Photopatterning Platform

The PRIMO 2 system from Alveole is an advanced photopatterning platform designed to create:

• Complex microstructured surfaces,
• ECM protein micropatterns on both flat and microstructured surfaces,
• Master templates for rapid prototyping of microfluidic chips.

The PRIMO system enables precise control over material morphology and chemistry, allowing for the creation of intricate in vitro environments to study cell behavior—such as adhesion, migration, proliferation, and differentiation—under tailored biochemical and biomechanical conditions, mimicking physiological scenarios We offer you the following advantages of the PRIMO System:

• LIMAP Technology (Light Induced Molecular Adsorption of Proteins): Print molecules without the need for a mask or contact
• Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) Technology: Use ultraviolet light (wavelength 360 nm) for precise patterning
• 2D and 3D Printing: Create complex protein patterns in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional spaces
• High Resolution: Achieve a printing resolution of less than 2 μm across the entire print area
• Flexible Printing: Print proteins on patterns of any geometry and in controlled molecular densities
• Multi-Protein Printing: Simultaneously print at least two proteins on the same surface
• Microwell Structures: Print proteins within 100 μm thick walls corresponding to microwells made from PDMS
• Reproducibility: Systematic reproducibility of microfabrication without the need for physical masks, ensuring consistent results across experiments
• Realignment Capability: Realign successive patterns or apply them to 3D structures with 1 μm precision
• Photopolymerization of 3D Structures: Structure UV-sensitive hydrogels in 3D using photopolymerization.

Technology and Capabilities:

• Versatile Functions: Combine photopatterning with LIMAP technology, polymerization of photolithography resins for microfluidic chips, and direct structuring of UV-sensitive hydrogels in 3D
• Design Flexibility: Upload images for rapid testing of various cell-to-cell contact hypotheses and intracellular features without additional costs
• Comprehensive Experiment Configuration: Control all steps, from surface chemistry to experiment design, to tailor protocols for different cell types and project needs
• Wide Substrate Compatibility: Works with a variety of substrates, including stiff, soft, 3D, opaque, and transparent materials, as well as hydrogels and adhesion proteins
• Fast Photopatterning and Microfabrication: Achieve a photopatterning speed of 1 second per field of view (500x300μm) and a microfabrication speed of 4 seconds per field (e.g., 7 minutes for a 2 x 0.7 cm vascularization chip)
• Quantitative Photo-Patterning: Achieve precise biomolecule density control with 256 levels of grey, enabling fine-tuning of protein and resin patterns, as well as 2.5D and 3D hydrogel shapes
• High Precision Alignment: Align patterns with 1 μm precision and perform multilayer microfabrication, including up to three protein layers on a single substrate
• Resolution and Accuracy: Achieve an xy resolution of 1.2 μm for glass patterning and 5 μm for microfabrication on 6 μm high surfaces
• Micrometer Precision: The platform’s automated system ensures precise substrate placement with stitching capability for larger, centimeter-sized patterns.

For more details, you can explore PRIMO's full features here.