Electrochemical desorption of self-assembled monolayers noninvasively releases patterned cells from geometrical confinements

This report describes a method to pattern mammalian cells using self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), and then to use electrochemical desorption of these monolayers to release cells from their patterns. This method uses an oligo(ethyleneglycol)-terminated SAM to prevent, - and a methyl-terminated SAM to allow - adsorption of proteins and attachment of bovine capillary endothelial cells. Electrochemical removal of the oligo(ethyleneglycol)-terminated SAM allowed proteins to adsorb onto areas that had been previously inert and enabled cells to migrate into these areas. This straightforward technique is useful in bioassays for drug screening and for fundamental studies in cell biology.