ADVANCED CELL CULTURE
Micropatterning and microfluidics equipment
4Dcell provides laboratory equipment and accessories for cell micropatterning, surface preparation and microfluidic device fabrication.
Our equipment range includes the Masker for photomask positioning, the UV Printer for deep-UV micropatterning and surface treatment, and the Plasma Cleaner for surface activation and PDMS-to-glass bonding.
These devices support the preparation of cell culture substrates and complement 4Dcell's SmartPattern® and SmartChannel® technologies.
THE MASKER - PHOTOMASK HOLDER FOR CELL MICROPATTERNING
The 4Dcell Masker is a mechanical holder designed to maintain close and uniform contact between a micropatterning photomask and glass coverslips during deep-UV exposure.
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Compatible with 4Dcell quartz photomasks and 24 mm glass coverslips, it facilitates accurate positioning and consistent contact between the photomask and the coated substrate.
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The Masker eliminates the need for water droplets or an external vacuum source to hold the coverslips against the photomask during exposure.
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Key features
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Uniform contact between coverslips and photomask
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Positioning of 24 mm glass coverslips
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Mechanical holding without water or external vacuum
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Compatibility with the 4Dcell micropatterning workflow
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Reusable accessory for repeated micropattern fabrication
How to use the Masker
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Clean and prepare the quartz photomask according to the micropatterning protocol.
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Place the photomask in the Masker with the chromium-coated side accessible for positioning.
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Position the prepared glass coverslips with their coated surfaces facing the photomask.
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Close and secure the Masker to maintain contact between the coverslips and the mask.
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Place the assembly in the UV Printer and expose it according to the validated micropatterning protocol.
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Open the Masker and carefully remove the coverslips. Use water to facilitate separation if necessary.
UV PRINTER - DEEP-UV MICROPATTERNING & SURFACE TREATMENT
The UV Printer is a deep-ultraviolet device used for surface preparation and the fabrication of cell-adhesive micropatterns on glass substrates.
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In the SmartPattern® workflow, deep-UV exposure through a quartz photomask selectively modifies the anti-adhesive coating, creating regions that can subsequently be functionalized with extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins.
The device can also be used for UV/ozone-based surface treatment, including the removal of certain organic surface contaminants and surface activation.
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Key features
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Deep-UV illumination for photomask-based micropatterning
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Localized modification of anti-adhesive coatings
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UV/ozone surface treatment
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Integration with the 4Dcell Micropatterning Fabrication Kit
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Compatible with 4Dcell's glass-substrate micropatterning protocols
How the UV printer is used for cell micropatterning
The 4Dcell deep-UV micropatterning workflow involves five main steps:
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Glass preparation: Clean and activate the glass substrate before applying the anti-adhesive coating.
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Surface passivation: Coat the glass with an anti-adhesive polymer, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG).
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Photomask positioning: Place the quartz photomask in contact with the coated glass substrate.
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Deep-UV exposure: Illuminate the assembly through the photomask to selectively modify the exposed regions of the coating.
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ECM functionalization: Apply extracellular matrix proteins, such as fibronectin, to promote cell adhesion within the exposed regions.
The resulting micropatterned substrate enables controlled cell positioning and geometry.
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For detailed preparation, exposure and cell-seeding conditions, refer to the 4Dcell Micropatterning Fabrication Kit protocol.
PLASMA CLEANER - SURFACE ACTIVATION & PDMS-TO-GLASS BONDING
The Plasma Cleaner is designed for plasma-based surface treatment, supporting the activation and bonding of materials used in microfluidic device fabrication.
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Plasma treatment modifies the surface chemistry of materials such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and glass. Under suitable processing conditions, the activated surfaces can form strong bonds when brought into contact.
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This process is particularly relevant for assembling PDMS microchannel structures onto glass substrates, as used in the SmartChannel® fabrication workflow.
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Key features
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Surface activation for PDMS-to-glass bonding
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Increased surface wettability
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Removal of certain organic surface contaminants
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Support for microfluidic chip assembly
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Compatibility with the 4Dcell Microchannels Fabrication Kit​
The device is supplied with a vacuum pump and gas-flow control equipment, according to the configuration described by 4Dcell.
Plasma treatment for microfluidic device fabrication
In the 4Dcell SmartChannel® workflow, plasma treatment is used to activate the PDMS microchannel structure and the glass substrate before assembly.
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Following treatment, the surfaces are brought into contact to establish bonding between the PDMS chip and the glass bottom.
Surface activation also increases wettability, facilitating the subsequent introduction of coating solutions and cell suspensions into the microchannels.
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Bonding performance depends on substrate preparation, plasma treatment conditions and assembly procedures.
WHICH LABORATORY DEVICE DO YOU NEED?
The choice of equipment depends on the fabrication process and the materials used.
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The Masker: For holding glass coverslips in close contact with a quartz photomask during deep-UV micropatterning.
The UV Printer: For preparing and patterning glass substrates using deep-UV illumination.
The Plasma Cleaner: For activating surfaces and assembling PDMS-based microfluidic devices through PDMS-to-glass bonding.
The Masker and UV Printer support the SmartPattern® micropatterning workflow, while the Plasma Cleaner is used in the SmartChannel® microchannel fabrication workflow.
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Equipment and consumables can be selected according to the existing capabilities of your laboratory.