Effect of laser fluence in laser‐assisted direct writing of human colon cancer cell

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the effect of laser fluence on the post‐transfer cell viability of human colon cancer cells (HT‐29) during a typical biofabrication process, matrix‐assisted pulsed‐laser evaporation direct‐write (MAPLE DW).Design/methodology/approachThe post‐transfer cell viability in MAPLE DW depends on various operation conditions such as the applied laser fluence. HT‐29 cell was selected as a model mammalian cell to investigate the effect of laser fluence on the post‐transfer cell viability. MAPLE DW‐based HT‐29 cell direct writing was implemented using an ArF excimer laser under a wide range of laser fluence. Trypan blue dye‐exclusion was used to test the post‐transfer cell viability.FindingsIt has been observed that: the HT‐29 cell viability decreases from 95 to 78 percent as the laser fluence increases from 258 to 1,482 mJ/cm2; and cell injury in this study is mainly due to the process‐induced mechanical stress during the cell droplet formation and landing processes while the effects of thermal influence and ultraviolet radiation are below the level of detection.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper reveals some interesting relationships between the laser fluence and the post‐transfer mammalian cell viability and injury, and the resulting knowledge of these process‐related relationships helps the wide implementation of MAPLE DW‐based biofabrication. Post‐transfer cell injury reversibility and cell proliferation capacity need to be further elucidated.Practical implicationsThis paper will help the wide implementation of cell direct‐write technologies including MAPLE DW to fabricate biological constructs as artificial tissues/organs and bio‐sensing devices.Originality/valueThe shortage of donor organs and the need of various bio‐sensing devices have significantly prompted the development of various biological material‐based direct‐write technologies. Process‐induced cell injury happens during fabricating of biological constructs using different direct‐write technologies including MAPLE DW. The post‐transfer cell viability is a key index to evaluate the feasibility and efficiency of any biofabrication technique. This paper has investigated the effect of laser fluence on the post‐transfer HT‐29 cell viability and injury. The knowledge from this study will help effectively and efficiently fabricate various biological constructs for organ printing and biosensor fabrication applications.