| Innovative lithography techniques were utilized to create nanostructured biomaterials for biomedical applications. Tissue Culture Polystyrene (TCPS) was patterned using nanoimprint lithography (NIL) to create 3-D biomimetic nanoscaffolds for tissue engineering. Human foreskin fibroblasts (HFF) were seeded on nanostructured gratings and pillars to gain insight into their response to controlled nanotopography. On simple gratings, the alignment of HFF increased for decreasing linewidths and increasing line depths. HFF exhibited a constricted circular morphology when placed on super hydrophobic nanopillars. Dual Layer Photolithography (DLP) and Surface Energy Induced Patterning (SEIP) were created to pattern functional biomaterials for nanomedicine applications. Both methods provide precise control and flexibility in creating a wide array of non-spherical functional particles. The diblock copolymer (ethylene glycol)-b-poly (D,L-lactide) (PEG-b-PLA) and SU8, loaded with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles, were both successfully patterned and harvested, producing particles possessing tremendous therapeutic potential and enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics. |
