Preparation and characterization of polymers based on PDMS and PEG-DMA as potential scaffold for cell growth

This work describes a soft lithographic method for the generation of patterned both biopolymer and silver with each covered on microscope glass. Because of their biocompatible nature and permeability to gases the biopolymers are convenient for cell culture studies. The microscope glass was covered by polyethylene glycol dimethyl acrylate (PEG-DMA), as biopolymer and patterned by the UV light passing through the printed photomask for the preparation of the PDMS stamps. PDMS stamps were originally fabricated in this work for pattern transfer. Ag and polymer covered on the microscope glass were patterned by using these PDMS stamps. The patterned Ag, PDMS mold and PEG-DMA biopolymer were used as scaffolds and cell growth experiments have been performed on these materials. The degree of cell viability was measured by seeding them with L929 mouse fibroblasts and the number of the cells was measured by neutral red uptake assay. An increase in the number of cells on the material surfaces was observed. The pattern and the cell growth properties were followed by optic microscope. The results obtained from the cell growth was subjected to student's t-test.