on: January 29, 2022
Fabricating surfaces with distinct geometries and different combinations of cell adhesion proteins
Molly Lowndes1, W James Nelson
1Cancer Biology Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
Abstract:
A step-by-step procedure is described for functionalizing the surface of a glass coverslip so that a single cell contacts distinct patterns of extracellular matrix and cell-cell adhesion proteins. This dual-micropatterned substratum is accomplished through a two-step process. First, extracellular matrix (ECM) is microcontact-printed onto a silanized glass surface using electron beam lithography, etched resist-coated wafers, and Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stamps of differing geometries. Then, non-ECM-coated surfaces are incubated sequentially with biotin, NeutrAvidin, and biotinylated Protein A to attach Fc-cadherin fusion proteins, Fc, or PEG. Cells are seeded at low density onto the functionalized surface for single-cell analysis of protein recruitment/turnover and cellular motility.
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