Microscale assembly directed by liquid-based template

Abstract

A liquid surface established by standing waves is used as a dynamically reconfigurable template to assemble microscale materials into ordered, symmetric structures in a scalable and parallel manner. The broad applicability of this technology is illustrated by assembling diverse materials from soft matter, rigid bodies, individual cells, cell spheroids and cell-seeded microcarrier beads.

Keywords: bottom-up; directed assembly; liquid-based template; microscale materials; tissue engineering.