Self-assembled microcage fabrication for manipulating and selectively capturing microparticles and cells

Single-cell-scale selective manipulation and targeted capture play a vital role in cell behavior analysis. However, selective microcapture has primarily been performed in specific circumstances to maintain the trapping state, making the subsequent in situ characterization and analysis of specific particles or cells difficult and imprecise. Herein, we propose a novel method that combines femtosecond laser two-photon polymerization (TPP) micromachining technology with the operation of optical tweezers (OTs) to achieve selective and targeted capture of single particles and cells. Diverse ordered microcages with different shapes and dimensions were self-assembled by micropillars fabricated via TPP. The micropillars with high aspect ratios were processed by single exposure, and the parameters of the micropillar arrays were investigated to optimize the capillary-force-driven self-assembly process of the anisotropic microcages. Finally, single microparticles and cells were selectively transported to the desired microcages by manipulating the flexibly of the OTs in a few minutes. The captured microparticles and cells were kept trapped without additional forces. (C) 2021 Optical Society of America under the terms of the OSA Open Access Publishing Agreement

Automated summary

The study introduces a novel method combining femtosecond laser two-photon polymerization micromachining technology with optical tweezers operation to achieve selective and targeted capture of single particles and cells. Diverse ordered microcages were self-assembled, allowing selective transport of single microparticles and cells to desired locations. The captured microparticles and cells were kept trapped without additional forces.