Method of formation of microstamped patterns on plates for adhesion of cells and other biological materials, devices and uses therefor

A device for adhering at least one cell in a specific and predetermined position comprising:

• a plate defining a surface, and
• a plurality of cytophilic islands that adhere cells on said surface, isolated by cytophobic regions to which cells do not adhere formed of a self-assembled monolayer contiguous with said cytophilic islands, wherein said cytophobic regions are sufficiently wide such that less than 10 percent of cells adhered to said cytophilic islands form bridges across said cytophobic regions and contact each other.

In a method for culturing cells on a surface or in a medium on a surface, the improvement comprising:

• providing a plate defining a surface and a plurality of cytophilic islands that adhere cells on the surface isolated by cytophobic regions to which cells do not adhere contiguous with said cytophilic islands, wherein said cytophilic islands are formed of a self-assembled monolayer and said cytophobic regions are sufficiently wide such that less than 10 percent of cells adhered to said cytophilic islands form bridges across said cytophobic regions and contact each other;
• and
• culturing the cells on one or more of the cytophilic islands or in a medium on said one or more cytophilic islands.

In a method for immobilizing a cell at a surface, the improvement comprising:

• providing a plate defining a surface and a plurality of cytophilic islands that adhere cells on the surface isolated by cytophobic regions to which cells do not adhere contiguous with said cytophilic islands, wherein said cytophilic islands are formed of a self-assembled monolayer and said cytophobic regions are sufficiently wide such that less than 10 percent of cells adhered to said cytophilic islands form bridges across said cytophobic regions and contact each other;
• and
• exposing the plate to a cell for a period of time sufficient to allow the cell to bind to one of said plurality of cytophilic islands.