Printable cell culture platform

Current cell culture platforms are insufficient to understand the interactions between cells and their microenvironment. Commercial platforms are mostly flat plastic surfaces with limited range of customisation, functionalisation, and monitoring. These limitations restrict experimental design and expand the gap between in vitro and in vivo research. However, the missing knowledge is key to unravel the machinery behind cell fate. This study introduces a new approach to cell culture platforms. The novelty is the introduction and stacking of layers for potential manipulation and access to the cells. In addition, the use of a flexible printable film makes the device compatible to conventional coating, printing, and converting techniques. Manufacturing of this approach adapts both to manual assembly in a laboratory, through batch processing, and to fully integrated printing and converting lines at industrial level with techniques such as roll-to-roll processes.