This thesis is aligned with the growing interest in the development of new technologies for cell culture that enable the monitoring of the cell behaviors subjected to complex microenvironments. The general goal in this research area is to develop platforms that can provide different degrees of control in the interaction of cells with their microenvironment and that can integrate biosensors to monitor cell behavior in the most dynamic and precise way possible, including the detection and quantification of cell secretion.

Microfabrication, combined with molecular and biological sciences, would allow the creation of novel platforms to reach the aforementioned goal. In particular, fabrication of complex micropatterns of cells and microbeads on transparent substrates would enable:

1. Control of cell distribution on a substrate, cell-cell contact and cell-substrate interaction, as well as achieve efficient presentation of signaling molecules to the cells resembling physiological conditions.

2. Optical monitoring of cell proliferation, migration, viability, intracellular and membrane protein expression, as well as efficient detection of cell secreted molecules from a small number of cells.