Figure 1. Schematics of devices for cells or organisms culture in polyacrylamide membranes.

In all devices presented here, the different layers are held together by mechanical clamping, and the cells or organisms (represented as black circles) grow at the interface between the polyacrylamide gel and a glass coverslip through which microscopy is performed. (A) Side view of a microfabricated membrane comprising culture chambers, mechanically clamped between a glass slide and a glass coverslip. The device is sealed with a glass or metal contour. Sealing can be enhanced by adding vacuum silicon grease between surfaces. (B) Top view of panel A showing the array of microchambers surrounded by the glass or metal contour. (C) Flow cell using a PDMS control channel in contact with a polyacrylamide monolayer, which allows transfer of the flowing medium to the cells. In this design, cells are compressed underneath a flat polyacrylamide monolayer. (D) A more complex device combining the microchambers of the design in panel A and with the PDMS control channel in panel C.