Biotechnology and Medical Engineering

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Transforming Biology and Medicine: Harnessing Lithography and 3D Microprinting

  • Description

  • Micro- and nanostructures play a vital role in nano- and biotechnology applications, facilitating the precise handling of small liquid volumes. These applications encompass DNA sequencing, micro- and nanoparticle sorting, assembly, and manipulation of proteins, enzymes, and viruses. Micro- and nanofluidic structures exhibit features like constrictions, sloped floors, and walls and can be patterned with excellent shape control by several Heidelberg Instruments systems, for example the NanoFrazor (well suited for nanofluidics).
    Usable materials are not limited to conventional semiconductor materials; biocompatible polymers and epoxies are also employed.

    Direct Laser Writers such as the DWL 66+, with its grayscale capability, can be used, for example, to form 2.5D topographies guiding neuronal outgrowth. The ability to manipulate and direct axonal pathfinding is crucial for bioengineering.

    Maskless aligners like the µMLA or the MLA 150 are ideal for SU-8 and high aspect ratio structures that are needed in some biological and medical applications. Some advanced microcontainers have been fabricated with this technology. They enable precise drug delivery to the desired location within the body.

    The MPO 100 enables 3D microprinting in various materials, some of which are biocompatible or biodegradable. Those can be used in tissue engineering to print scaffolds on which stem cells could grow to reconstruct organs. Advanced scaffolds like biphasic structures can be fabricated, fostering the regeneration of both cartilage and bone.

    High-quality printed structures have found valuable applications in the medical field, and one such application is endoscopy. Optical fibers, with a diameter smaller than 0.5 mm, play a crucial role in endoscopy by providing quasi-noninvasive imaging of tissues. To enhance this technology, lenses can be 3D printed and attached to the end of optical fibers. Moreover, even phase delays and imperfections can be effectively addressed through phase correction techniques, particularly when employing multicore lenses.

  • Requirements

  • High and ultra-high resolution

    Accurate grayscale lithography for 2.5D topographies

    3D patterning (MPO 100)

    Biocompatible materials

  • Solutions

  • High and ultra-high resolution

    Grayscale lithography

    used for 2.5D topographies

    Nanoscale thermal conversion

    for the creation of local binding sites (NanoFrazor)

    Easy operation

    In-situ inspection of nano-patterns, no vacuum or clean room required (Nanofrazor)

    3D microstructures

    for tissue engineering (MPO 100)

    On-device printing

    for endoscopy (MPO 100)

Micro- and nanostructures play a vital role in nano- and biotechnology applications, facilitating the precise handling of small liquid volumes. These applications encompass DNA sequencing, micro- and nanoparticle sorting, assembly, and manipulation of proteins, enzymes, and viruses. Micro- and nanofluidic structures exhibit features like constrictions, sloped floors, and walls and can be patterned with excellent shape control by several Heidelberg Instruments systems, for example the NanoFrazor (well suited for nanofluidics).
Usable materials are not limited to conventional semiconductor materials; biocompatible polymers and epoxies are also employed.

Direct Laser Writers such as the DWL 66+, with its grayscale capability, can be used, for example, to form 2.5D topographies guiding neuronal outgrowth. The ability to manipulate and direct axonal pathfinding is crucial for bioengineering.

Maskless aligners like the µMLA or the MLA 150 are ideal for SU-8 and high aspect ratio structures that are needed in some biological and medical applications. Some advanced microcontainers have been fabricated with this technology. They enable precise drug delivery to the desired location within the body.

The MPO 100 enables 3D microprinting in various materials, some of which are biocompatible or biodegradable. Those can be used in tissue engineering to print scaffolds on which stem cells could grow to reconstruct organs. Advanced scaffolds like biphasic structures can be fabricated, fostering the regeneration of both cartilage and bone.

High-quality printed structures have found valuable applications in the medical field, and one such application is endoscopy. Optical fibers, with a diameter smaller than 0.5 mm, play a crucial role in endoscopy by providing quasi-noninvasive imaging of tissues. To enhance this technology, lenses can be 3D printed and attached to the end of optical fibers. Moreover, even phase delays and imperfections can be effectively addressed through phase correction techniques, particularly when employing multicore lenses.

High and ultra-high resolution

Accurate grayscale lithography for 2.5D topographies

3D patterning (MPO 100)

Biocompatible materials

High and ultra-high resolution

Grayscale lithography

used for 2.5D topographies

Nanoscale thermal conversion

for the creation of local binding sites (NanoFrazor)

Easy operation

In-situ inspection of nano-patterns, no vacuum or clean room required (Nanofrazor)

3D microstructures

for tissue engineering (MPO 100)

On-device printing

for endoscopy (MPO 100)

Application images

Biotechnology and Medical Engineering and Nanofluidics: Tendon tissue patterned with NanoFrazor Explore.
The nanostructure of a tendon tissue (left: AFM of the original tendon) patterned and imaged with NanoFrazor Explore into biocompatible PPA resist (right image). (Courtesy of Melbourne Nanofabrication Center, published in 2019)
Biotechnology and Medical Engineering: Brownian motors-based nanoparticle sorting device, patterned with NanoFrazor, used in nanofluidic applications
Nanofluidic ratchets fabricated with single-nanometer accuracy by NanoFrazor patterning. (Courtesy of IBM Research, Publications in Science and PRL 2018)
Biotechnology and Medical Engineering: Ultra-high resolution enzyme assembly, patterned with NanoFrazor Explore, application example for nanofluidics
Thermolysin enzymes trapped in 10-nm-wide lines written with a NanoFrazor Explore. (Courtesy of Riedo group at NYU, Publications in 2019)
Biotechnology and Medical Engineering: round dual microcontainers used for combination therapy
Dual microcontainers fabricated in SU-8 using a three steps process (Courtesy of IDUN/DTU) (doi/10.1002/adtp.202200106)
Biotechnology and Medical Engineering: hand holds wafer loaded with 3000 small dual microcontainers
Substrate where almost 3000 dual microcontainers were fabricated in SU-8 prior to drug loading. (Courtesy of IDUN/DTU) (doi/10.1002/adtp.202200106)
Biotechnology and Medical Engineering: scanning electron microscope image of a biphasic scaffold used in tissue engineering
Biphasic scaffold for the regeneration of both bone and cartilage in biodegradable material
Design by iba Heiligenstadt e.V. Grant FKZ: 13XP5089D
Biotechnology and Medical Engineering: scanning electron microscope image of a biphasic scaffold used in tissue engineering
MPO 100: Biphasic scaffold for the regeneration of both bone and cartilage in biodegradable material (diameter 7 mm, height 10 mm)
Design by iba Heiligenstadt e.V. Grant FKZ: 13XP5089D
Biotechnology and Medical Engineering: a scaffold in the shape and size of human ear, used for tissue engineering, fabricated with Two-Photon Polymerization
A scaffold in the shape and size of a human ear, fabricated with Two-Photon Polymerization (MPO 100).
zoom of a scaffold in the shape and size of human ear, used for tissue engineering, fabricated with Two-Photon Polymerization
Detailed view of a Scaffold in shape and size of a human ear, fabricated with two photon polymerization (MPO 100).

suitable Systems

µMLA – the perfect entry-level research and development (R&D) tool for virtually any application requiring microstructures

µMLA

  • Maskless Aligner

Configurable and compact tabletop maskless aligner with raster scan and vector exposure modules.

DWL 66

DWL 66+

  • Direct Write Laser Lithography System

Our most versatile system for research and prototyping with variable resolution and wide selection of options.

MPO 100 – a TPP tool for 3D Lithography and 3D Microprinting for optics, photonics, mechanics, and biomedical engineering

MPO 100

  • Two-Photon Polymerization Multi-User Tool

Multi-User Tool for 3D Lithography and 3D Microprinting of microstructures with applications in micro-optics, photonics, micro-mechanics and biomedical engineering.

MLA 150 – a maskless lithography tool for nanofabrication of quantum devices, MEMS, micro-optics and other applications

MLA 150

  • Maskless Aligner

The fastest maskless tool for rapid prototyping, the alternative to the mask aligners. Perfect for standard binary lithography.

NanoFrazor tabletop

NanoFrazor

  • Thermal Scanning Probe Lithography System

Versatile & modular tool combining Thermal Scanning Probe Lithography, Direct Laser Sublimation, and advanced automation for cutting-edge R&D. 

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