Delaware Biotechnology Institute 2 articles published in JoVE Bioengineering Fabrication and Implementation of a Reference-Free Traction Force Microscopy Platform Omar A. Banda1, John H. Slater1,2,3 1Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, 2Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Delaware, 3Delaware Biotechnology Institute This protocol provides instructions for implementing multiphoton lithography to fabricate three-dimensional arrays of fluorescent fiducial markers embedded in poly(ethylene glycol)-based hydrogels for use as reference-free, traction force microscopy platforms. Using these instructions, measurement of 3D material strain and calculation of cellular tractions is simplified to promote high-throughput traction force measurements. Bioengineering Image-guided, Laser-based Fabrication of Vascular-derived Microfluidic Networks Keely A. Heintz1, David Mayerich2, John H. Slater1,3 1Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, 2Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Houston, 3Delaware Biotechnology Institute This protocol outlines the implementation of image-guided, laser-based hydrogel degradation to fabricate vascular-derived, biomimetic microfluidic networks embedded in poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels. These biomimetic microfluidic systems may be useful for tissue engineering applications, generation of in vitro disease models, and fabrication of advanced "on-a-chip" devices.
