Fabrication of Growth Factor Array Using an Inkjet Printer

Although multiple growth factors influence the fate of cells in vivo, it is technically difficult to reproduce similar condition in vitro. To overcome this problem, we have developed growth factor array, a system to study compound effects of multiple growth factors fabricated with a commercial color inkjet printer. By replacing color inks to 2–4 growth factors and printing them on the tissue culture substratum, we prepared growth factor arrays. Culturing cells on the array, we studied the compound effects of growth factors during myogenic and/or osteogenic differentiation of C2C12 myoblast and mesenchymal stem cells in a single culture dish. The cells grown on the array exhibited various levels of differentiation depending on the dose and the combination of growth factors. Since inkjet printer is capable to manipulate several colors simultaneously, this method is suitable for multivariate analyses of growth factors. This method may provide a powerful tool for regenerative medicine, especially for stem cell research on the control of cell-fate determination and differentiation.