Light-Driven Microfabrication: Assembly of Multicomponent, Three-Dimensional Structures by Using Optical Tweezers

Optical tweezers were used to fabricate two- and three-dimensional microstructures incorporating cells and microspheres (see schematic representation). The microspheres were covalently linked to wheat germ agglutinin; this lectin adhered biospecifically to N-acetyl glucosamine and N-acetyl neuraminic acid residues of the cell-surface oligosaccharides, and provided the links connecting the cells. This method of microfabrication provides an approach to generate well-defined arrays of cells and has the potential to be useful in areas where aggregates of cells are relevant.