Rapid fabrication of a microdevice with concave microwells and its application in embryoid body formation

Here, we report a novel method for the fabrication of polydimethylsiloxane microdevices with complicated 3-D structures, such as concave and crater shapes, using an easily machined polymethyl methacrylate mold combined with a one-step molding process. The procedure presented here enables rapid preparation of complex 3-D microstructures varying in shape and dimensions. To regulate embryoid body (EB) formation, we fabricated a microfluidic device with an array of concave microwells and found that EBs growing in microwells maintained their shape, viability, and a high degree of homogeneity. We believe that this novel method provides an alternative for rapid prototyping, especially in fabricating devices with curved 3-D microstructures. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3687399]