A multiscale polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) chip is presented, which provides an array of mesoscale open wells for cell culturing and, as unique feature, an array of microscale 1 µm deep channels to fluidically connect neighboring wells. As demonstrated with SH‐SY5Y cells, the small dimensions of the channels prevent migration of the cell soma but allow physical contacts established by the outgrowth of protoplasmic protrusions between cells in adjacent wells. Another important feature is the chip's mountability on solid substrates, such as glass. This enables the use of substrates previously patterned with biomolecules, as demonstrated by DNA‐directed immobilization of proteins inside the reactor wells. Given the versatile addressability of cells, whether through surface‐bound or inkjet‐based administration of bioactive substances, it is believed that the reactor could be used for research in cell–cell communication networks, for example, in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.

中文翻译：

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用于研究细胞间通信的多尺度微观结构

提出了一种多尺度的聚二甲基硅氧烷（PDMS）芯片，该芯片提供了用于细胞培养的中尺度开放孔阵列，并作为一个独特功能，提供了一系列微尺度的1 µm深通道，以流体方式连接相邻的孔。如SH‐SY5Y细胞所示，通道的小尺寸可防止细胞体的迁移，但可以通过相邻孔中细胞之间原生质突起的生长建立物理接触。另一个重要特征是芯片在玻璃等坚固基板上的可安装性。这使得能够使用先前已用生物分子图案化的底物，如反应堆孔内蛋白质的DNA定向固定化所证明。鉴于细胞具有多种寻址能力，无论是通过表面结合还是基于喷墨的生物活性物质管理，